Registration is now open for the Lawyers for Libraries/Florida training, scheduled for Friday, November 14, 2008 in Tampa. This is the first Lawyers for Libraries training in Florida, and the 14th overall.

The Lawyers for Libraries Institute is primarily intended to equip attorneys with tools they need to effectively defend the First Amendment in libraries. Participants will be instructed by practicing attorneys specializing in First Amendment law and will be eligible for continuing legal education (CLE) credits for their participation.

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 – in fact, we encourage librarians to participate to better discuss the specific policy needs of their public, academic, or school library.

Among the topics to be covered during the institute are:

* Privacy, law enforcement requests for records and the USA PATRIOT Act;
* Public forum analysis and libraries, including developing meeting room and display case policies;
* Internet filtering and the ongoing repercussions of the Supreme Court’s CIPA decision;
* How to respond to attempts to censor books and other library materials.

In addition, a panel of librarians will discuss their real-world experiences with creating and enforcing library policies.

“We’re excited to bring Lawyers for Libraries to Florida for the first time,” said ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) Director Judith F. Krug. “Lawyers for Libraries has helped hundreds of attorneys, trustees and librarians better understand the case law and legislation related to their work on behalf of libraries. These participants have gone on to improve libraries across the country by drafting strong policies, providing advice to those facing difficult questions, conducting trainings and being advocates for intellectual freedom in their communities.”

The training is from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Guest Suites Tampa Bay, 3050 North Rocky Point Drive in Tampa. Lodging is available at the newly renovated hotel at just $109 per night.

* To reserve online, go to www.doubletreetampabay.com, click on “Reservations,” complete your arrival information and use the group/convention code: ALA.

* To reserve by phone, call (813) 888-8800 and reserve using group code: ALA.

To register for the Lawyers for Libraries/Florida Institute, or if you have any questions, please visit www.ala.org/lawyers or contact Jonathan Kelley, (800) 545-2433, ext. 4221, or e-mail, jokelley@ala.org. The cost to attend an institute is $395.00 for one and $745.00 for two.