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View and Reflect

Site: MSL Learn
Course: Legal and Operational Issues Facing Montana's Libraries
Book: View and Reflect
Printed by: Guest user
Date: Sunday, 5 October 2025, 6:05 AM

Description

Work through this section to access discussion questions, webinar recording, speaker information, and resources. 

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Table of contents

About our Speaker

Kris Goss is the Director of Library Learning Hub at Helena College - University of Montana. Kris also serves as an attorney and currently works with the firm of Jackson, Murdo, & Grant, P.C. in Helena.

Kris previously worked with the Montana School Boards Association and served as a law clerk in the chambers of the Honorable Sam E. Haddon in the United States District Court for the District of Montana. Prior to law school, Kris worked as the Governor’s K-12 Education Policy Advisor and Deputy Communications Director in the administration of Governor Judy Martz.  

Kris earned a law degree from the University of Montana School of Law, a Master of Arts in Library and Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin, and a Bachelor of Arts from Carroll College. He serves as the Vice Chair of the Trust for Montana Libraries Board of Directors and serves on the Montana Library Association Intellectual Freedom and Government Affairs Committees. 

Discussion Questions

Legal Foundations for Libraries

  1. How does the Montana Constitution support the role of public libraries in lifelong learning?
  2. In what ways can libraries ensure they are fulfilling their constitutional duty to support educational potential for all Montanans?
  3. How can libraries incorporate the constitutional recognition of American Indian cultural heritage into their services and collections?

Access to Information and the First Amendment

  1. What does the “right to receive information” mean in the context of library services?
  2. How can libraries balance open access to information with community concerns about content?
  3. What are some examples of viewpoint discrimination, and how can libraries avoid it?

Obscenity Law and Collection Development

  1. How does the Miller Test help determine whether a book or material is legally obscene?
  2. What steps should a library take when a book is challenged for its content?
  3. How can collection development policies be written to reflect legal standards while supporting intellectual freedom?

Restricted Access and Censorship

  1. What are the legal risks of placing materials in restricted access areas?
  2. How can libraries organize their collections by age or subject without violating access rights?
  3. What role should parents and librarians play in guiding minors’ access to materials?

Libraries as Public Forums

  1. What is the difference between a traditional public forum and a limited public forum?
  2. How should libraries manage behavior and speech in different areas of the facility (e.g., meeting rooms vs. reading areas)?
  3. What are the implications of allowing political or religious groups to use library spaces?

Policy Development and Governance

  1. Why is it important for libraries to have clear, written policies?
  2. How can libraries ensure their policies are legally compliant and reflect community values?
  3. What are best practices for reviewing and updating library policies?

Volunteer Management

  1. What legal and ethical considerations should be included in a volunteer policy?
  2. How can libraries ensure volunteers understand and follow confidentiality and conduct expectations?
  3. What role should insurance and background checks play in managing volunteers?

Privacy vs. Public’s Right to Know

  1. When does a staff member’s right to privacy yield to the public’s right to know?
  2. How should libraries handle sensitive personnel issues in compliance with open meeting laws?
  3. What safeguards can be put in place to protect both transparency and individual rights?

Practical Support and Resources

  1. What are some examples of situations where legal guidance might be necessary?
  2. How can libraries build stronger partnerships with legal and policy experts?

Discussion questions generated from the webinar transcript using Microsoft Copilot.

Recording

(1:04:28)

MSL Resources and Consulting

You can learn more about legal topics for libraries in a variety of ways.

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