Library Bill of Rights

The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

Adopted June 19, 1939, by the ALA Council; amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2, 1961; June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980; inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996.

Although the Articles of the Library Bill of Rights are unambiguous statements of basic principles that should govern the service of all libraries, questions do arise concerning application of these principles to specific library practices. See the documents designated by the Intellectual Freedom Committee as Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights.

CHALLENGED MATERIALS POLICY & PROCEDURES

If a complaint is made, the following procedure is recommended:

• The complainant should be informed of the PCHS Library Media Center selection procedure and provided with a printed copy of the selection policy adopted by the PCHS Library Media Center Advisory Committee and the PCHS SBDM Council

• The complainant should be requested to submit the formal “Request for the Reconsideration of Library Materials” to the school principal

  • All information must be complete and accurate on the form

  • The form must be typed or neatly printed in black or blue ink

• When the request is submitted

  • The principal and/or librarian will forward the request to the PCHS Library Media Center Advisory Committee:

    • The library media specialist

    • The principal or assistant principal

    • One member of the school teaching staff chosen by the school staff;

    • One member of the resource center professional staff chosen by the resource center professional staff;

    • Two students

  • The committee will have one month to respond to the complaint

• The PCHS Library Media Center Advisory Committee will fulfill its obligation by

  • Reading, viewing, and/or listening to the challenged material in its entirety

  • Appraising the acceptance of the challenged material

    • This will require the committee to check established criteria and selection tools utilized to acquire the material

  • Establishing relevance of the challenged material to the curriculum and the student needs

  • Completing the appropriate checklist of the challenged material

• The written recommendation should be presented to the complainant and the principal within one month of the registered dated of complaint.

  • The findings will be recorded in the PCHS Library Media Center Advisory Committee’s log