Actions NOT Words - Addressing Illegal and Harmful Behavior Using Existing Laws

Verbal abuse, harassment, stalking, theft, threats, vandalism. Michigan libraries are experiencing a rise in the incidents of disturbing and frightening patron behavior connected to book challenges and other controversial topics. While there are few laws that specifically protect libraries, there are existing laws that criminalize certain behaviors. This session will discuss these laws and how to recognize whether behavior might fall within their limits, and, how to initiate a legal complaint.

Participants in this event will be able to:
1) Identify Michigan laws protecting against theft, assault, harassment, stalking and other behaviors on the rise in libraries.
2) Discover how to recognize if a behavior might fall under one of these laws.
3) Identify steps to take to initiate appropriate legal action to deter illegal behavior.

Instructor: Clare Membiela, MLS, JD, Library Law Consultant, Library of Michigan

Webinar link will be emailed to registrants the day before the webinar begins.