Library Litigation and Liability Concerns: What Library Leaders Need to Know
Presented by Anne Seurynck, Esq.
A Library 2.0 Service, Safety, and Security Webinar with Dr. Steve Albrecht
OVERVIEW:
Public libraries face an increasingly complex legal landscape. From First Amendment challenges and book reconsideration disputes to patron behavior issues, privacy concerns, Open Meetings Act compliance, and Freedom of Information Act requests, library boards and leaders must navigate a growing number of litigation and liability risks.
This session provides a practical overview of the most significant legal trends affecting public libraries today. Participants will review recent court decisions from around the country, examine emerging areas of liability, and discuss strategies to reduce legal exposure through effective governance, policies, training, and risk management practices. The presentation will also address common claims involving intellectual freedom, public forum issues, patron suspensions, privacy and confidentiality, and First Amendment Auditors.
Designed for library directors, trustees, and administrators, this seminar will focus on real-world examples and practical guidance to help libraries identify legal risks before they become lawsuits and respond effectively when disputes arise. Attendees will leave with a better understanding of current litigation trends, lessons learned from recent cases, and proactive steps to strengthen their library's legal compliance and risk-management practices.
LEARNING AGENDA:
- Identify the most common sources of library litigation and liability.
- Understand recent legal developments involving intellectual freedom, patron rights, and library governance.
- Recognize legal risks associated with policies, board actions, and public interactions.
- Implement practical strategies to reduce liability exposure and improve legal compliance.
- Prepare for and respond effectively to legal challenges, complaints, and threatened litigation.
DATE: Thursday, July 23rd, 2026, 2:00 - 3:00 pm US - Eastern Time
COST:
- $99/person - includes live attendance and any-time access to the recording and the presentation slides and receiving a participation certificate.
- To arrange group discounts (see below), to submit a purchase order, or for any registration difficulties or questions, email admin@library20.com.
TO REGISTER:
Use the payment box above to register and pay. You can pay by credit card. You will receive an email within a day with information on how to attend the webinar live and how you can access the permanent webinar recording. If you are paying for someone else to attend, you'll be prompted to send an email to admin@library20.com with the name and email address of the actual attendee.
NOTE: Please check your spam folder if you don't receive your confirmation email within a day.
SPECIAL GROUP RATES (email admin@library20.com to arrange):
- Multiple individual log-ins and access from the same organization paid together: $75 each for 3+ registrations, $65 each for 5+ registrations. Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
- The ability to show the webinar (live or recorded) to a group located in the same physical location or in the same virtual meeting from one log-in: $299.
- Large-scale institutional access for viewing with individual login capability: $499 (hosted either at Library 2.0 or in Niche Academy). Unlimited and non-expiring access for those log-ins.
Anne Seurynck has focused her career on representing libraries, municipalities, and other public entities. Her work includes assisting communities in forming libraries, interpreting the unique library laws, understanding specific privacy laws, and developing policies such as patron behavior and internet use. She has guided libraries with requests for information by law enforcement agencies and private entities, including the application of the Library Privacy Act and Patriot Act. Anne also has extensive experience in drafting and reviewing ordinances, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Open Meetings Act issues.
Anne is a graduate of the University of Michigan and received her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
To promote her belief that the best legal strategy is a proactive strategy, Anne is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences where the educational focus is on municipal law or library law.
Since 2000, Dr. Steve Albrecht has trained tens of thousands of library employees in 28+ states, live and online, in service, safety, security, and leadership. His programs for both staff and library leaders are fast, entertaining, and provide tools that can be put to use immediately in the library workspace. His books include:
The Library Leader’s Guide to Employee Coaching: Building a Performance Culture One Meeting at a Time (in-press, Bloomsbury, 2026)
The Library Leader’s Guide to Human Resources: Keeping it Real, Legal, and Ethical (Rowman & Littlefield, 2025)
The Safe Library: Keeping Users, Staff, and Collections Secure (Rowman & Littlefield, 2023)
Library Security: Better Communication, Safer Facilities (ALA, 2015)
Steve holds a doctoral degree in Business Administration (D.B.A.), an M.A. in Security Management, a B.S. in Psychology, and a B.A. in English. He is board-certified in HR, security management, employee coaching, and threat assessment. He has written 28 books on business, security, and leadership. He provides a loving home for four rescue dogs.
More on The Safe Library at thesafelibrary.com. Follow on X (Twitter) at @thesafelibrary and on YouTube @thesafelibrary. Dr. Albrecht's professional website is drstevealbrecht.com.
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