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HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-1185-6-93RESOLUTION NO. 1185-6-93 (R) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN, TEXAS, ADOPTING AN AMENDED COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY FOR THE ALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY TO INCLUDE STATEMENTS ON INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM, AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to amend the Collection Development Policy for the Allen Public Library which was approved in 1990; and, WHEREAS, the City Council believes that intellectual freedom is essential to our democracy and should be upheld, supported and defended in the selection and provision for accessibility of all library materials; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN, TEXAS, THAT: SECTION 1: The Collection Development Policy approved by the Allen Public Library Board is hereby adopted as the policy of the City of Allen concerning the selection and accessibility of materials at the Allen Public Library. SECTION 2: The principles of the American Library Association's "Library Bill of Rights", "Freedom to Read", "Statement on Labeling" and "Free Access to Libraries for Minors", as well as the Texas Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Statement will be included in the Collection Development Policy and upheld. SECTION 3: This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption. DULY PASSED AND APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ALLEN, COLLIN COUNTY, TEXAS, ON THIS THE 17TIJDAY OF JUNE , 1993. APPROVED: Z��Ax 4�� ce Farmer, MAYOR ATTEST: J y Mo 'son, CITY SECRETARY RESOLUTION NO. 1185-6-93(R) ALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY ie Collection Development Policy Because no public library can afford to acquire or house the complete annual output of the publishing industry, a process of selection must take place. The Allen Public Library strives to provide a collection that is current, balanced and representative of all fields of knowledge to the extent of its financial limita- tions. The purpose of this policy shall be: 1. To provide the staff with guidelines for the selection of materials, and 2. To inform the public of selection principles. Responsibility for Selection 1. The responsibility for materials selection rests ultimately with the Library Director. 2. Under the Library Director's direction, the profes- sional staff, who are qualified for this activity by reason of education, training and experience, are delegated to select, develop and maintain their respec- tive collections, or assigned portions thereof. 3. Advice of specialists in the community may be requested in fields in which staff members do not have sufficient expertise. Suggestions from readers are welcome and are given serious consideration within the general criteria. Final decision for purchase rests with the library staff. SUGGESTED FOR PURCHASE Date Your Name * Title * Author Publisher * Where you heard about Year WHILE THE LIBRARY WELCOMES YOUR SUGGESTIONS AND WILL MAKE EVERY EFFORT.TO FULFILL THEM, ALL ITEMS FOR PURCHASE CONSIDERATION MUST BE EVALUATED ACCORDING TO THE CRITERIA IN THE LIBRARY SELECTION POLICY. * All starred (*) items must be completed. 1 Criteria for Selection Recognizing that fiction and non-fiction materials require different selection standards, the following criteria will be used in judging non-fiction and reference materials: A. Non-fiction and reference materials: 1. Authoritativeness and/or reputation of the author, creator, publisher, or sponsoring group. 2. Accuracy of the information presented. 3. Relation of the work to the existing collection. 4. Comprehensiveness and depth of treatment. 5. Objectivity of approach. 6. Representation of varying points of view. 7. Appropriate presentation for the intended audience. 8. Organization of the contents including indexes, biblio- graphies, and appendices. 9. Technical aspects such as illustrations, sound and clarity. 10. Physical characteristics including typeface, paper, binding and durability. 11. Cost, including not only actual price, but also ongoing costs to process and maintain. 12. Public demand. B. Fiction materials are judged on the followin 1. Literary merit. 2. Characterization, theme, plot and setting. 3. Popular or limited appeal. 4. Any appropriate non-fiction criteria listed above. 2 C C. Special Formats 1. Periodicals will be evaluated according to the follow- ing criteria: a. Indexed in Reader's Guide to'Periodical Litera- ture, or other indexing services owned by the library. b. Frequency of use C. Interest, as indicated by patron requests d. Reputation and quality of publication e. New titles or subjects of current interest: f. Regional significance 2. Newspapers are purchased to give local, state, national and international news coverage as budget and space permit. 3. Recordings a. Audio recordings and video recordings will be acquired to supplement the educational, informa- tional and cultural needs of the users. The library will not collect copies of current feature films. b. Video tape format will be limited to 1/2" VHS. The presence of materials in the library must not be con- strued as a personal endorsement of their contents by any member of the staff, the Library Board, or the City Council. The library has a responsibility to collect materials expressing a variety of views and opinions, many of which the persons respon- sible for maintaining the library may find personally unaccep- table. The library subscribes to the principles of the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read Statement, Statement of Labeling and Free Access to Libraries for Minors and the Texas Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Statement. (See Addenda for full texts). 3 Use of Selection Aids Ideally, all materials added to the library collection would be read or viewed before purchase by a librarian with trained Judgement, knowledge of the library's present resources, and acquaintance with the requirements of local users. Where cir- cumstances make such previewing impossible or unnecessary, the staff makes use of selection aids, such as basic general lists, current general lists, special bibliographies for reference materials and particular subject materials, and reviewing journals and newspapers. While reviews are a major source of information about new materials,' they are not to be followed blindly. No one publication is relied upon exclusively; the critical opinions of reviewers are checked against each other where feasible. The professional librarians will use the following aids in the selection of materials: A. Public Library Catalog and other Wilson catalogs B. Booklist C. Kirkus D. Science Books and Films E. Library Journal F. Publisher's Weekly G. School Library Journal H. Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books I. New York Times Book Review J. Wilson Library Bulletin K. American Library Association bibliographies L. Annual lists of book award winners M. Other review media deemed acceptable by the Library Director The library recognizes that many materials (books, videos, recordings, etc.,) are controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons. Responsibility for the reading and viewing of children rests with their parents and/or legal guardians. Selection will not be inhibited by the possibility that the materials may inadvertently come into possession of children. Selections will be made on the merits of the work in relation to the building of the collection and the interests of the com- munity. 4 ALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY GIFT POLICIES Due to the size, nature and staffing of the Allen Public Library, the library cannot act as a museum or research facility. Gifts to the library, in the form of materials or money for memorials or honorariums are welcome. However, gifts will be treated in the same way as all other materials. This means: 1. All gifts are subject to the previously stated criteria for selection.- 2. election; 2. Gifts may or may not be added to the library's collection, at the discretion of the library staff; 3. Gifts will be handled while in the collection in exactly the same way as materials purchased with public funds; 4. When gift materials are deemed no longer useful, the library will discard them on the same basis it discards other materials. The library reserves the right to decide the conditions of display, housing and access to the materials. No estimate of value or record of donated items will be furnished.. A gift form will be used when the library staff accepts materials. (Sample form follows) DATE The Allen Public Library gratefully acknowledges receipt of your donation. Items donated to the Library are tax deductible. The IRS places with the donor the responsibility for estimating the "fair market value" of the items. Your copy of this form is the official receipt. You may list your donations on the back. Signed 5 ALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY GIFT RECEIPT FORM Gifts of materials are accepted by the Library with the understanding that they may or may not be added to the Library's collection. The decision to include gift materials will be based on the following considerations: whether the materials meet the Library's standards of materials selection; whether the physical condition is satisfactory; whether the Library needs the title, or added copies of the title. Please understand that the Library cannot make a dollar evaluation of gifts. If you need a list of titles given, it should be made before donation of the materials, and the list will be certified at the time of donation. 1V dlliu IMUUL C55 �.i t.y , .)LdLe , Glp c,oae Telephone Today's Date MAINTENANCE OF THE COLLECTION The collection will be periodically examined for the purpose of weeding, binding, or repair of materials to maintain a balanc- ed, timely, and attractive book stock. Reasons for withdrawal of materials are: poor physical condition; datedness and inaccuracy of information; lack of reader interest as evidenced by lack of use; duplicates not justified by demand; and items that do not meet the current selection criteria. The controversial nature of materials shall not be deemed a sufficient reason for removal unless and until the material has been subjected to a full formal review as outlined below. REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF MATERIALS Because in a pluralistic society, tastes and opinions differ, some materials the library acquires may be offensive to some patrons. In a democracy which incorporates the rights of free press and speech into its basic system of law, the minority does not have the prerogative to curtail the free access to published materials by the majority. Just as important, the majority does not have the right to curtail free access to published materials by the minority or the individual. If, however, a patron objects to materials held by the library, the patron may submit a REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS. In no instance will material be removed on demand. All considerations of requests to remove materials will be reviewed using the principles of this selection policy statement as a guide. In order to have a request considered, the patron must: 1. Be a registered borrower of the Allen Public Library; 2. File a completed REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS form with the Library Director; 3. Supply full name and address. Anonymous complaints will not be considered. After the completed complaint form is received, the Library Director will review the reasons for the complaint and the material in question. The Library Director will attempt to answer the complaint to the patron's satisfaction. If the patron is not satisfied with the Library Director's action, the patron may request that the material be reviewed by the Library Board for resolution. 7 Your Name ALLEN PUBLIC LIBRARY CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF MATERIALS ary Card Address Zip Telephone Whom do you represent: Myself Organization (Please Specify) Material questioned: Author Title Form of material (eg. book, video recording, etc.) Did you read, view or listen to the material in its entirety? Yes No Have you seen or heard reviews of this material?: If yes, please name source. What do you think the material is about? Please state your comment, suggestion or criticism of the material as specifically as possible (use additional sheets if necessary) What would you like the library to do about this material? Your Signature Date N. ALLEN PUBLIC,LIBRARY COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT PLAN PURPOSE OF COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT PLAN To accomplish its general goals, the Allen Public Library needs a well -selected, current collection of materials. The purpose of the Collection Development Plan is to provide a framework and timetable which the library staff can use to weed, evaluate, and rebuild the collection in order to obtain a solid, basic up-to-date collection. GOALS The goals of the Collection Development Plan are to build a quality collection of at least 60,000 items with the following general parameters: 35% children's materials, 50% adult cir- culating materials, 15% non -circulating reference materials and at a basic level of intensity. OBJECTIVES 1. To weed, from the entire collection, the old, unused and out-of-date materials, in an organized manner and over the next five years. 2. To evaluate the entire collection by comparing it to professionally accepted lists of recommended, basic materials. 3. To rebuild the collection by setting aside specific monies for purchase of current, basic materials in each subject area. 4. To extend the rebuilding process over the next five years to allow current materials in all areas to continue to be acquired as published. S. To provide guidelines for the librarians throughout the processes of weeding, evaluating and selecting materials. 0 I TIMETABLE The collection Development Plan will go into effect upon recommendation by the Library Board and approval by the City Council. The following timetable and order will be followed: A. W Budget Year Subject Area 1989/1990 - 500's (Pure sciences) 800's (Literature) 1990/1991 - 300's (Social Sciences) 600's (Applied science) 1991/1992 - 700's (The arts) 900's (Geography and history) 1992/1993 - 000's (Generalities) 100's (Philosophy & related discipline) 200's (Religion) 400's (Language) 1993/1994 - Fiction Biography PLAN OUTLINE Assignment of Responsibility: 1. Adult Collection: Responsibility for weeding, evaluat- ing and selecting materials in the Adult Collection (including Reference) is assigned to the Library Director and/or the Director's designees. 2. Children's Collection: Responsibility for weeding, evaluating and selecting materials in the Children's Collection is assigned to the Children's Librarian. Duration: The plan will be in effect for five years, beginning in 1990, and ending December 31, 1994. Should time and budget allow, the timetable may be pushed up for an earlier comple- tion. 10 C. Procedure: For each Dewey number or subject area the following pro- cedure will be observed: 1. Section will be weeded 2. Section will be evaluated 3. New materials will be selected for section 4. Move on to next section or Dewey number D. Weeding Process: 1. Area to be weeded will be "shelf -read" to assure materials are in proper order and to speed process. 2. Weeding will be done according to the CREW (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding) Manual, developed by Texas State Library and North Texas Library System. 3. Inventory will be done at same time as weeding in order to identify missing, lost or circulating materials. 4. Books will be divided into the following categories: a. OK: Current book in good condition; will remain on shelf. b. New Edition: Out-of-date book with suspected new edition; weed, but check to see if new edition available. C. New Copy: Good book in poor condition and not bindable; order new copy d. Bindery: Good book in poor condition and bin- dable; send to bindery. e. Weed: Book out-of-date, no longer used or in poor condition and not worth binding or replacing; remove and withdraw from collection. 5. All books but OK category will be pulled from the shelf and marked with a "Disposal Slip", to be sorted and disposed of as indicated. 11 U E. Evaluating Process 1. After section has been weeded, books in all above categories should be compared to standard sources and lists. 2. Books previously marked "Weed" that are listed in the current sources should be retained. 3. Standard sources and lists should be compared to existing collection to determine gaps, weak areas, and important works missing from the collection. 4. Obvious gaps or particularly weak areas in the collec- tion should be identified for high priority rebuilding. 5. Priorities should be set for selection of replacement and rebuilding materials. F. Selecting Process 1. Using priorities set in Evaluating Process and avail- able lists of recommended books, current available items should be selected for purchase. 2. Specific monies (a percentage of the annual book budget) will be set aside in the budget each year for Collection Development, to be used for selection of basic, current or standard materials. 3. Selection must be done carefully, with a maximum of thought, to insure development of the best possible collection with the resources allotted. DISPOSAL SLIP ( ) Bindery ( ) Consider new edition ( ) Consider replacement ( ) Weed ( ) Other 12 SELECTION DISTRIBUTION General Percentage Distribution Children's Materials 250 Nonfiction 380 Fiction (incl. Large Print) 11% Reference (incl. VF ) 12% Collection Development 120 Professional 20 TOTAL 100% Specific Percentage Distribution Children's (250 of total): Juvenile Nonfiction 350 Juvenile fiction 200 Easy Picture Books 250 Easy Readers 100 AV 10 TOTAL 1000 Adult Fiction (11% of total): Fiction 500 MF 10% WF 10% SF 10% Large Print 5% YA 150 13 TOTAL 1000 Adult Nonfiction (38% of total) : 000's (Generalities) 50 100's (Philosophy & 20 related discipline) 200's (Religion) 20 300's (Social Sciences) 13% 400's (Language) to 500's (Pure sciences) 60 600's (Applied science) 220 700's (The arts) 130 800's (Literature) 14% 900's (Geography & history) 180 Biography 40 TOTAL 1000 13 ADDENDUM A 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. 1. 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, back- ground or views of those contributing to their cre- ation. 2. 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. 3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfill- ment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment. 4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas. 5. A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. 6. 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 18, 1948. Amended February 2, 1961, June 27, 1967, and January 23, 1980, by the American Library Association Coun- cil. ADDENDUM B FREEDOM TO READ STATEMENT The freedom to read is,essential to our democracy. It is con- tinuously under attack. Private groups and public authorities in various parts of the country are working to remove books from sale, to censor textbooks, to label "controversial" books, to distribute lists of "objectionable" books or authors, and to purge libraries. These actions apparently rise from a view that our national tradition of free expression is no longer valid; that censorship and suppression are needed to avoid the subver- sion of politics and the corruption of morals. We, as citizens devoted to the use of books and as librarians and publishers responsible for disseminating them, wish to assert the public interest in the preservation of the freedom to read. We are deeply concerned about these attempts at suppression. Most such attempts rest on a denial of the fundamental premise of democracy: that the ordinary citizen, by exercising his critical judgement, will accept the good and reject the bad. The censors, public and private, assume that they should determine what is good and what is bad for their fellow citizens. We trust Americans to recognize propaganda, and to reject it. We do not believe they need the help of censors to assist them in this task. We do not believe they are prepared to sacrifice their heritage of a free press in order to be "protected" against what others think may be bad for them. We believe they still favor free enterprise in ideas and expression. We are aware, of course, that books are not alone in being sub- jected to efforts at suppression. We are aware that these efforts are related to a larger pattern of pressures being brought against education, the press, films, radio and television. The problem is not only one of actual censorship. The shadow of fear cast by these pressures leads, we suspect, to an even larger voluntary curtailment of expression by those who seek to avoid controversy. Such pressure toward conformity is perhaps natural to a time of uneasy change and pervading fear. Especially when so many of our apprehensions are directed against an ideology, the expression of a dissident idea becomes a thing feared in itself, and we tend to move against it as against a hostile deed, with suppression. ADDENDUM B FREEDOM TO READ STATEMENT PAGE 2 And yet suppression is never more dangerous than in such a time of social tension. Freedom has given the United States the elasticity to endure strain. Freedom keeps open the path of novel and creative solutions, and enables change to come by choice. Every silencing of a heresy, every enforcement of an orthodoxy, diminishes the toughness and resilience of our society and leaves it the less able to deal with stress. Now as always in our history, books are among our greatest instrument of freedom. They are almost the only means for making generally available ideas or manners of expression that can initially command only a small audience. They are the natural medium for the new idea and the untried voice from which come the original contributions to social growth. They are essential to the extended discussion which serious thought requires, and to the accumulation of knowledge and ideas into organized collec- tions. We believe that free communication is essential to the preserva- tion of a free society and a creative culture. We believe that these pressures towards conformity present the danger of limiting the range and variety of inquiry and expression on which our democracy and our culture depend. We believe that every American community must jealously guard the freedom to publish and to circulate, in order to preserve its own freedom to read. We believe that publishers and librarians have a profound responsibility to give validity to that freedom to read by making it possible for the readers_ to choose freely from a variety of offerings. ADDENDUM B FREEDOM TO READ STATEMENT PAGE 3 The freedom to read is guaranteed by the Constitution. Those with faith in free men will stand firm,on these constitutional guarantees of essential rights and will exercise the respon- sibilities that accompany these rights. We therefore affirm these propositions: 1. It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expres- sions, including those which are unorthodox or unpopular with the majority. Creative thought is,by definition new, and what is new is different. The bearer of every new thought is a rebel until his idea is refined and tested. Totalitarian systems attempt to maintain themselves in power by the ruthless suppression of any concept which challenges the established orthodoxy. The power of a democratic system to adapt the change is vastly strengthened by the freedom of its citizens to choose widely from among conflicting opinions offered freely to them. To stifle every -nonconfor- mist idea at birth would mark the end of the democratic process. Furthermore, only through the constant activity of weighing and selecting can the democratic mind attain the strength demanded by times like these. We need to know not only what we believe but why we believe it. 2. Publishers, librarians, and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation contained in the books they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral, or aesthetic views as a standard for determining what books should be published or circulated. Publishers and librar- ians serve the educational process by helping to make avail- able knowledge and ideas required for the growth of the mind and the increase of learning. They do not foster education by imposing as mentors the patterns of their own thought. The people should have the freedom to read and consider a broader range of ideas than those that may be held by any single librarian or publisher or government of church. It is wrong that what one man can read should be confined to what another thinks proper. ADDENDUM B FREEDOM TO READ STATEMENT PAGE 4 3. It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to determine the acceptability of a book on the basis of the personal history of political affiliations of the author. A book should be judged as a book. No art or literature can flourish if it is to be measured by the political views or private lives of its creators. No soci- ety of free men can flourish which draws up lists of writers to whom it will not listen, whatever they may have to say. 4. There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents, or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression. To some, much of modern literature is shocking. But is not much of life itself shocking? We cut off literature at the source if we prevent writers from dealing with the stuff of life. Par- ents and teachers have a responsibility to prepare the young to meet the diversity of experiences in life to which they will be exposed, as they have a responsibility to help them learn to think critically for themselves. These are affir- mative responsibilities, not to be discharged simply by preventing them from reading works for which they are not yet prepared. In these matters taste differs, and taste cannot be legislated; nor can machinery be devised which will suit the demands of one group without limiting the freedom of others. 5. It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept with any book the prejudgment of a label characterizing the book or author as subversive or dangerous. The ideal of labeling presupposes the existence of individuals or groups with wisdom to determine by authority what is good or bad for the citizen. It presupposes that each individual must be directed in making up his mind about the ideas he ex- amines. But Americans do not need others to do their think- ing for them. ADDENDUM B FREEDOM TO READ STATEMENT PAGE 5 6. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians, as guardians of the people's freedom to read, to contest en- croachments upon that freedom by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at large. It is inevitable in the give and take of the democratic process that the political, the moral, or the aesthetic concepts of an individual or group will occa- sionally collide with those of another individual or•group. In a free society each individual is free to determine for himself what he wishes to read, and each group is free to determine what it will recommend to its freely associated members. But no group has the right to take the law into its own hands, and to impose its own concept of politics or morality upon other members of a democratic society. Free- dom is no freedom if it is accorded only to the accepted and the inoffensive. 7. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians to give full meaning to the freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression. By the exercise of this affirmative respon- sibility, bookmen can demonstrate that the answer to a bad book is a good one, the answer to a bad idea is a good one. The freedom to read is of little consequence when expended on the trivial; it is frustrated when the reader cannot obtain matter fit for his purpose. What is needed is not only the absence of restraint, but the positive provision of opportunity for the people to read the best that has been thought and said. Books are the major channel by which the intellectual inheritance is handed down, and the principal means of its testing and growth. The defense of their freedom and integrity, and the enlargement of their service to society, requires of all bookmen the utmost of their faculties, and deserves of all citizens the fullest of their support. ADDENDUM B FREEDOM TO READ STATEMENT PAGE 6 We state these propositions neither lightly nor as easy generalizations. We here stake out a lofty claim for the value of books. We do so because we believe that they are good, possessed of enormous variety and usefulness, worthy of cherish- ing and keeping free. We realize that the application of these propositions may mean the dissemination of ideas and manners of expression that are repugnant to many persons. We do not state these propositions in the comfortable belief that what people read is unimportant. We believe rather that what people read is deeply important; that ideas can be dangerous; but that the suppression of ideas is fatal to a democratic society. Freedom itself is a dangerous way of life, but it is ours. Adopted by the American Library Association Council June 25, 1953; revised January 28, 1972. ADDENDUM C STATEMENT ON LABELING An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights Labeling is the practice of describing or designating materials by affixing a prejudicial label and/or segregating them by a prejudicial system. The American Library Association opposes these means of predisposing people's attitudes toward library materials for the following reasons: 1. Labeling is an attempt to prejudice attitudes, and as such,it is a censor's tool. 2. Some find it easy and even proper, according to their ethics, to establish criteria for judging publications as objectionable. However, injustice and ignorance rather than justice and enlightenment result from such practices, and the American Library Association opposes the establishment of such criteria. 3. Libraries do not advocate the ideas found in their collections. The presence of books and other resources in a library does not indicate endorsement of their contents by the library. A variety of private organizations promulgate rating systems and/or review materials as a means of advising either their members or the general public concerning their opinions of the contents and suitability or appropriate age for use of certain books, films, recordings, or other materials. For the library to adopt or enforce any of these private systems, to attach such ratings to library materials, to include them in bibliographic records, library catalogs, or other finding aids, or otherwise to endorse them would violate the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS. While some attempts have been made to adopt these systems into law, the constitutionality of such measures is extremely ques- tionable. If such legislation is passed which applies within a library's jurisdiction, the library should seek competent legal advice concerning its applicability to library operations. ADDENDUM C STATEMENT ON LABELING PAGE 2 Publishers, industry groups, and distributors sometimes add ratings to material or include them as part of their packaging. Librarians should not endorse such practices. However, removing or obliterating such ratings -- if placed there by or with permission of the copyright holder -- could constitute expurga- tion, which is also unacceptable. The American Library Association opposes efforts which aim at closing any path to knowledge. This statement, however, does not exclude the adoption of organizational schemes designed as directional aids or to facilitate access to materials. Adopted July 13, 1951; Amended June 25, 1971, July 1, 1981, and June 26, 1990, by the ALA Council. ADDENDUM D FREE ACCESS TO LIBRARIES FOR MINORS An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights Some library procedures and practices effectively deny minors access to certain services and materials available to adults. Such procedures and practices are not in accord with the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS and are opposed by the American Library Associa- tion. Restrictions take a variety of forms, including, among others, restricted reading 'rooms for adult use only, library cards limiting circulation of some materials to adults only, closed collections for adult use only, collections limited to teacher use, or restricted according to a student's grade level, and interlibrary loan service for adult use only. Article 5 of the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS states that, "A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views." All limitations on minors' access to library materials and services violate that Article. The "right to use a library" includes use of, and access to, all library materials and services. Thus, practices which allow adults to use some services and materials which are denied to minors abridge the use of libraries based on age. Material selection decisions are often made and restrictions are often initiated under the assumption that certain materials may be "harmful" to minors, or in an effort to avoid controversy with parents. Libraries or library boards who would restrict the access of minors to materials and services because of actual or suspected parental objections whould bear in mind that they do not serve in loco parentis. Varied levels of intellectual development among young people and differing family background and child-rearing philosophies are significant factors not accommodated by a uniform policy based upon age. In today's world, children are exposed to adult life much earlier than in the past. They read materials and view a variety of media on the adult level at home and elsewhere. Current emphasis upon early childhood education has also increased opportunities for young people to learn and to have access to materials, and has decreased the validity of using chronological age as an index to the use of libraries. The period of time during which child- ren are interested in reading materials specifically designed for them grows steadily shorter, and librarians must recognize and adjust to this change if they wish to serve young people effec- tively. Librarians have a responsibility to ensure that young people have access to a wide range of informational and recre- ational materials and services that reflects sufficient diversity to meet the young person's needs. ADDENDUM D FREE ACCESS TO LIBRARIES FOR MINORS PAGE 2 The American Library Association opposes libraries restricting access to library materials and services for minors and holds that itis the parents - and only parents - who may restrict their children - and only their children - from access to library materials and services. Parents who would rather their children did not have access to certain materials should so advise their children. The library and its staff are responsible for provid- ing equal access to library materials and services for all library users. The word "age" was incorporated into Article 5 of the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS because young people are entitled to the same access to libraries and to the materials in libraries as are adults. Materials selection should not be diluted on that account. Adopted June 30, 1972; Amended July 1, 1981 by the ALA Council. ADDENDUM E THE TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM STATEMENT A. PREAMBLE The Texas Library Association holds that the freedom to read is a corollary of the constitutional guarantee of freedom of the press. Freedom of choice in selecting materials is a necessary safeguard to the freedom to read, and shall be protected against extra -legal, irresponsible attempts by self-appointed censors to abridge it. The Association believes that it is the essence of democracy that citizens shall have the right of free inquiry and the equally important right of forming their own opinions, and that it is of the utmost importance to the continued existence of democracy that freedom of the press in all forms of public communication be defended and preserved. The Texas Library Association subscribes in full to the principles set forth in the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association, Freedom to Read Statement, and interpretative statements adopted thereto. B. AREAS OF CONCERN 1. LEGISLATION. The Texas Library Association is con- cerned with legislation at the federal, state, local and school district level which tends to strengthen the position of libraries and other media of communication as instruments of knowledge and culture in a free society. The Association is also concerned with moni- toring proposed legislation at the federal, state, local, and school district level which might restrict, prejudice, or otherwise interfere with the selection, acquisition, or other professional activities of li- braries, as expressed in the American Library Associat- ion's Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement. The Intellectual Freedom Committee works with the Legislative Committee to watch proposed legislation, at the various levels, which would restrict or interfere with the selection, acquisition, or other professional activities of libraries. ADDENDUM E THE TEXAS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM STATEMENT PAGE 2 2. INTERFERENCE. The Association is concerned with pro- posed or actual restrictions imposed by individuals, voluntary committees, or administrative authority on library materials or on the selection judgments, or on the procedures or practices of librarians. The Intellectual Freedom Committee attempts to eliminate restrictions which are imposed on the use or selection of library materials or selection judgments or on the procedures or practices of librarians; re- ceives requests for advice and assistance where freedom has been threatened or curtailed; and recommends action to the Executive Board where it appears necessary. 3. MATERIALS SELECTION POLICY. The Texas Library Associa- tion believes that every library, in order to strengthen its own selection process, and to provide an objective basis for evaluation of that process, should develop a written official statement of policy for the selection of library materials. The Intellectual Freedom Committee encourages all libraries to develop a written statement of policy for the selection of library materials which includes an endorsement of the Library Bill of Rights. 4. EDUCATION. The Texas Library Association is concerned with the continuing education of librarians and the general public in understanding and implementing the philosophy inherent in the Library Bill of Rights and the ALA Freedom to Read Statement. The Intellectual Freedom Committee supports an active educational program for librarians, trustees and the general public. 5. LIAISON WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. The Texas Library Association, in order to encourage a united front in defending the rights to read, shall cooperate with other organizations concerned with intellectual freedom. The Intellectual Freedom Committee advises on Texas Library Association positions and cooperates with other organizations. Adopted by the Texas Library Association Council September 15, 1972.