Library Board of Trustees Agenda and Packet 2011 03 10

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Textbooks: The Library will not attempt to supply textbooks and other materials required for school coursework, but will provide materials supplemental to, or correlative with, various courses of instruction. Textbooks will be purchased only when they supply the best or only source of information on a subject. Genealogy: The Library will not attempt to supply specialized genealogy sources but will purchase general guides to help patrons learn how to trace their ancestry. Religious Materials: The Library will endeavor to build religious collections which offer a broad spectrum of information on the texts, doctrines, history, and leaders of all major religions and religious philosophies. To achieve this end, the Library will ordinarily purchase or accept as gifts only religious material of broad general interest. Materials which proselytize, propagandize, or foster intolerance toward other religions will not be included in the Library's collection. Materials published by church -owned or church sponsored organizations will be accepted as gifts or be purchased only when they meet selection criteria. GIFTS Gifts shall meet the same selection criteria as purchased materials. Gifts are accepted subject to the following limitations: (1) the Library retains unconditional ownership; (2) the Library makes the final decision on acceptance, use, or disposition. When the Library receives a cash gift for the purchase of materials, whether as a memorial or for any other purpose, the general nature of subject area of the materials to be purchased will be based upon the wishes of the donor. Selection of specific titles, however, will be made by the library staff in accordance with the needs and selection policy of the Library. WITHDRAWAL OF MATERIALS To ensure a vital collection of continued value to the community, materials which have outlived their usefulness will be withdrawn. An up -to -date, attractive, and useful collection is maintained by retaining or replacing essential material, and removing, on a systematic and continuous basis, those works that are worn, outdated, of little historical significance, or no longer in demand. CHALLENGED MATERIALS The choice of library materials by users is an individual matter. Responsibility for the use of library materials by children rests with their parents or legal guardians. Selection should not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may inadvertently come into the possession of children. The Library does not stand in loco parentis. While a person may reject material for himself or herself and for his or her children, an individual may not exercise censorship to restrict the freedom of others to read, see, or hear. It is not the purpose of the Library to stimulate or to cater to trivial, antisocial, prurient, or immoral interests. But no one, least of all a free public library, has the right to judge what another may read, view, or hear. Citizen requests for reconsideration of specific materials or subject matter shall be made in writing and submitted to the Library Director. The Library's written consideration procedure will be followed and the Board of Trustees will review the complaint and render a final decision. The Louisville Library Board of Trustees adopts and declares that it will adhere to and support, and include as part of this policy: 1. The Library Bill of Rights 2. The Freedom to Read statement 3. The Freedom to View statement Collection Policy Page 2 of 3