View and Reflect

1. Balancing Rights
How can libraries effectively balance minors’ constitutional rights to access information with the parental rights outlined in MCA §40-6-701?

2. Staff Boundaries
What are appropriate boundaries for library staff when interacting with minors, especially regarding confidentiality and communication with parents?

3. Policy Clarity
How can libraries ensure their policies are both legally compliant and clearly understood by staff, patrons, and parents—especially around supervision and conduct?

4. Confidentiality vs. Safety
In what situations might a library need to override confidentiality protections for minors, and how should those decisions be documented and communicated?

5. Age vs. Behavior
Should libraries continue to use age-based rules for unattended minors, or shift toward behavior-based criteria? What are the pros and cons of each approach?

6. Community Context
How should libraries in rural or underserved areas adapt their policies to reflect limited access to law enforcement or social services?

7. Library Card Access
What are the implications of allowing minors to obtain library cards without parental permission, and how can libraries support both access and accountability?

8. Risk and Liability
What steps can libraries take to minimize legal risk when dealing with disruptive or unattended minors, especially in extreme weather or closing time scenarios?

Discussion questions generated from the webinar transcript using Microsoft Copilot.