<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"><!-- P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} --></style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div id="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-size:10pt;color:#000000;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" dir="ltr">
<p>Don,</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<p>The ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee created an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights on that topic fairly recently. Here's a link if you haven't seen it.
<a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/religion" class="OWAAutoLink" id="LPlnk391571" previewremoved="true">
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/religion</a></p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div id="LPBorder_GT_15289952872560.33540293005149124" style="margin-bottom: 20px; overflow: auto; width: 100%; text-indent: 0px;">
<table id="LPContainer_15289952872490.5248279721345942" style="width: 90%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: relative; overflow: auto; padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; border-top: 1px dotted rgb(200, 200, 200); border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(200, 200, 200);" role="presentation" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="border-spacing: 0px;" valign="top">
<td id="TextCell_15289952872510.9583654071477649" style="vertical-align: top; position: relative; padding: 0px; display: table-cell;" colspan="2">
<div id="LPRemovePreviewContainer_15289952872510.3201612453427327"></div>
<div id="LPTitle_15289952872510.6435871136688661" style="top: 0px; color: rgb(0, 120, 215); font-weight: 400; font-size: 21px; font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_light", "Segoe UI Light", "Segoe WP Light", "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">
<a id="LPUrlAnchor_15289952872530.3823606748751991" style="text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/religion" target="_blank">Religion in American Libraries | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues</a></div>
<div id="LPMetadata_15289952872530.7536220342020106" style="margin: 10px 0px 16px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: 400; font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_normal", "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;">
www.ala.org</div>
<div id="LPDescription_15289952872540.052341320392372936" style="display: block; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: 400; font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_normal", "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; max-height: 100px; overflow: hidden;">
The First Amendment guarantees the right of individuals to believe and practice their religion or practice no religion at all and prohibits government from establishing or endorsing a religion or religions. Thus the freedom of, for and from religion, are similarly
guaranteed.</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<p></p>
<p>There is also a Q & A on the topic. <a href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/religionfaq" class="OWAAutoLink" id="LPlnk763186" previewremoved="true">
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/religionfaq</a> From my brief reading of it and memory of the creation, if it's an outside group putting up the display, you need to offer the same opportunity to other groups. If they choose not to take advantage of that
opportunity, that's fine, as long as it's available.<br>
</p>
<div id="LPBorder_GT_15289953326770.90850479118832" style="margin-bottom: 20px; overflow: auto; width: 100%; text-indent: 0px;">
<table id="LPContainer_15289953326720.18620895542824611" style="width: 90%; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: relative; overflow: auto; padding-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; border-top: 1px dotted rgb(200, 200, 200); border-bottom: 1px dotted rgb(200, 200, 200);" role="presentation" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr style="border-spacing: 0px;" valign="top">
<td id="TextCell_15289953326720.07886777797413325" style="vertical-align: top; position: relative; padding: 0px; display: table-cell;" colspan="2">
<div id="LPRemovePreviewContainer_15289953326720.9592218124655314"></div>
<div id="LPTitle_15289953326730.009305963964471364" style="top: 0px; color: rgb(0, 120, 215); font-weight: 400; font-size: 21px; font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_light", "Segoe UI Light", "Segoe WP Light", "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;">
<a id="LPUrlAnchor_15289953326740.2790228143692989" style="text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/religionfaq" target="_blank">Religion in American Libraries: Questions and Answers | Advocacy, Legislation & Issues</a></div>
<div id="LPMetadata_15289953326740.18024809986345658" style="margin: 10px 0px 16px; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: 400; font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_normal", "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 14px;">
www.ala.org</div>
<div id="LPDescription_15289953326750.9303659276532807" style="display: block; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-weight: 400; font-family: "wf_segoe-ui_normal", "Segoe UI", "Segoe WP", Tahoma, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; max-height: 100px; overflow: hidden;">
Religion, American Libraries, This Q & A provides guidance to libraries and librarians in protecting First Amendment rights to five freedoms: freedom of the press, speech, petition, assembly and religion. Courts have consistently held that for freedom of the
press and speech to be meaningful, people must have the right to receive information: that is, to read, view, hear or access what they choose. In addition, the freedom of (and for) religion has been understood to include both the right of individuals to believe
and practice their religion and the right of individuals and the state to be free from religion.</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
Hope that helps!<br>
<p></p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div id="Signature">
<div style="font-family:Tahoma; font-size:13px">
<div style="font-family:Tahoma; font-size:13px"><font face="Arial">Janet T. O'Keefe<br>
Librarian<br>
Flint Public Library<br>
1026 E. Kearsley<br>
Flint MI 48503<br>
810-232-7111<br>
</font></div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<br>
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">
<div>
<hr tabindex="-1" style="display:inline-block; width:98%">
<div id="x_divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font style="font-size:11pt" face="Calibri, sans-serif" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of michlib-l-request@mcls.org <michlib-l-request@mcls.org><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, June 14, 2018 12:00 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> michlib-l@mcls.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Michlib-l Digest, Vol 44, Issue 14</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
</div>
<font size="2"><span style="font-size:10pt;">
<div class="PlainText"><br>
------------------------------<br>
<br>
Message: 9<br>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2018 09:55:00 -0600<br>
From: Don Priest <dpriest@southgate.lib.mi.us><br>
To: michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org><br>
Subject: [Michlib-l] Religion in the library<br>
Message-ID:<br>
<544464963.26771.1528991700664.JavaMail.zimbra@southgate.lib.mi.us><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"<br>
<br>
Hi, hoping to get some feedback on a patron complaint. He took issue with a Nativity that gets put up in front of the library every year, and it's got me wondering if we're implicitly supporting one religion over another. The library isn't actually responsible
for the Nativity, but it's easy to see why people would think we are. We also put up a Christmas tree every year, and though it has no religious iconography, I'm wondering if we should avoid it in the future. My research has led me to believe we're not out
of line, but religion can be a touchy issue. I'm interested to hear from anyone who has fielded similar complaints, or has a deeper understanding of the issue. I'm asking around here about the Nativity, just to make sure I have all the facts.
<br>
<br>
He also took issue with a Pride Month display we have up, as evil according to his religion. I'm not planning on taking that down, but if anyone has answered a similar challenge I would appreciate hearing how it went.
<br>
<br>
Don Priest <br>
Southgate Veterans Memorial Library <br>
14680 Dix-Toledo Rd. <br>
Southgate, MI 48195 <br>
734-258-3002 ext. 3003 <br>
-------------- next part --------------<br>
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<br>
URL: <<a href="http://mail2.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20180614/ccd3e466/attachment-0001.html" id="LPlnk986814" previewremoved="true">http://mail2.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20180614/ccd3e466/attachment-0001.html</a>><br>
<br>
------------------------------<br>
<br>
Message: 10<br>
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2018 15:59:39 +0000<br>
From: Anne Oyerly <oyerly@andrews.edu><br>
To: Don Priest <dpriest@southgate.lib.mi.us>, "michlib-l@mcls.org"<br>
<michlib-l@mcls.org><br>
Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] Religion in the library<br>
Message-ID: <1528991979352.46878@andrews.edu><br>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"<br>
<br>
A bit puzzled about why you would leave up the Pride Month display, but worry about the Nativity? Seems like both reflect cultural values of American society.<br>
<br>
<br>
If you really want to make it appear that you are not supporting one religion over another, I would focus on adding displays from other belief systems, not taking away one.<br>
<br>
<br>
Just my opinion.<br>
<br>
<br>
Anne Oyerly<br>
<br>
Building & Stacks Manager<br>
<br>
James White Library<br>
<br>
Andrews University?<br>
<br>
________________________________<br>
From: michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org <michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org> on behalf of Don Priest via Michlib-l <michlib-l@mcls.org><br>
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2018 10:55 AM<br>
To: michlib-l<br>
Subject: [Michlib-l] Religion in the library<br>
<br>
Hi, hoping to get some feedback on a patron complaint. He took issue with a Nativity that gets put up in front of the library every year, and it's got me wondering if we're implicitly supporting one religion over another. The library isn't actually responsible
for the Nativity, but it's easy to see why people would think we are. We also put up a Christmas tree every year, and though it has no religious iconography, I'm wondering if we should avoid it in the future. My research has led me to believe we're not out
of line, but religion can be a touchy issue. I'm interested to hear from anyone who has fielded similar complaints, or has a deeper understanding of the issue. I'm asking around here about the Nativity, just to make sure I have all the facts.<br>
<br>
He also took issue with a Pride Month display we have up, as evil according to his religion. I'm not planning on taking that down, but if anyone has answered a similar challenge I would appreciate hearing how it went.<br>
<br>
Don Priest<br>
Southgate Veterans Memorial Library<br>
14680 Dix-Toledo Rd.<br>
Southgate, MI 48195<br>
734-258-3002 ext. 3003<br>
-------------- next part --------------<br>
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...<br>
URL: <<a href="http://mail2.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20180614/d4675a7b/attachment-0001.html" id="LPlnk134988" previewremoved="true">http://mail2.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20180614/d4675a7b/attachment-0001.html</a>><br>
<br>
------------------------------<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
Michlib-l mailing list<br>
Michlib-l@mcls.org<br>
<a href="http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l" id="LPlnk612201" previewremoved="true">http://mail2.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l</a><br>
<br>
<br>
End of Michlib-l Digest, Vol 44, Issue 14<br>
*****************************************<br>
</div>
</span></font></div>
</div>
</body>
</html>