OK, I've gotten my library committee together and we have drafted a Mission Statement and Selection Policy. But an important issue came up. How do we deal with objections to materials in our collection?
I know that most public libraries have a form letter of some sort that people can fill out, specifically stating what they find objectionable about a book. I've found tons of material on the fact that one should have such a form, but cannot find an example of that form for use as a guideline.
Does anyone here have such a form and may I see a copy?
Thanks so much
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Following is a copy of our selection policy:
Selection Policy for St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
(1) Is the physical makeup of the material satisfactory? Free of mildew and markings?
(2) Does the material deem to be controversial subject matter? The church library avoids adding books that are controversial since the unity of the body of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church is of utmost importance.
(3) Does the author deem to be controversial?
(4) Does the material support the statement that the library is totally dedicated to sharing God’s message through print, audio and visual format?
(5) Is the material not easily/usually found in the local public libraries?
(6) Is the material a duplication of something already in the library?
(7) Is the library already saturated with materials on this topic?
(8) Is the material covered factual, accurate, reliable, authoritative and up-to-date?
(9) Is the subject matter handled fairly as opposed to being maliciously biased?
(10) Do the originator and distributor have good reputations for material in the field?
(11) Books in question may be routed to the full Library Committee or the Sr. Pastor for evaluation and recommendation for inclusion.
Slightly Used Donation Policies: Materials donated to the St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church Library must be evaluated and approved by the Volunteer Librarian, the full Library Committee, or the Sr. Pastor on the same basis as new materials being considered for purchase. Those materials not appropriate and approved shall be disposed of by the Volunteer Librarian in any manner deemed appropriate.
Thanks Bev,
You've given me some great ideas. It's far more comprehensive than what I thought of. I will certainly modify our document to include some of the information you use.
Linda
We started our church library essentially from scratch and opened in July 2013. We tried to think of everything and have a good plan from the beginning. I must have used a similar resource to the one already provided to create an information page that includes our mission statement, selection policy and how we deal with challenged material. I was expecting people to have concerns/challenges/issues to some items that we included in the library. However, not a single person has expressed a concern (yet!)... but if they do we are ready and know how to respond!
Materials Selection Policy.docx
Good morning and Happy Easter!
Here's the promised challenge form.
I recommend you keep your forms in a binder and include a note about the decision you made as a result of the challenge --- remove, keep, etc. Hope you will find this helpful.
Kathy
Materials Challenge Form.docx
Thanks so much!
I have a challenge form that I received at the church librarian's conference at Ridgecrest in summer 2012. Unfortunately, I don't have an electronic version handy, but I will post it here for you this weekend.
Ask your public library if they have that type of form and see if you can use it for a guideline. I believe I have had one that someone gave me to use in a class, but I will have to see if I can find it. We don't have an official form either, but it is a good idea. Most of our discussions are verbal, but a written objection would be good to have in the rare occurrence that someone found something really objectionable about an item.
We don't have one and I've never even heard of using this! What happens in our library is this - someone will come to us and say, "Just so you know, that movie has xyz in it" or "you might want to have a closer look at this book" , and then someone on the committee has a look and we decide what to do with it!
I guess I'd just make up a form with what YOU think is relevant information. Do you get, or anticipate getting, a lot of objections?