PRINCIPLE(S):

The Camp Verde Community Library (LIBRARY) endorses the following intellectual freedom statements, which may be found in the Appendix:

• Freedom to Read (American Library Association)
• Freedom to View (Educational Film Library Association)
• Library Bill of Rights (American Library Association)

Preference for library materials or resources by patrons is a personal decision. Individuals who have a question about the selection of materials or resources in the library collection are referred to the LIBRARY’s Collection Development Policy.

Responsibility for library materials selected by minors and adolescents resides with their parents or legal guardians.

PRACTICE:

1. The selection of paper and electronic materials or resources and library programs included in the LIBRARY collection or calendar is delegated to the Librarian. That selection may be further delegated by the Librarian to professional staff as deemed appropriate. The selection of materials and resources shall be within the discretion of these individuals informed by the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read Statement, the Freedom to View Statement, and the LIBRARY’s Collection Development Policy.
2. Patrons may submit a request for reconsideration of library materials or resources by completing a Request for Review of Library Materials or Resources form and submitting it to the Librarian.
3. The Librarian shall review the Request form with the professional staff to whom selection of materials, resources or programs is delegated as the Librarian deems appropriate. The decision from this review shall be communicated in writing to the patron within thirty (30) days.
4. 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 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 on 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.