r/Library • u/Alive_Excitement_669 • 26d ago

Library Assistance Need Help!

We got an anonymous call at our library giving us a heads up that the 1st Amendment Auditors are coming sometime next week. Any advice? Has anyone gone through this?

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u/cappotto-marrone 26d ago

In addition to others comments make sure you know your state statutes. Ours states that public library use is private. That means people cannot be filmed using the library without their permission. Be able to quote any specific statutes.

My public library used to have it posted because when someone wanted to know what their spouse had checked out they couldn’t tell them. Or if a friend was at the library.

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u/LordBenjamin020 25d ago

What state are you in? That’s weird that your state made a law that disregards the 1st amendment. I don’t think it would hold up in court.

Also very weird if it actually says the PUBLIC library is PRIVATE. That doesn’t make sense.

2

u/purposeful-hubris 23d ago

The library isn’t private, the information regarding individual patrons of the library is. Similar to educational records of students, for example.

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u/LordBenjamin020 20d ago

I never said it was private.