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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Clare,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you know how long waivers of this type must be retained?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:22.0pt;line-height:14.0pt">
<b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Terry M. New | Head of Human Resources</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">
<br>
<i>Pronouns: She/Her/Hers</i><br>
Kalamazoo Public Library <br>
315 S. Rose St. | Kalamazoo, MI 49007<br>
(269) 553-7931 | Fax: (269) 553-7932<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:7.0pt"><a href="https://www.kpl.gov/"><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:blue;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="162" height="48" style="width:1.6875in;height:.5in" id="Picture_x0020_6" src="cid:image002.png@01DAE736.DCB5C080" alt="Kalamazoo Public Library"></span></a><span style="font-size:13.5pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Membiela, Clare (MDE) <MembielaC@michigan.gov> <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 24, 2024 12:12 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Alicia Ford <alicia@colomapubliclibrary.net>; michlib-l@mcls.org<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Michlib-l] Library of Things agreement form - required legally?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos">Hello Alicia:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos">So when you talk about forms and policies for LoTs, the issue is primarily liability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos">LoT items tend to be expensive and possibly dangerous (such as power tools, certain craft items, etc.) An agreement or waiver or similar between the library and the patron can help the library
mitigate liability from injuries the patron may suffer from incorrect or negligent use of the items, as well as clarify to the patron that if they don’t return the $2,000 SLR camera they are liable for the cost, or, if the item is used in a negligent or illegal
manner (they hand a soldering iron to their kid who burns themselves, or a minor sews through their finger with a sewing machine, or give the SLR camera it to their kid who takes pix through the window of the neighbor next door), the library isn’t responsible
for that either.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos">This is the type of agreement/policy that really needs the input of an attorney because creating a liability waiver that is enforceable can be tricky, and the agreement should be customized
to reflect the nature of the specific items in your LoT collection.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos">It is a good idea to also check with your insurance company if you expect very high-ticket or dangerous items to be part of your LoT.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos">I hope this is helpful!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos">Clare<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Clare D. Membiela, MLS, J.D.</span><span style="font-family:Aptos"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Library Law Consultant<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Library of Michigan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="mailto:MembielaC@michigan.gov">MembielaC@michigan.gov</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">517-335-8132<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">The research and resources above are for informational purposes only and not for the purpose of providing legal advice. You should contact your attorney
to obtain advice with respect to any particular issue or problem.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif;color:black;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">“the State may not, consistently with the spirit of the First Amendment, contract the spectrum
of available knowledge</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"TimesNewRomanPSMT",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">.”</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">
</span><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"TimesNewRomanPS-ItalicMT",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Griswold v. Connecticut, 381 U.S. 479, 482 (1965).</span></i><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Aptos;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos;color:#44546A;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Nourishing Michigan’s Future during the summer! Find a Summer Food Service Program site nearest you and encourage Michigan’s children to Meet
Up and Eat Up!</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos;color:red;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"> </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><a href="http://www.michigan.gov/meetupeatup"><span style="color:blue">www.michigan.gov/meetupeatup</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos;background:yellow;mso-highlight:yellow;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos"><img border="0" width="185" height="28" style="width:1.927in;height:.2916in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image007.png@01DAE736.DCB5C080"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Aptos"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> Michlib-l <<a href="mailto:michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org">michlib-l-bounces@mcls.org</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Alicia Ford via Michlib-l<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, July 24, 2024 11:52 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:michlib-l@mcls.org">michlib-l@mcls.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Michlib-l] Library of Things agreement form - required legally?<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<strong><span style="font-family:"sans-serif 10pt";color:black">CAUTION: This is an External email. Please send suspicious emails to
<a href="mailto:abuse@michigan.gov"><span style="font-weight:normal">abuse@michigan.gov</span></a></span></strong><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Aptos"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi all,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’re a little late to the party with adding a Library of Things at our library (although we’ve had hotspots and items like STEM kits for check out for quite some time) and I’ve seen many discussions on here about best practices. I wondered
if someone could share if a specialized LoT agreement form is something libraries
<i>legally </i>are required to have patrons sign to check out some of these items (e.g., a telescope)? Or if a public library’s regular policies and procedures for patrons being responsible for any lost or damaged items can also cover the LoT items. We’re
wanting to keep things simple, and not create extra forms and a process that would put any barriers in the way of those wanting to check the items out…but also make sure we’re complying with standard practices and legalities.<br>
<br>
Thank you so much for any information and advice. I can be emailed off-list as well at
<a href="mailto:alicia@colomapubliclibrary.net">alicia@colomapubliclibrary.net</a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Alicia Ford<br>
Assistant Director<br>
Coloma Public Library<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">151 W. Center St.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">P.O. Box 430<br>
Coloma, MI 49038<br>
(269) 468-3431<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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