Lawyers for Libraries

To equip attorneys to counsel and defend libraries, librarians, and library trustees.

Register now to attend an institute!

Praise from Past Attendees!

Continuing Legal Education Credits

Upcoming Sessions:

The American Library Association (ALA) will be presenting the Florida “Lawyers for Libraries” Training Institute in Tampa, November 14, 2008. This will be the twelfth in a series of regional institutes following two national institutes in 1997 and 1998.

All About Lawyers for Libraries

Lawyers for Libraries, an ongoing project of the American Library Association Office for Intellectual Freedom, is designed to build a nationwide network of attorneys committed to the defense of the First Amendment freedom to read and the application of constitutional law to library policies, principles, and problems.

National Lawyers for Libraries training institutes were held in 1997 and 1998. Regional trainings have been held in 2003 in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and San Francisco; 2004 in Dallas and Boston; 2005 in Atlanta and Seattle; 2006 in Houston at the Texas Library Association Annual Conference and in Columbus, OH; and 2007 in Philadelphia and Denver. Over 300 attendees have participated in Lawyers for Libraries trainings to date.

We continue to plan future regional trainings. If you are interested in receiving information about upcoming Lawyers for Libraries events, please contact the Office for Intellectual Freedom at lawyers@ala.org or 1-800-545-2433, ext. 4221.

Who May Attend Lawyers for Libraries

Lawyers for Libraries workshops are open to licensed, practicing attorneys retained to represent or advise libraries on legal issues. Library trustees or board members who are responsible for establishing library policy may also attend. Librarians may attend if they are accompanied by a library attorney.