91´«Ã½

EXTON, Pa. – United for Libraries’ monthly virtual series, Learning Live, will continue on . The Learning Live program is presented free to United for Libraries members and those with all-access statewide training.

According to a recent article in American Libraries (“,” Nov. 1), “Public libraries are facing a wave of trustee candidates whose goals challenge intellectual freedom, community service, and other core values of librarianship.” How can you protect your library and board from finding itself in a position where a board member’s ideologies oppose core library tenets? This session will focus on preparedness strategies, community building, and how to create strong policies that address programming, budgeting, and services.

Speakers will include Megan Cusick of 91´«Ã½’s Public Policy & Advocacy Office, Deborah Caldwell-Stone of the 91´«Ã½ Office for Intellectual Freedom, Deborah Doyle of the Sonoma County Library Commission, and Beth Nawalinski of United for Libraries.

Megan Cusick is the Deputy Director for State Advocacy in 91´«Ã½’s Public Policy and Advocacy office. She coordinates 91´«Ã½'s state and local advocacy efforts in partnership with 91´«Ã½ offices and divisions; state chapters and affiliates; and librarians, library staff, and advocates across the country. Prior to joining 91´«Ã½, Megan was a librarian in Chicago Public Schools and the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center; she is a co-founder of the Chicago Teachers Union librarians committee. She has presented and published on topics such as partnerships, library trends, civic engagement, intellectual freedom, and advocacy.

Deborah Caldwell-Stone is Director of 91´«Ã½’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and Executive Director of the Freedom to Read Foundation. She is a recovering attorney and former appellate litigator who works closely with library professionals and library trustees on a wide range of intellectual freedom issues. She advises 91´«Ã½'s Intellectual Freedom Committee and its Privacy Subcommittee on law and policy issues, and has served on the faculty of the 91´«Ã½-sponsored Lawyers for Libraries and Law for Librarians workshops. She is a contributor to the 10th edition of the Intellectual Freedom Manual and has contributed articles on law, policy, and intellectual freedom to American Libraries and other publications.

Beth Nawalinski is the Executive Director for United for Libraries. She has pursued a 25+ year career supporting libraries and literacy, first as Community Relations Coordinator with Barnes & Noble, followed by Public Relations Specialist with the Norfolk (Va.) Public Library, Marketing & Public Relations Coordinator with Friends of Libraries U.S.A. (FOLUSA), and Director of Marketing & Communications for United for Libraries. She is the co-author of 101+ Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends and Even More Great Ideas for Libraries and Friends.

To register for the December Learning Live session, .

United for Libraries Learning Live sessions take place on the second Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. Each month’s session will cover a hot topic of interest to Trustees, Friends and/or Foundations, followed by a Q&A and/or discussions. Sessions are open to all personal and group members of United for Libraries.