Recently Asked Questions
Submit a Question to Ask the Lawyer
| Topic | Question | Submission Date | Tag(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Show+! Copyright Considerations of Display and Use of Minor Student Work | We are reviewing our copyright policies and procedures at our BOCES. We are specifically reviewing student work. |
Copyright, Fair Use, Students, School Libraries, Section 110, Templates | |
| Process for Organizational Solidarity Statements | I’m part of a professional library association that is a 501(c)(3), like the American Library Association, Association for College and Research |
501c3, Ethics, Political Action | |
| Library and Other Cultural Workers Cashing Out Accrued Paid Time Off | Our Library has a CSEA Collective Bargaining Agreement with Employees, and individual employment contracts with administrators. |
PTO, Vacation, and Leave, NY Labor Law, Retirement | |
| School district public libraries independently calling for budget votes | We are a school district public library. |
School Districts, Budget, Elections | |
| Fan fiction programs at public libraries | I wanted to host a fanfiction writing contest for my teen department, as we have a lot of teens who enjoy writing fanfiction about their favori |
Intellectual Property, Copyright, Public Libraries, Fan Fiction, Library Programming and Events, Public Domain | |
| Owner control of service animals in public spaces | I saw a leashed dog in the library and saw no obvious identifiers that it was a service animal. |
ADA, Disability, Accommodations | |
| School district public library election deadlines falling on weekends | Our trustee petitions to run for board seats are due 30 days before our election. That date happens to fall on a Sunday. |
Elections, Board of Trustees, School Districts, Public Libraries | |
| Showing movies in a school: 2025 update! | [In 2019, we got some questions about Swank movie licenses, streaming services, and schools, and posted the answer here: |
Copyright, Movies, Swank Movie Licensing, Umbrella Licensing, Licensing | |
| Patron privacy regarding recording devices and minors | Is the library at risk if a teen patron volunteers to share contents of a cell phone? |
Policy, First Amendment, Privacy, Recording devices, Children in the Library, Patron Confidentiality | |
| Top Ten Risk Management Exercises For Governing Boards of Libraries & Cultural Institutions During the 2025 Federal Shift | Early 2025 has brought changes to stability of certain federal programs, funding, and governance. |
Board of Trustees, Grants, DEI, Executive Order, Federal funding, Risk Management |
