Law for Librarians: Introduction to Legal Literacy for Library Workers

This session offers a fast-paced introduction to the Law for Librarians program, relaunched by the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF). Designed for library professionals interested in becoming legal literacy advocates, this session provides a concise overview of the essential legal knowledge needed to support intellectual freedom and respond to censorship challenges in today’s library landscape (but is not legal advice!).

Participants will gain a foundational understanding of key legal concepts—tailored for non-attorneys—including the First Amendment, CIPA, patron privacy, and copyright. This session also provides an overview of the full Law for Librarians training program, and participants interested in becoming certified trainers can contact ALA for information about joining a future cohort, with the next round of training anticipated to begin in the spring.  

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this 1-hour session, participants will be able to:

Presenters:

Karly Scarbrough serves as Director of Library Services at Cochise College and as President of the Arizona Library Association. Her leadership journey with AzLA ignited a deep commitment to library advocacy, a cause she champions across the state. In May 2024, she completed the American Library Association and Office for Intellectual Freedom’s Law for Librarians (l4L) training, equipping her to bring this vital knowledge to Arizona’s library community through dynamic, locally offered trainings.  

Lisa Morris-Wilkey serves as the District Librarian for the Casa Grande Elementary School District, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the district's library programs and resources. In addition to her professional responsibilities, she also acts as the Vice President of the Friends of the Library in Casa Grande, extending her commitment to library advocacy beyond the school environment. In December 2023, she completed the American Library Association Advocacy Workshop, further strengthening her advocacy skills.