Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School, & Academic Libraries
Reporting censorship to ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) raises awareness of the harms of censorship. OIF tracks attempts to remove or restrict books across the country. By reporting censorship incidents, librarians help identify trends in censorship cases and document responses and solutions to censorship. Since 1990, OIF has maintained a database on challenged materials. ALA collects information from two sources: media reports and reports submitted by individuals.
Libraries are a forum for information and ideas equitably and without restricted access. OIF’s first priority is to make sure that all librarians, educators, and users know this. Our second priority is to fight any attempts to limit or remove access. Reporting censorship helps OIF provide better information and support to librarians and teachers facing intellectual freedom and access challenges.
Anyone may call ALA with questions or to report a challenge to library or classroom resources via the online challenge reporting form. A person does not have to be a member of ALA or a librarian. As a professional association designed to support librarians, we follow the lead of the people with whom we are working. In some situations, publicly aligning with outside advocates may not be the best course of action for a librarian in a tenuous environment. We will never reveal who contacts our office or why without the individual’s permission.
Home | Introduction
Why Do I Need a Policy? | Politics and Timing of Policy Creation | Selection Policies for Non-Public Institutions
Basic Components of a Selection Policy
Library Mission | Support for Intellectual Freedom | Objectives | Responsibility for Selection | Selection Criteria | Acquisitions Procedures | Special Collections | Selecting Controversial Materials | Gifts and Donations | Collection Maintenance and Weeding | Policy Revision | Reconsideration
Reconsideration Procedure
Guiding Principles | Statement of Policy | Informal Complaints | Request for Formal Reconsideration | Sample Reconsideration Form | Sample Letter to Complainant | Reconsideration Committees
Appendix
Intellectual Freedom Core Documents | Challenge Support and Reporting Censorship | Bibliography of Additional Selection and Reconsideration Policy Resources