Request for Reconsideration Procedure 

Any parent, employee, or student of the school may express an informal concern or formal request for reconsideration of a library resource. Each complaint must first be addressed informally, then will follow the procedures of a formal request. 

• Challenged materials will not be removed from the collection during the reconsideration process. 

1. Informal Complaint Process: Persons with a complaint about library print or digital resources should first state their concerns to a school librarian. This discussion may take place in person, or via email. If staff members other than the librarians receive a complaint, the complainant should be directed to the librarian. The responding librarian will listen attentively to the complainant’s concerns and attempt to resolve the issue informally. 

   1.  As part of the discussion, the librarian(s) will explain the library’s selection policy, selection criteria, diversity of the collection with resources from many points of view, and the selection process. Additionally, each parent/guardian has the right to determine the appropriateness of library resources for their children and should accord the same right to other families. 

   2. If the issue cannot be resolved informally, the complainant will receive a Reconsideration Packet containing the following: 

      1. A copy of the school library’s mission and vision statements 

      2. The school library’s General Selection Criteria 

      3. The school Policy and Procedure for Handling Challenged Material 

      4. Request for Reconsideration of Materials form 

      5. A checklist to be signed by both the complainant and the librarian. 

   3. The checklist and Reconsideration form must be completed and returned to the front office of the affected school division before consideration will be given to the complainant.

   4. If there are concerns about multiple items, a separate form must be completed for each complaint. 

   5. No library resources will be removed from the shelves as a result of an informal complaint. However, a parent can request for their student(s) to not be given access to a material, and their request will be honored. 

   6. If the completed and signed formal request for reconsideration form has not been received by the school within ten school days, the matter shall be considered closed. 

2. Formal Complaint Process: When the Reconsideration form has been fully completed and returned to the affected school, the librarian(s) should notify the principal(s). All members of the reconsideration committee will also be informed. At least one meeting must occur in order to deliberate and come to a conclusion. 

   1. The reconsideration committee should include the school principal, the certified librarian(s), at least one language arts classroom teacher, and, optionally, members of the community with no ties to the complainant. The committee should consist of 3 or 5 people, in order to avoid a tie vote. This committee will be given time to review the materials in the Reconsideration Packet, as well as the challenged material in its entirety. 

   2. The committee should have a meeting scheduled within 10 school days after the principal receives the completed Reconsideration Form, bearing in mind that all committee members need to be informed of the need for consideration before the meeting. The Headmaster should also be aware of when this meeting will take place, and is welcome to attend if his/her schedule allows. 

   3. The work in question will remain on library shelves and in circulation until a formal decision is made. 

   4. The certified librarian(s) will secure copies of the resource being reconsidered for all committee members to review. Before a decision is reached, all members of the committee must read the work being reconsidered in its entirety. 

   5. The certified librarian(s) will provide the reviewing committee with a short formal Intellectual Freedom training that explains a packet of materials, which includes the Reconsideration Packet, the Library Bill of Rights, the completed reconsideration form, reviews of the resource being reconsidered, and a list of awards or honors, if any. The committee reserves the right to use outside expertise if necessary to help in its decision making. 

   6. The complainant will be given the opportunity to give a above-mentioned form. verbal or written statement to the committee. Any quotes used must be cited with page numbers, which can be easily referenced by the committee. Members of the committee should be given the opportunity to ask the complainant questions. However, the complainant will not be able to participate in or observe the committee’s deliberations. 

   7. During the initial or subsequent meetings, the committee will decide if the material aligns with the school library’s philosophy and selection criteria. If so, the item can either remain in circulation, or the committee can choose to reinstate it with limitations (ie, move it to a different library section, or make other restrictions). If the material is found to not align with the school library’s philosophy and selection criteria, it will be removed. Members will vote using a secret ballot. 

   8. The committee will report their decision within five school days of the final meeting. The written decision will be sent to the complainant, the Director, and all members of the reconsideration committee. The opinions of individual committee members will be kept anonymous in the written decision.