Recently Asked Questions
Submit a Question to Ask the Lawyer
| Topic | Question | Submission Date | Tag(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance for Friends of the Library Groups | Is it required or advised that the Friends group (ours is a separate non-profit) have their own insurance? |
Friends of the Library, Public Libraries, Insurance, Liability | |
| Employers Disclosing Reason for Employee's Leave | Are there any laws around a supervisor or manager telling others the reason for an employee being out on leave? |
Employee Rights, Privacy, PTO, Vacation, and Leave, ADA, HIPAA | |
| Hiring Social Workers in Public Libraries | What would it look like if a Public Library hired a part-time social worker to help patrons deal with some of their everyday life issues that m |
Public Libraries, Social Work, Employment, Contracts, Ethics | |
| Viewing Physical Media of Live Performances | I recently purchased a copy of a DVD at the request of a professor. I believe that the professor intends to show this film in class. |
Section 110, Copyright, Fair Use, DVDs | |
| Return of School District Tax Levy Money | Our library gets taxpayer funding from its own line on a school district tax bill. |
School Districts, Public Libraries, Taxes, Budget | |
| Re-leveling Books Using AI | [This question comes from a regional BOCES.] |
Copyright, Derivative Works, AI, Public Domain, Disability | |
| Transferring Copyright After Creator's Death | Many libraries/archives hold unpublished materials whose creators are deceased, but are still protected by copyright since copyright lasts 70 y |
Copyright, Donations, Templates | |
| SAM Coverage for Libraries | We are a small, rural, association library that serves a population of under 4,500. |
SAM coverage, Insurance, Policy, Association Libraries, Safety, Liability | |
| Donated Discards and Copyright | The library has been discussing new ways to handle our discards. |
Donations, Copyright, Intellectual Freedom, First Sale Doctrine, Discards, Controlled Digital Lending | |
| Management of Municipal Library Construction Projects | I am seeking clarification on the legal provisions regarding the oversight and management of construction projects by a municipal library. |
Municipal Libraries, Library Buildings, Construction, Contracts, Board of Trustees |
