Reconsideration of Materials Policy

If a library member is dissatisfied by the library’s material selections, he or she may contact a library staff member to receive paperwork to challenge the library’s holding of the specific materials.

Procedure for the Reconsideration of Materials:

If a complaint or objection is made concerning a particular book or other media, the library staff should do the following:

• Be courteous, but make no commitments
• Invite the complainant to file his or her objections in writing to the Review Committee on the form provided, a copy of which follows as a supplement to Policy #4.1-4.3
• Temporarily remove the material from circulation after the complaint has been filed in writing for study by the Review Committee which shall consist of three Library Board Members appointed by the President of the Board of Trustees. The Director of the library shall serve on the committee in advisory capacity.

The Review Committee will follow the procedures below:

• Review the material according to the following guidelines:
  • Consider the work as a whole, not just an isolated passage
  • All media should have certain elements of value, permanent or timely value, accuracy, authoritativeness or clear presentation
• After a thorough review, the Committee will determine its recommendation by a majority vote.
• The committee will notify the complainant of its decision in writing.
• The decisions of the Committee will be kept on file in the Library.
• The decision of the Committee is final.

Adopted: 12/8/97
Revised: 10/9/01
Amended: 10/9/01