Intellectual Freedom Policy 2010

American Library Association 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.

I. 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.
II. 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.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information
and enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free
expression and free access to ideas.
V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age,
background, or views.
VI. Libraries that 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.

Adopted June 19, 1939, by the ALA Council; amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2, 1961;
June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980; inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996.

Access

No student shall be prevented from accessing materials available in their school’s media center. No
policies shall be enacted that would discourage a student from attempting to access any materials. For
example, the media center should not create a restricted category for certain resources that require
students to ask for the materials. All students should be provided equal access to resources (print and
electronic) and no student or group of students should be discouraged from accessing any resources.

Selection of materials

The media specialist should consider intellectual freedom when selecting materials for his or her media
center. This means that a variety of viewpoints on current and historical should be included in the media
center collection. Material should never be excluded based on viewpoint. All other aspects of material
selection is covered in the Selection of Materials section of this policy. Similarly, continuing evaluation of
the media center collection should not include removal of materials based simply on their potential for
controversy.

Challenges

Residents and employees of the school system may challenge materials in the media center. To do this, a
Media Challenge Form will be available upon request for the individual to complete and return to the
affected school. This form will be supplied by the school principal. The school principal will also explain the
challenge process at the time the individual requests the challenge form. Upon completion, the form will
be filed with the principal. The form will then be addressed by the school media committee (see the Role of
the Media Committee portion of this policy), which will evaluate the challenged material and decide
whether to remove the material from the school’s media center or to take no other action. The school
media committee will be instructed that no media should be removed from the media center solely
because of a difference in political, religious, or social opinion. Within five days the principal should notify
the original complainant about the committee’s decision.

Materials should not be removed or restricted from a media center’s collection until the media committee
has decided the material should, in fact, be removed. Materials should never be removed or restricted
simply because a complaint has been filed.
 Intellectual Freedom Policy 2010

Internet

All schools should be provided access and all students should be provided equal access to the internet.
Access to sites should not be blocked based on political or religious beliefs.
 Intellectual Freedom Policy 2010
References

http://www.bibb.k12.ga.us/images/media_policies.pdf

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/iftoolkits/ifmanual/fifthedition/schoollibrary.cf
m

http://www.sjlibrary.org/legal/policies.htm?pID=228