R-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.
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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.