Prepared Libraries, Empowered Teams: A Workbook for Navigating Intellectual Freedom Challenges Together - Paperback

by Becky Calzada (Author), Val Edwards (Author), Maegan Coffin Heindel (Author)

Preliminary data for 2023 from ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) shows an all-time high number of book challenges, shattering the previous record set only the year before. Anticipating and preparing for challenges can only be done effectively when the library has a unified team. This workbook will help library directors and managers at all types of libraries ensure that all members of their staff understand the essential role they have to play when challenges arise. Simultaneously, it will guide you towards managing the stress of the circumstances with lessened impact on team well-being and organizational reputation. Solo librarians will also find resources for coalition-building in the absence of library colleagues within their institution. Assisting you as a library worker in creating your own challenge readiness roadmap, this workbook

• surveys the national intellectual freedom landscape, then guides you through a review of your current circumstances, structures, and team member strengths;
• provides considerations for developing strong policies and procedures on which your action plan rests;
• shares recommendations for gathering team input and building team capacity at every step of the way;
• includes planning templates, strategies, checklists, and suggested scripts to assist in co-constructing a unified approach with your team;
• identifies methods for developing deep knowledge of your organization's selection policy in your team members;
• uses a conflict mediation perspective to show how to de-escalate tense conversations involving patrons, members of the community, and team members;
• outlines best practices for communication and capacity-building in the face of all manner of challenges, helping you stay clear and intentional in your interactions with stakeholders;
• and includes numerous real-world examples of different book challenges, showing how this approach to team preparedness can be applied.

Author Biography

Becky Calzada is the District Library Coordinator in Leander, Texas, a co-founding member of Texas #FReadom Fighters and is the 24/25 AASL President-Elect. She was selected for the 4th ALA Policy Corp Cohort, works as a member of the ALA Policy Corp Proactive Advocacy on Book Banning cadre and is a member of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee. She is the recipient of several intellectual freedom awards and was honored by People Magazine in their 2023 Women Changing the World portfolio.

Val Edwards, currently the Library Team Leader in Madison, Wisconsin, has experience working in a variety of library settings. In addition, Val has trained as a Conflict Mediator and published articles in both library/education and business publications. She has served on a number of ALA/AASL/Core committees including as the AASL Division Councilor and currently as the Past Chair of the Core Library Consulting Interest Group and on the AASL Bylaws & Organization Committee

Maegan Coffin Heindel is the Library Services Coordinator for Madison, Wisconsin public schools whose background includes school librarianship and classroom teaching. She is an alum of the ALA Emerging Leader program and served as the AASL Learning4Life Coordinator for Wisconsin. A frequent conference presenter, Maegan has held multiple positions within the Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association and the CCBC Friends Board. Maegan is currently a member of the CCBC's Charlotte Zolotow Award Committee.