We all aren’t cut out to stand up and make speeches, but we must give it our best effort. Below are a number of tips for making a speech. If you are reluctant to speak at a board meeting, make an appointment with your local principal, superintendent, library director and/or chair of the library board. Have a conversation about why protecting the right to read matters. These personal, civil conversations can inform and move the needle.

TIPS

.• Make sure you ask to be listed on the agenda.

• Try to memorize and not read from the script.

• Practice, practice, practice – most public comments are 3-5 minutes. Find out how long they will give you to speak.

• Be on time to listen to the entire conversation and get a feel for the tenor/tone of the conversation.

• Speak to the board, not to the other members of the audience.

• Be prepared to answer questions from the board.

• Keep politics out of the conversation – we don’t want to alienate – just share facts.

• Share the legal precedent for first amendment rights – print this out and be prepared to hand them a copy if needed - https://www.michigan.gov/libraryofmichigan/-/media/Project/Websites/libraryofmichigan/For-Libraries/Administration/Library-Law/Other/Book_Challenges_Censorship__Michigan_Public_Libraries_742861_7.pdf?rev=248b7ebfd62746e2b15c85da66a8481e

• Know how to define pornography and explain why the materials don’t meet the bar for pornography.

• If there is a recording of the meeting, please send to MLA.

Link here