Hi everyone,
I understand there have been several libraries in New Jersey who've recently experienced "first amendment audits." It hasn't happened at my library yet but I want to make sure we are as prepared as possible if it occurs.
If your library has experienced a first amendment audit, can you share how it went, whether you'd handle it differently the next time, if you have any advice on what to do or what not to do?
If your library has included language in your policy manual to try to dissuade first amendment auditors (such as language stating that no one in the library may be filmed without their consent, or language defining the library as a limited public forum) could you please share that language? I'd be very grateful to see what you've done, so we can incorporate it at our library.
I've also found a few helpful resources including a post from a LibraryLand blog from June 2022 - https://librarylandproject.org/stories-blog/2022/6/15/libraries-and-fir… (the article includes a link to a presentation done by a Massachusetts lawyer on how to handle first amendment audits)
and a safety bulletin from the Municipal Excess Liability Joint Insurance Fund (dated Dec 2019) - direct link to their PDF is here: https://njmel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/MSI-Bulletin-First-Amendment-Audit-Best-Practices-Dec-2019.pdf
Thanks in advance for sharing your stories and advice,
Mary Martin, Library Director,
Wanaque Library
martin [at] wanaquelibrary.org
973-839-4434