Thursday, October 1, 2009

Keynote Speaker, Jamie La Rue

Jamie La Rue, director Douglas County Library District in Colorado 8:30-9:30

· Addressing issues regarding challenging library materials

· The way to respond to religious bigotry is with exposure and shining light on prejudices

· The most common challengers of materials (98%)are not necessarily with political or religious slants, but from parents with children ages 3-5 and 14-16

· Don’t shut down conversations by demonizing challengers; invite them in and actively listen to get to the real hart ore reason of their challenges

· Tips to deal with folks who come to you with challenges:

o Apologize

o Keep an open body posture

o Use active listening skills; don’t be defensive

o Repeat their arguments back to them

o Help them find the material they were really looking for when their material they didn’t want or was offensive to them

o Have a process available for them if they still want to continue with their challenge

· Intellectual freedom is the right to complain bitterly about the things you don’t like

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