Cardholder Signup Policies: Access in Practice

When was the last time you examined your library’s cardholder policies to identify access barriers? In 2023, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) launched a research project to collect and study cardholder signup policies from public libraries across the nation. Using the findings, BPL convened a diverse working group of public library leaders to develop a policy framework of guiding principles and best practices for cardholder registration. 

In this webinar, representatives from the working group will present how and why this project was conceived and share an analysis of the findings. They’ll also provide opportunities for public library staff, leaders, boards, and community stakeholders to revisit their registration policies to better align with the library profession’s values of access and intellectual freedom. Topics covered will include residency requirements vs. managing costs of online content, youth signup, and considerations for non-English speakers.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Understand the range of cardholder policies that exist in public libraries, as well as the trends and patterns nationwide;
• Identify common registration practices that can create barriers to the public’s ability to access library resources and services; and
• Reference three case studies of libraries who have successfully re-examined and re-structured their cardholder signup policies to increase access.

Who Should Attend

This webinar is intended for public library directors and administrators, circulation/collections managers, and front-line staff eager to empower all members of their communities.

Panelists

Amy Mikel (she/her) is the director of customer experience at Brooklyn Public Library, responsible for implementing exceptional library services in the areas of reference, circulation, and collections across sixty-one branch locations. She oversees the library’s circulating print, media, ebooks, and database collections, as well as the processes and policies which govern patron account management and materials circulation. Amy is part of the team named Library Journal’s 2023 “Librarians of the Year” for their efforts on the Books Unbanned anti-censorship campaign.

Michelle Gordon Hartman (she/her) is the collection services manager at Sacramento Public Library (SPL), overseeing collection management, cataloging and processing, materials management, and support and access services. SPL serves 1.4 million residents through its twenty-eight branches and its mobile services. Previously, she spent nine years at Fresno County Public Library, with five years in outreach and four years as the support services division manager over collection development, cataloging, materials handling, shipping, and special collections.

Jennie Garner (she/her) has served in several roles in her twenty-seven years at the North Liberty Library in eastern Iowa, and as director since 2014. She oversees a staff of nineteen (ten full-time and nine part-time). She makes it her practice to involve all levels of staff in organizational planning and decision-making. As a leader, Jennie focuses on staff development and engagement—both in the library and in the community—as keys to a dynamic and impactful library. She has particular interests in positive leadership; intentional and inclusive policy development; and in access, equity, diversity, and inclusion. She has presented around the US and in Australia on related topics. Jennie is the immediate past president of the Association for Rural and Small Libraries and  firmly believes that libraries have the power to foster belonging and impact community resilience, working both locally and nationally on library advocacy. Among her favorite leadership reads are Radical Candorby Kim Scott and The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek. 

**NOTE**: Access information for this learning event will be sent to all registrants by American Library Association before the start of the event. In order to take this course/attend this webinar you will need to create (or use an existing) ALA account to proceed. It is free to create an account and you do not need to be an ALA member. If you do not wish to create an ALA account please cancel your registration.

CALL Training Partner for this Event: American Library Association