Fort Vancouver Regional Library District Selecting and Discarding Materials PREAMBLE: The Board of Trustees of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library recognizes that the United States of America is a democracy in which the right to free expression is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution. People may speak, hear, view and read what they choose, no matter how popular or unpopular it may be, because democracy functions only when the full range of ideas is available to all the people. Fort Vancouver Regional Library is dedicated to the protection of the free expression of ideas and the private reading, listening, and viewing rights of individuals. Fort Vancouver Regional Library offers a collection that is varied, divergent, inclusive and protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, Article I of the Washington State Constitution and the Library Board’s endorsement of the Library Bill of Rights. SECTION I: OBJECTIVES OF THE COLLECTION The Library collection will be selected and maintained to enable each person to find the library materials and information that she or he wants according to her or his own free choice. No material will be excluded because of the race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, political or social view of either the author or of the material. The collection, taken as a whole, will be an unbiased and diverse source of information representing as many viewpoints as possible. Subjects and viewpoints will be covered in sufficient depth and breadth to meet anticipated and expressed individual and community needs. The Board recognizes that library resources are not unlimited. Selection of materials must adhere to budget allocations. Resource sharing with other libraries, and electronic and other methods of information access, are valid and necessary ways of meeting patron needs. Selection of materials by the Library does not mean endorsement of the contents or the views expressed in those materials. SECTION II: SELECTION Selection of library materials is vested in the Director of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library who may authorize qualified staff to assist. The Director has full authority to use her or his judgment in interpreting this Policy for Selecting and Discarding Materials. Library materials will be deemed to have been selected by the Board of Trustees. Fort Vancouver Regional Library develops its collections to meet the library and information needs of the variety of individuals and communities it serves in Clark, Skamania and Klickitat counties. The selectors are responsible for using their professional judgment, information, and other resources as available to make non-biased selections that meet the collection objectives of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library. Criteria to be considered in adding specific materials to the Library collection include, but are not limited to: collection objectives; existing subject coverage; public interest; community relevance; patron requests; timeliness of topic; audience for material; current or historical significance of author or subject; diversity of viewpoint; effective expression; creativity; imagination; reading enjoyment; and popularity as measured by the New York Times Book Review Best Sellers, Christian Retailing Top Sellers, and other such lists. The nature of the media and the technical quality of production are additional factors to be considered in selecting audio, video, electronic, and other non-print formats. Individual items, which in and of themselves may be controversial or offensive to some patrons or staff, may be selected if their inclusion will contribute to the range of viewpoints in the collection as a whole and the effectiveness of the community libraries’ ability to serve the people of Clark, Skamania and Klickitat counties. The Library strongly encourages its patrons to suggest items, topics, or authors they would like to see included in the collection. Serious consideration will be given to purchasing patron-requested materials when these requests meet collection objectives. Remaining requests may be met through resource sharing with other libraries, electronic retrieval or other means. SECTION III: ACCESS The Board of Trustees recognizes that full, confidential, and unrestricted access to information is essential in order for patrons to exercise their constitutional rights. The Board believes reading, listening, and viewing are individual private matters. While anyone is free to select or reject materials for themselves or their own minor children, the freedom of others to read or inquire will not be restricted. The Library does not stand in loco parentis. Parents and guardians, not the Library, have the responsibility to guide and direct the reading, listening and viewing choices of their own minor children. The Library collection will be organized, marked, and maintained to help people find the materials they want. Materials will not be restricted, sequestered, altered or labeled by the Library because of controversy about the author or the subject matter. SECTION IV: CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTION The Library Board considers all materials selected under this policy to be constitutionally protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the Washington State Constitution. If a patron claims that a particular item is not constitutionally protected, the burden of proof rests with that patron. If a court having jurisdiction over Fort Vancouver Regional Library decides that any material in the collection is unprotected by these constitutions, such material will be removed immediately. Material under court consideration will remain available to patrons until a court ruling is made. SECTION V: COLLECTION REVIEW PROCEDURE The Board of Trustees recognizes the right of individuals to question materials in the Library Collection. The Library will give serious consideration to each patron’s opinion. Material under consideration will remain available to patrons until a decision is made. Any patron questioning materials in the Library collection may ask the Library staff about such materials. A staff member will discuss the concern and give the patron a copy of this policy. Individuals still questioning library materials may state their opinion in writing on the "Patron’s Opinion of Library Materials" form. The Patron Opinion form will be sent to the Director who will refer it to a staff committee for review; the Director will appoint this committee as needed, but at least annually. Internal review may be initiated by sending a request to the Director with a written explanation of what action is recommended and why. The Director will initiate a review process. The committee will give the Director a recommendation based on the judgment of the members of the committee as to whether the material was appropriately selected and made accessible under this policy. Because of the need to meet individual as well as group preferences, the number of forms or petitions received will not be a factor in reaching a recommendation. The Director will make the decision and reply to the individual in writing as soon as practical. The Library Board will be informed at the next public meeting. Persons still wishing to express concerns to the Board about materials in the collection will be heard during a regular meeting under the agenda item "Citizen Comments" or at another time designated by the Board for public expression. The Board, after receiving testimony from the public and from the Director, will decide whether the actions taken followed library policies. SECTION VI: DISCARDING OF MATERIALS The Board of Trustees recognizes that discarding materials from the collection is an important part of maintaining the Library collection. Discarding of library materials is vested in the Director of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library who may authorize qualified staff to assist. When discarding materials, the Library will consider the same criteria as for selecting materials. Library materials will be deemed to have been discarded by the Board of Trustees. No materials will be removed because of controversy. Replacement of materials will be based on collection objectives. SECTION VII: POLICY REVIEW This Policy for the Selection and Discarding Materials will be periodically reviewed and revised or reaffirmed by the Library Board. Original Policy: November 29, 1972 Revised and Adopted: October 26, 1981 Revised and Reaffirmed: September 11, 1989 Revised and Reaffirmed: October 14, 1991 Revised and Reaffirmed: August 16, 1993 See also the Minor's Access to Library Materials discussion document from 1993 Revised and Reaffirmed: August 30, 1995 Revised and Reaffirmed: August 14, 2000