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Collection Development
Policy

GENERAL  POLICY

The Seekonk Public Library acquires and makes available materials that inform, educate, entertain, and enrich individuals in the community. The Library provides, within financial limitations, a general collection of materials embracing broad areas of knowledge, and timely materials on current issues.  Within the framework of broad objectives, selection is based on community demographics and evidence of areas of interest. Ultimate responsibility for materials selection rests with the library director,  who operates within the framework of policies approved by the Board of Library Trustees. The Library supports the individual’s right to access ideas and information representing all points of view.  The Seekonk Board of Library Trustees has adopted the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read and Freedom to View statements.

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

 

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, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

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 fulfillment 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.

 

THE FREEDOM TO READ

1.       It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those which are unorthodox or
unpopular with the majority.

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. 

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 or political affiliations of the author.

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 expression.

 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.

 6.       It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians, as guardians of the people’s freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at large.

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 responsibility, they can
demonstrate that the answer to a bad book is a good one, the answer to a bad idea is a good one.

 

FREEDOM TO VIEW

The FREEDOM TO VIEW, along with the freedom to speak, to hear, and to read, is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.  In a free society, there is no place for censorship of any medium of expression.  Therefore these principles are affirmed:

1.       To provide the broadest possible access to film, video, and other audiovisual materials because they are a means for the communication of ideas.  Liberty of circulation is essential to insure the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression.

2.       To protect the confidentiality of all individuals and institutions using film, video, and other audiovisual materials. 

3.       To provide film, video, and other audiovisual materials which represent a diversity of views and expression.  Selection of a work does not constitute or imply agreement with or approval of the content. 

4.       To provide a diversity of viewpoints without the constraint of labeling or prejudging film, video and other audiovisual materials on the basis of the moral, religious, or political beliefs of the producer of filmmaker or on the basis of controversial content. 

5.       To contest vigorously, by all lawful means, every encroachment upon the public’s freedom to view.

 

 STATEMENT OF CONCERN

A singular obligation of the public library is to reflect differing points of view within the collection.  The Seekonk Public Library does not endorse particular beliefs or views, nor does the selection of an item express or imply endorsements of the viewpoint of the author.  Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of the contents, nor will items be sequestered. 

Comments from members of the community about the collection or individual items in the collection frequently provide librarians with useful information about interest or needs that may not be adequately met by the collection.  The Library welcomes expression of opinions by customers, but will be governed by the Book Selection Policy in making additions to or deleting items from the collection. 

Customers with serious concerns about library materials will be asked to put their requests in writing by completing and signing the form entitled Statement of Concern. 

Upon receipt of a formal, written request, the Director will ask background information from the staff as to criteria used in ordering the material in question, its place in the collection, and the reasons for having the material in the collection.  Outside consultants may be asked for additional information as is pertinent to the subject in question. 

The Director will, at the earliest possible date, study the information provided by the library staff and respond, in writing, to the person.  The Director will keep the Board of Library Trustees informed of all Statements of Concern of library materials and the disposition of the requests. 

In the event that the initiator of the request is not satisfied with the decision of the Director, they may request a meeting before the Board of Library Trustees by making a written request to the Chairman of the Board.  Upon the receipt of the request, the Board may make the request an agenda item and they will be notified of the time and place of the board meeting.  The Board of Library Trustees reserves the right to limit the length of the presentation and the number of speakers at the meeting. 

After hearing from the person (s), the Board will determine whether the issue has been handled in accordance with stated policies and procedures of the Seekonk Public Library, will review the background information provided by library staff, will review the position of the customer, and will also review the decision of the Director.  Based on the information presented, the Board may vote to uphold or override the decision of the Director. 

Approved: 3/97, Revised: 6/97, Revised 1/21/09

 

 


Internet Policy

To fulfill our mission, the Seekonk Public Library provides information access via electronic resources to meet the informational, educational, recreational and cultural needs of our community. One of those resources is the Internet.

 

 

All patrons using the Internet must do so in a responsible manner.

This includes the following:

accessing resources only for educational, cultural, recreational and informational purposes;
not seeking unauthorized access to any computer system;
not displaying text or graphics which may be considered obscene as defined in MGL 272 § 31;
not using the Internet for unauthorized, illegal or unethical purposes; not reproducing copyright protected materials.

 

The Internet is a vast information repository with no governance. The Seekonk Public Library cannot be held responsible for any information found on the Internet. Patrons must use their own judgment as to the accuracy and currency of each site.

 

The library assumes no responsibility for the use of the Internet by children under 18 years of age. Restriction of a child’s access to the Internet is solely the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian.

 

The Board of Library Trustees authorizes the Library Director to establish and enforce all rules and procedures needed to implement the above policy statement.

 

Adopted & Approved by the Board of Trustees