REQUEST TO RELOCATE LIBRARY MATERIAL POLICY

Online Form
PDF Fillable Form
Printable Form

PRINCIPLE(S):

The Camp Verde Community Library (Library) is committed to defending the constitutional rights of all individuals of all ages to access and use library materials, resources, and services.

The Library endorses the freedom to speak, publish, and read as promised by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

PRACTICE:

Children and young adults unquestionably possess First Amendment rights, including the right to receive information through the library in print, sound, images, data, social media, online applications, games, technologies, programming, and other formats. (Brown v. Entertainment Merchant’s Association, et al).  

Responsibility for library materials selected by minors and adolescents resides with their parents or legal guardians. The selection and placement of library materials will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may come into the possession of children.

Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of their contents, and library material will not be sequestered except to protect it from damage or theft.

1. Although materials are carefully curated, differences of opinion regarding suitable placement of materials can arise. Patrons requesting that material be restricted or moved to another location within the collection may complete a Request to Relocate Library Materials form.
2. The Librarian shall review the request form with professional staff to whom selection of materials is delegated as the Librarian deems appropriate. The decision from this review shall be communicated in writing to the patron within thirty (30) days.
3. The Requester submitting the Request for Review of Library Materials and Resources form will be referred to the Collection Development Policy.

In the event the patron is dissatisfied with the decision of the Librarian, the patron may request in writing to have the matter reviewed by a committee. Any such request must be in writing, received by the Town Manager within fourteen (14) days after the patron received the Librarian’s decision. Such a request must set forth in detail the basis of the disagreement with the Librarian’s decision and shall not be considered confidential.

The Committee is the group responsible for reviewing reconsideration cases and consists of the following members:

• Library Director
• Town Manager
• Town Council Member

The Committee shall have a Recording Secretary present to document the meeting and the Requester may attend the meeting to present information pertaining to the request.

Once a written request to review the Librarian’s decision has been completed, signed and turned into the Town Manager by the Requester, the matter will be submitted to the Committee. The specific library material outlined in the written request form will be circulated to committee members prior to the review date.

The Committee will set up a hearing date, not to exceed thirty (30) days from the date the form is filed by the Requester and will notify the Requester in writing of such date, time and place not less than ten (10) working days prior to the scheduled hearing. The hearing between the Committee and the Requester will serve to formally review the material in question. The hearing will be posted and conducted in compliance with the Open Meeting Law.

At the hearing, the Requester may present information pertaining to the request. A final determination by vote of the Committee may be taken at the end of the hearing or at such time as the hearing may be continued. The determination of the request shall be at the sole discretion of the Committee. Availability of materials and/or resources shall not be affected until a final vote of the Committee is taken.

The results of the hearing will be summarized on the Result of Hearing Form and mailed to the Requestor within ten (10) days of the committee’s final action on the request.

The Result of Hearing Form and the minutes of the proceedings will be kept on file at the Library and in files of the Town of Camp Verde.

Reference:

• Restricted Access to Library Materials: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights

• Access to Library Resources and Services by Minors: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights