07/12/2001 - Packet AGENDA
TIGARD LIBRARY BOARD
THURSDAY, JULY 12, 2001 - 7:00 P.M.
TIGARD PUBLIC LIBRARY—PUETT ROOM
13125 SW HALL BLVD.
TIGARD, OREGON -
1. CALL TO ORDER Braun
2. ROLL CALL: BRAUN CHAPMAN DIAMOND _ JOHNSON
KASSON LAWTON SMITH THENELL
3. Approve Minutes of June 7, 2001. Braun
4. Agenda Additions and Deletions. Braun
5. Call to the Public. Braun
6. Introduction of Connie Martin, Sr. Administrative Specialist. Barnes
7. Election of Officers. Braun
8. Monthly Report for June 2001. Barnes
9. Friends of the Library Report. Burgess
10. Friday Hours/Summer Reading Program. Barnes
11. WCCLS Formula. Barnes
12. New Tigard Library Construction Committee. Chapman
13. Internet Policy. Barnes
14. Library Foundation. Diamond
15. Board Communications. All
(Reports from Board members on community and citizen activities)
16. Other Business.
17. Adjournment.
TO ENSURE A QUORUM TO CONDUCT BUSINESS, PLEASE CALL CONNIE MARTIN OR
MARGARET BARNES AT THE LIBRARY(684-6537), IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND.
Agenda items for future meetings:
•
h:\docs\conn ie\I ib-a
r�
TIGARD LIBRARY BOARD
MINUTES
June 7, 2001
Call to Order: 7:08 p.m., by Chair, Anne Braun.
Roll Call: Larry Beck, Anne Braun, David Chapman, Marvin Diamond, Nancy Irwin,
and Sue Kasson. Staff: Margaret Barnes and Connie Martin.
Minutes: It was noted to correct the minutes to reflect that the Friends of the Library
Book Sale will be held September 14 and 15. It was moved by Irwin, and
seconded by Beck to approve the minutes of May 10, 2001 as amended.
Motion passed unanimously.
Agenda Additions and Deletions: None.
Call to the Public: None.
Reports: May Monthly Report: There was no written report at the date of this
meeting, but the statistical portion of the report was available and was
distributed by Barnes. Barnes highlighted some of the month's activities.
There was a five percent increase, in circulation from May 2000. The
Circulation Division has interviewed for a 20-hour position. The new
Youth Services Specialist, Louise Meyers will begin work on June 25. As
a result of the activities identified in the Long-Range Planning document, a
sub-committee of staff are working on more user-friendly, efficient use of
space. There will be some shifting with the information provided in the
lobby and grouping of the Latino/Spanish books to make them easier to
locate. A tri-fold brochure has been developed by the New Tigard Library
Construction Committee and funds provided by the Friends of the Tigard
Library about the promotion of a new library facility is to be distributed at
the Balloon Festival.
CLAB/LDB Report: The CLAB and WCCLS Formula Committee met to
discuss the MIX (Metropolitan Interlibrary Exchange) Agreement. This
agreement allows for Tigard and Washington County users the ability to
check out materials within Clackamas and Multnomah Counties and Fort
Vancouver systems. In addition, WCCLS pays $60,000 per year to
Multnomah County for reference services within the MIX Agreement.
WCCLS has been chosen by the Library of Congress to take part in
electronic reference. There will be designated times that WCCLS will be
available to receive reference questions from anywhere in the U.S. During
test periods, TPL will have access to this service. Also discussed by the
WCCLS Formula Committee were different components of the
reimbursement formula. At the LDB meeting, it was noted that the
publisher of the Portland Parent has agreed to restock the publication at
TPL instead of relying on a TPL staff member. There was also discussion
of WCCLS' 25th anniversary celebration that was held on May 25th
Introduction of Cheryl Silverblatt, Division Manager for Readers Services:
Each month, at the Board's request, a member of the library staff will be present to
discuss their area of operation. This month Barnes introduced Cheryl Silverblatt, the
Library's Division Manager for Readers Services.
Cheryl has been with TPL since April and expressed that it was good to be back in the
public library system again. Cheryl indicated that she has been a director and deputy
director in other libraries. Cheryl described the Reader's Services Division duties as
providing the "public services" of the library, indicating the selection of books and other
materials are primary in this division. Cheryl supervises the reference desk functions,
youth services, outreach, collection development and adult services.
Friends of the Library Report: No report was given this month.
Friday Hours/Balloon Festival:
The first "Friday Hours," extended open hours from 5-9 p.m., was held June 1 and was
very successful with 270 people visiting the library during this time. There were a total
of 822 people in the library the entire day. Comments from patrons indicated they could
not wait for the extended hours to begin. Library Board members helped greet people.
There was entertainment in the Puett Room from 6-8 p.m. The second Friday of each
month the library will provide promotional materials for the event. An informational
brochure will be available and distributed at the Balloon Festival June 15, 16 and 17.
WCCLS Formula: Talked about in the CLAB/LDB report.
New Tigard Library Construction Committee:
The Construction Committee met May 24 and discussed feedback with staff regarding
the preliminary sites and that some discussion with property owners had taken place.
The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled for June 11 which will focus on the
workshop meeting with City Council on June 19. The Committee discussed the concept
of a one-story or two-story structure. It was noted that the Committee favored a two-
story structure totaling 47,000 sq. ft. Information will be presented to the City Council
where they may provide direction to more actively pursue a site with a property owner
as early as August.
Internet Policv:
Periodically library staff reviews policies and guidelines. The Internet Policy changes
were presented to the Board for their review, comments and suggestions. Chapman
suggested dates be added to the policies and wanted to see this discussion continue at
the July 12 meeting. Braun suggested Tigard's full name be included as well. Copies of
the Freedom to Read, Access to Information and Library Bill of Rights will be included in
the Board's packet for the July 12 meeting.
Cell Phones:
Braun mentioned that she was disrupted by a cell phone ringing one day while she was
in the library. Braun felt this was worth mentioning as the conversation was loud and
distracting. Barnes mentioned she will ask library managers to see if similar comments
have been noted. It was noted there was concern with the way the public might
respond if cell phone use was prohibited in the library.
Library Foundation:
Nine members of the working group attended the May 30 meeting with three new
people attending as well. There was discussion as to whether the capital campaign
should be included in the functions of the Foundation. It was expressed that the
Foundation needs to establish a more complete Board of Directors, choose a chair and
identify agencies, local businesses and people in assisting with fund raising for the
Foundation. Participants discussed at length. Tigard Library Board members have
agreed to sign a consent form to serve as original Foundation Board of Directors. The
next meeting is scheduled for June 27.
Board Communications: None.
Other Business: None.
Adjournment: It was moved by Beck, and seconded by Irwin to adjourn the meeting at
8:28 p.m. Motion passed unanimously.
Next meeting is scheduled for July 12, 2001.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Bill Monahan, City Manager
FROM: Margaret Barnes, Director of Library Services/V
DATE: July 12, 2001
SUBJECT: Library Monthly Report, May 2001
Technical Services: For this month, 1,645 materials were added to the collection.
580 bibliographic records, (including 10 original) were added to Polaris. The average
number of days for items to be cataloged and processed was 30.2.
Sandy Birkner, Amy Emery, Connie Levesque and Stephanie Winter attended Polaris
serials training at WCCLS this month. This training is in anticipation of using the Polaris
serials module for tracking subscriptions. The plan is to implement this new module
within the next few months after WCCLS staff finish inputting the full bibliographic
records for the magazines that are currently subscribed to by a library.
Cultural Passes: Linda Parker and Sandra Thorne attended a Cultural Pass meeting
on May 16. The Program Educator for WCCLS, Jodi Nielsen, met with representatives
from some of the WCCLS libraries to discuss the Cultural Pass program. New partners
under consideration for next year are the Chinese Garden, Oregon History Center and
the Gilbert House Museum. The Friends of the Tigard Library have agreed to again
sponsor the passes.
WCCLS will be providing new posters and covers for the passes. Sandra and Linda are
developing a plan to promote this program more effectively to the Tigard community.
Reference Desk: May statistics indicate that the reference staff conducted a total of
2,970 service interactions with the public. These included 2,502 reference questions,
167 directional questions and 301 instances of assisting the public with computers.
WCCLS 25" Anniversary Event: This celebration was the first event held at the
Fanno Creek program structure. The weather was beautiful and over 100 people
attended this event. Those in attendance enjoyed the West African musical
performance given by Chata Addy.
Homework Center: Average daily attendance at the Homework Center was three
students with approximately 42 students served over the course of the month.
Youth Programs: This month Wayne Grimm, Young Adult Librarian visited over 70
classrooms, reaching approximately 2,100 students face to face. The focus of these
visits was booktalking and promoting the Teen Summer Reading Program.
Terri Smith, Senior Library Assistant also spent the month of May visiting classrooms to
promote the annual Summer Reading Program. Through her school visits, Terri
reached 2,351 students. The theme for the Summer Reading Program is "Read a Wild
Tale."
The movie this month was the animated film, Princess Mononoke, with a great turnout
of 43 people.
Staff In-Service Day: The focus of Staff Development Day this year was on learning
about the operations within the different divisions. Staff had the opportunity to have
hands-on exercises in several different areas of Technical Services. The successful
and fun filled day was organized by Linda Parker, Dianne Byrne, Trish Stormont, Kathy
Vincent, Amy Emery, Linda Axtman and Sandra Thorne. A big thank you to all of them
for all their hard work to make the day both fun and informative.
Volunteers:
Volunteer Type Number Hours
Regular Volunteers 75 610.50
Youth Services 42 224.50
Local History 0 0.00
Adopt-a-Shelf 5 14.50
Library Board 6 9.00
Community Service 3 32.50
Friendly Visitors 8 27.50
New Library Construction 7 7.50
Homework Center 2 8.50
Total 148 934.00 = 5.3 FTE
"y" <.
Y r WORK INDICATORS MAY 2001 MAY 200 MAY 1999
Circulation
Total (from WCCLS) 46,986 44,430 42,811
Adult Materials
Juvenile Materials
Total 46,986 44,430 42,811
Days of Service 127 28 27.5
Average Daily Circulation 1,654 1,587 1,557
Hours of Service 275.5 283 271.5
Materials
Circulated per Hour 162 157 158
Increase in Circulation +5.4% +3.8% -18.2%(from 5/98)
Materials
Added 1,645 1,217 1,324
Withdrawn 943 1,085 2,161
Borrowers Registered 263 212
Cultural Passes Program 209(YTD) N/A N/A
23(Month)
Adult Programs 57 58 102
(Number of sessions) (15) (8) (13)
Story Time 25 103 143
(Number of Sessions) (2) (6) (6)
Toddler Time 53 118 52
(Number of Sessions) (3) (6) (3)
Special Programs 4,112** 4,112** 3,190**
(Number of Sessions) (19) (19) (18)
Children's Computer 107 96 111
Word Processors 322 362 268
Internet Users 3,219 2,682 1,709
Visitors
(Gate count divided by 2) 19,289 18,040 17,956
Increase in Visitors 6% +2.14% -13%
Fines/Fees Collected $4,637.00 $4,079.28 $ 829.74
Gifts Received $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 300.00
` No statistical report from WCCLS was generated. ** This includes Preschool Fair.
" Does not include self-checkout figures.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Bill Monahan, City Manager
FROM: Margaret Barnes, Director of Library Services
DATE: July 12, 2001
SUBJECT: Library Monthly Report, June 2001
Personnel: The new Youth Services Specialist, Louise Meyers joined the library staff
this month. Louise has experience working with children in a countywide library district
in Florida, Jackson County Oregon and most recently Multnomah County. Both Richard
Allen and Anna Foucek in Circulation are moving on to different things; their last day is
Friday, July 13. Rich is moving to the Chicago area with his wife Jennifer. Anna is
resigning to accommodate her graduate work at Portland State University. Rich's
Library Assistant position has been posted and interviews will be conducted in late July.
A number of Circulation staff successfully used the CompUSA on-line training made
available through Network Services. Bobby White and Dianne Byrne in Technical
Services attended a four-day workshop on book cataloging offered through OCLC in
Beaverton. The workshop provided in-depth training in both AACR2 rules and MARC
formatting for books. This training reinforced the training they have been receiving in-
house from Sandy Birkner. The workshop also provided the opportunity to practice
applying their new knowledge through hands-on exercises. -
Management Retreat: The management group of the library participated in an all day
retreat this month. The morning session was focused on communication styles and
ways to improve communication with the staff. The afternoon session focused on the
place of the public library in the community. The Strategic Plan for the library was used
to further the discussion about the role of a public library in the community. Both of
these sessions were presented by outside facilitators. The staff participating in the
retreat found the day to be informative and overall a positive experience. An outcome
of this retreat is the management group will now meet once a month on a regular basis.
Polaris: The reconfiguration at the Circulation desk and Information desk has made
the phone renewal process easier and faster. This change pleases both staff and the
public. The staff continue to experience problems with accessing Polaris at the
workstations that are on the City side of the network. The staff also continue to
experience printing problems. These issues are being worked on by Network Services.
Internet Workstations: The library continues to experience problems with the public
printing from the Electronic Resource Area. Patrons complain regularly about printing
hang-ups. Patrons are also experiencing problems with accessing particular websites.
Network Services has been responsive to these problems, but have not as yet found a
more permanent solution. Cyberpatrol was not operational most of the month. Network
Services this past week was able to resolve the issues with this software so that the
Internet workstation is now operational.
Circulation: Total checkouts for the month was 57,883. This is an 11.53% increase
over checkouts for June of 2000! This total was also the highest for any month this
fiscal year. Self-check usage went up to 6.7% of the total circulation. The busiest day
of the month was Monday, June 18, which was also the start of the Summer Reading
Program. On that day we had 3,448 checkouts as well as a gate count of 1,400 people.
Friday Hours: This month the library began staying open until 9:00 p.m. on Fridays.
On the first Friday that the library was open, music was provided by Banjo2. Each
Friday during the month of June the library offered musical interludes from 6:00 to 8:00
p.m. Each Friday of the new hours the library has had over 200 people visit the library
between 5:00 and 9:00 p.m. The numbers have ranged from a low of 213 on Friday the
8th (during Balloon Festival) to a high of 284 on the 29th. Overall, patrons have been
pleased with the musical events and appreciate the fact that the library is now open
until 9:00 p.m. on Fridays. In July, the library will begin to schedule musical/cultural
events on one Friday a month. These events will take place on the second Friday of
the month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. -The Friends of the Library are sponsoring the musical
events.
New Tigard Library Construction Committee: Two different factual tri-fold brochures
were developed this month to inform the community about the work of the Committee.
Members of the Committee volunteered at the City booth at the Balloon Festival to
provide information to the public about the new library project. Also at the Balloon
Festival the Committee conducted a brief survey. The survey asked community
members what services they would like to see expanded at the library. The survey also
asked if they would support funding for construction of a new library. This outreach to
the community was the first in a series of ways the Committee is planning to inform the
community about this project.
This month the Committee gave an update to the City Council on the work of the
Committee. The information presented included the recommendation by the Committee
that the new facility be a two-story structure. During the meeting the Council gave the
instruction to staff. to find out additional information about the representative sites the
Committee presented. The Committee is scheduled to give the Council an update in
July. The Committee will meet again on Monday, July 9.
Reference Desk: June statistics indicate that the reference staff conducted a total of
3,051 service interactions with the public. These included 2,518 reference questions,
203 directional questions and 330 instances of assisting the public with computers.
The Reference Desk staff is pleased with the new dual CPU arrangement at the
Reference Desk. This dual system allows for access to the City-side and the Public-
side networks. With this arrangement, the staff can more effectively work on projects
and reports and experience prompt response time when working in Polaris.
a
Technical Services: For this month 1,740 items were added to the collection. 652
bibliographic records, (including 10 original) were added to Polaris. The average
number of days for items to be cataloged and processed was 33. There were 442
orders placed this month and 2,339 items received. A new format that was cataloged
this month were Books on CD. The library now has 128 new items of this type. Bobby
White is the person who is responsible for cataloging this new item.
CPAH Program: The library sponsored a special program this month at the Villa La
Paz Community Center. Using grant funds from Live!@ the Library, Kate Miller
organized a special evening with author and financial planner Karen Sheridan. She
discussed with the group of women attending the program how to learn to take charge
of their limited resources, devise a financial plan and build their futures. Kate described
the evening as "truly inspirational" and a "hallmark event."
Summer Reading Kickoff Event: Summer Reading Registration began on Monday,
June 18. At this point, 870 children have registered to participate in Summer Reading.
The Library also hosted a special event on Monday, June 18, which was the Weiss &
Patricia Magic show. This event was attended by 175 people and another 100 people
were turned away because of the space limitations of the room. The event was filmed
by TVCA and will be rebroadcast several times during the month of July. The
broadcast types will be posted in the library and on the library's webpage.
In connection with summer reading, the library also hosted the kickoff event for the
WCCLS Comic Book Exchange program. Currently four libraries in WCCLS are
participating in this program. The young people in Tigard are enjoying the comic books.
The Teen Summer Reading Program is off to a great start. Already over 300 teens
have registered to participate in this program, significantly surpassing the number of
participants in last years program.
Volunteers:
Volunteer Type Number Hours
Regular Volunteers 81 649.00
Youth Services 42 218.00
Local History 1 1.00
Adopt-a-Shelf 6 15.50
Library Board 6 9.00
Community Service 3 27.50
Friendly Visitors 8 30.00
New Library Construction 7 14.00
Homework Center 2 8.00
Total 156 972.00 = 5.6 FTE
WORK INDICATORS DUNE 2001 JUNE 200' JUNE 1999
Circulation
Total (from WCCLS) 57,883 51,898 48,646
(3,865 self-check)
Days of Service 28 28 28
Average Daily Circulation 2,067 1,854 1,737
Hours of Service 295 279 283
Materials
Circulated per Hour 210 186 172
Increase in Circulation +11.5% +6.7%
Materials Added 2,392 1,495 1,411
Materials Withdrawn 751 3,120 764
Borrowers Registered 368 383
Cultural Passes Program 201(YTD) N/A N/A
17(Month)
Adult Programs 59 31 106
(Number of sessions) (13) (8) (15)
Story Time 78 91 81
(Number of Sessions) (4) (4 (4)
Toddler Time 0 0 0
(Number of Sessions) (0) (0) (0)
Special Programs 179 1,899** 779
(Number of Sessions) (3) (18) (12)
Children's Computer 113 131 117
Word Processors 348 287 235
Internet Users 3,616 3,173 1,884
Typewriter Usage 26 N/A N/A
Visitors
(Gate count divided by 2) 21,995 19,554 18,696
Increase in Visitors 12.5% +5.% -14.1%
Fines/Fees Collected $4,500.09 $4,652.42 $ 801.16
Gifts Received $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 19.65
No statistical report from WCCLS was generated. ** This includes Preschool Fair.
TIGARD PUBLIC LIBRARY INTERNET RULES
To enable the largest number of people to obtain the maximum benefit from these
information facilities, certain rules are in effect. The-Tigard Public Library reserves the
right to modify these rules at any time. Rule changes will be posted.
1. Internet users are expected to have a basic knowledge of how to operate a
computer. Library staff can only provide limited assistance.
2. You must sign up to use the Internet. Sign-up is for one hour maximum per day per
person. An exception is made if terminals are available and no one is waiting. You
must be prepared to surrender immediately if a new user signs up for the terminal.
This sign up may be made one day in advance. Sign-up sheets are provided near
the Reference Desk. Three workstations are reserved for short-term (15 minute)
use only.
3. Patrons are expected to be mindful and respectful of the rights of other patrons and
to respect staff, library rules and library equipment.
4. The settings on each computer are fixed for general use. Please do not attempt to
alter any computer settings. Individuals who tamper with these settings will be
asked to leave the computer area.
5. Internet access is open to patrons of all ages. The Library cannot control the
Internet and cannot be held responsible for its content. Parents are responsible for
their child's access to the Internet; children 10 years or younger must be
accompanied by a parent or guardian (ORS 163.545). Any restriction of a child's or
young adult's access to the Internet is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.
There is a filter on one computer that blocks out selected Internet sites.
6. Tigard public library provides access to a printer from the Internet workstations.
Copies are 10 cents per sheet. Please keep in mind that information printed from an
Internet workstation is not private and can be viewed by other patrons and staff.
7. Unacceptable behavior that may result in the loss of Internet privileges include:
■ Internet access for purposes which violate U.S., state or local laws;
■ making unauthorized copies of copyrighted or licensed software or data;
■ tampering with the settings of any computer;
■ tampering with the sign-up sheets.
Any person who refuses to comply with these directions will be asked to leave the
Library premises. Law enforcement officials may be called to enforce compliance with
such a request.
Internet Acceptable Use Policy — DRAFT#2
The Tigard Public Library offers public Internet access as part of its mission to provide
resources that reflect the great diversity of interests and opinions in our community.
Internet use will be managed in a manner consistent with the Library's Rules of Conduct,
which are posted in the Library. Failure to use the Internet stations appropriately and
responsibly may result in revocation of Internet use privileges, Library privileges and/or
criminal prosecution.
As with other library resources, providing access to electronic information does not imply
sponsorship nor endorsement by the Library. The Library does not monitor and has no
control over the information viewed through the Internet and cannot be responsible for its
content. Users are encouraged to take advantage of the Internet and to exercise good
judgment and discretion. The Internet offers access to many valuable sources of
information, but not all sites are accurate, complete, or current. There are many sites that
carry information that you may think controversial or inappropriate. It is left to each user
to choose what is individually appropriate and, as with other Library materials, parents or
legal guardians are responsible for their minor children's use of the Internet.
Privacy Protection:
Users should be aware that it is their responsibility to protect their privacy while using
the Internet. Interactions involving personal information such as credit card numbers,
home address and phone, etc. should be used with caution. Tigard Library and the City
of Tigard are not responsible for sensitive or personal information transferred via the
Internet on Library computers.
_ _ r
ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO INFORMATION ACCESS
An Interpretation of the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGI 7S
A democracy presupposes an informed citizenry. The First Amendment mandates the
right of all persons to free expression, and the corollary right to receive the constitutionally
protected expression of others. The publicly supported library provides free and equal
access to information for all people of the community the library serves. While the roles,
goals, and objectives of publicly supported libraries may differ, they share this common
mission.
The library's essential mission must remain the first consideration for librarians and
governing bodies faced with economic pressures and competition for funding.
In support of this mission, the American Library Association has enumerated certain
principles of library services in the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS.
FRINCIFLES GOVERNING FINES, FEES, AND USER CHARGES
Article I of the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS states: "Books and other library resources
should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the
community the library serves."
Article V of the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS states: "A"person's right to use a library
should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views."
The American Library Association opposes the charging of user fees for the provision of
information by all libraries and information services that receive their major support from
public funds. All information resources that are provided directly or indirectly by the
library, regardless of technology, format, or methods of delivery, should be readily,
equally, and equitably accessible to all library users.
Libraries that adhere to these principles systematically monitor their programs of service
for potential barriers to access and strive to eliminate such barriers when they occur. All
library policies and procedures, particularly those involving fines, fees, or other user
charges, should be scrutinized for potential barriers to access. All services should be
designed and implemented with care, so as not to infringe on or interfere with the
provision of delivery of information and resources for all users. Services should be re-
evaluated on a regular basis to ensure that the library's basic mission remains
uncompromised.
Librarians and governing bodies should look for alternative models and methods of library
administration that minimize distinctions among users based on their economic status or
1
financial condition. They should resist the temptation to impose user fees to alleviate
financial pressures, at long term cost to institutional integrity and public confidence in
libraries.
Library services that involve provision of information,regardless of format, technology, or
method of delivery, should be made available to all library
ual nd
equitable basis. Charging fees for the use of library collections, services, programs,or
facilities that were purchased with public funds raises barriers to access. Such fees
effectively abridge or deny access for some members of the community because they
reinforce distinctions among users based on their ability and willingness to pay.
PRINCIPLES GOVERNING CONDITIONS OF FUNDING
Article Il of the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS states: "Materials should not be'proscribed or
removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval."
Article III of the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS states: "Libraries should challenge censorship
in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment."
Article IV of the LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS states: "Libraries should cooperate with all
persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgement of free expression and free
access to ideas."
The American Library Association opposes any legislative or regulatory attempt to impose
content restrictions on library resources, or to limit user access to information, as a
condition of funding for publicly supported libraries and information services.
The First Amendment guarantee of freedom of expression is violated when the right to
receive that expression is subject to arbitrary restrictions based on content.
Librarians and governing bodies should examine carefully any terms or conditions
attached to library funding and should oppose attempts to limit through such conditions
full and equal access to information because of content. This principle applies equally to
private gifts or bequests and to public funds. In particular, librarians and governing
bodies have an obligation to reject such restrictions when the effect of the restriction is
to limit equal and equitable access to information.
Librarians and governing bodies should cooperate with all efforts to create a community
consensus that publicly supported libraries require funding unfettered by restrictions.
Such a consensus supports the library mission to provide the free and unrestricted
exchange of information and ideas necessary to a functioning democracy.
_ 2
The Association's historic position in this regard is stated clearly in a number of
Association policies: 50.4 Free Access to Information, 50.9 Financing of Libraries, 51.2
Equal Access to Library Service, 51.3 Intellectual Freedom, 53 Intellectual Freedom
Policies, 59.1 Policy Objectives, and 60 Library Services for the Poor.
Adopted June 30, 1993, by the ALA Council.
3
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.
1. Books and other library resources should e provided for the interest, information,
and enlightenment of all people of the community the library services. Materials
should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those
contributing to their creation.
2. 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.
3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to
provide information and enlightenment.
4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting
abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
5. A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of
origin, age, background, or views.
6. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public
they serve should make facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the
beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
Approved by ALA Council 1980 Midwinter January 1980
-- 9
FREEDOM TO READ
The freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is under attack. Private groups
and public authorities in various parts of the country are working to remove books from
sale, to censor textbooks, to label "controversial" books, to distribute lists of
"objectionable" books or authors, and to purge libraries. These actions apparently rise
from a view that our national tradition of free expression is no longer valid; that censorship
and suppression are needed to avoid the subversion of politics and the corruption of
morals. We, as citizens devoted to the use of books and as librarians and publishers
responsible for disseminating them, wish to assert the public interest in the preservation
of the freedom to read.
We are deeply concerned about these attempts at suppression. Most such attempts
rests on a denial of the fundamental premise of democracy: that the ordinary citizen, by
exercising his critical judgement, will accept the good and reject the bad. The censors,
public and private, assume that they should determine what is good and what is bad for
their fellow citizens.
We trust Americans to recognize propaganda, and to reject obscenity. We do not believe
they need the help of censors to assist them in this task. We do not believe they are
prepared to sacrifice their heritage of a free press in order to be "protected" against what
others think may be bad for them. We believe they still favor free enterprise in ideas and
expression.
We are aware, of course, that books are not alone in being subjected to efforts at
suppression. We are aware that these efforts are related to a larger pattern of pressures
being brought against education, the press, films, radio, and television. The problem is
not only one of actual censorship. The shadow of fear cast by these pressures leads, we
suspect, to an even larger voluntary curtailment of expression of those who seek to avoid
controversy.
Such pressure toward conformity is perhaps natural to a time of'uneasy change or
pervading fear. Especially, when so many of our apprehensions are directed against an
idealogy, the expression of a dissident idea becomes a thing feared in itself, and we tend
to move against it as against a hostile deed, with suppression.
And yet suppression is never more dangerous than in such time of social tension.
Freedom has given the United States the elasticity to endure strain. Freedom keeps open
the path of novel and creative solutions, and enables change to come by choice. Every
silencing of a heresy, every enforcement of an orthodoxy, diminishes the toughness and
resilience of our society and leaves it the less able to deal with stress.
FREEDOM TO READ - 1
10
Now as always in our history, books are among our greatest instruments of freedom.
They are almost the only means for making generally available ideas or manners of
expression that can initially command only a small audience. They are the natural
medium for the new idea and the untried voice from which come the original contributions
to social growth. They are essential to the extended discussion which serious thought
requires, and to the accumulation of knowledge and ideas into organized collections.
We believe that free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society and
a creative culture. We believe that these pressures towards conformity present the
danger of limiting the range and variety of inquiry and expression on which our
democracy and our culture depend. We believe that every American community must
jealously guard the freedom to publish and to circulate, in order to preserve its own
freedom to read. We believe that publishers and librarians have a profound responsibility
to give validity to that freedom to read by making it possible for the readers to choose
freely from a variety of offerings.
The freedom to read is guaranteed by the Constitution. Those with faith in free men will
stand firm on these constitutional guarantees of essential rights and will exercise the
responsibilities that accompany these rights.
We therefore affirm these propositions:
1. It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest
diversity of views and expressions, including those which are unorthodox or
unpopular with the majority. Creative thought is by definition new, and what is new
is different. The bearer of every new thought is a rebel until his idea is refined and
tested. Totalitarian systems attempt to maintain themselves in power by the
ruthless suppression of any concept which challenges the established orthodoxy.
The power of a democratic system to adapt to change is vastly strengthened by
the freedom of its citizens to choose widely from among conflicting opinions
offered freely to them. To stifle every nonconformist idea at birth would mark the
end of the democratic process. Furthermore, only through the constant activity of
weighing and selecting can the democratic mind attain the strength demanded by
times like these. We need to know not only what we believe but why we believe
it.
2. Publishers and librarians do not need to endorse every idea or presentation
contained in the books they make available. It would conflict with the public
interest for them to establish their own political, moral, and aesthetic views as the
sole standard for determining what books should be published or circulated.
FREEDOM TO READ - 2
�- 11
Publishers and librarians serve the educational process by helping to make
available knowledge and ideas required for the growth of the mind and the
increase of learning. They do not foster education by imposing as mentors the
patterns of their own thought. The people should have the freedom to read and
consider a broader range of ideas than those that may be held by any single
librarian or publisher or government or church. It is wrong that what one man can
read should be confined to what another thinks proper.
3. It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to. determine the
acceptability of a book solely on the basis of the personal history or the political
affiliations of the author.
A book should be judged as a book. No art or literature can flourish if it is to be
measured by the political views or private lives of its creators. No society of free
men can flourish which draws up lists of writers to whom it will not listen, whatever
they may have to say.
4. The present laws dealing with obscenity should be vigorously enforced. Beyond
that, there is no place in our society for extra-legal efforts to coerce the taste of
others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents,
or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression.
To some, much of modern literature is shocking. But is not much of life itself
shocking? We cut off literature at the source if we prevent serious artists from
dealing with the stuff of life. Parents and teachers have a responsibility to prepare
the young to meet the diversity of experiences in life to which they will be exposed,
as they have a responsibility to help them learn to think critically for themselves.
These are affirmative responsibilities, not to be discharged simply by preventing
them from reading works for which they are not yet prepared. In these matters
tastes differ, and taste cannot be legislated; nor can machinery be devised which
will suit the demands of one group without limiting the freedom of others. We
deplore the catering to the immature, the retarded or the maladjusted taste. But
those concerned with freedom have the responsibility of seeing to it that each
individual book or publication, whatever its contents, price or method of
distribution, is dealt with in accordance with due process of law.
5. It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept with any book the
prejudgment of a label characterizing the book or author as subversive or
dangerous.
The idea of labeling presupposes the existence of individuals or groups with
wisdom to determine by authority what is good or bad for the citizen. It
FREEDOM TO READ - 3
12
presupposes that each individual must be directed in making up his mind about
the ideas he examines. But Americans do not need others to do their thinking for
them.
6. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians, as guardians of the people's
freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by individuals or
groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at
large.
It is inevitable in the give and take of the democratic process that the political, the
moral, or the aesthetic concepts of an individual or group will occasionally collide
with those of another individual or group. In a free society each individual is free
to determine what it will recommend to its freely associated members. But no
group has the right to take the law into its own hands, and to impose its own
concept of politics or morality upon other members of a democratic -society.
Freedom is no freedom if it is accorded only to the accepted and the inoffensive.
7. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians to give full meaning to the
freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality of thought and
expression. By the exercise of this affirmative responsibility, bookmen can
demonstrate that the answer to a bad book is a good one, the answer to a bad
idea is a good one.
The freedom to read is of little consequence when expended on the trivial; it is
frustrated when the reader cannot obtain matter fit for his purpose. What is
needed is not only the absence of restraint, but the positive provision of
opportunity for the people to read the best that has been thought and said. Books
are the major channel by which the intellectual inheritance is handed down, and
the principal means of its testing and growth. The defense of their freedom and
integrity, and the enlargement of their service to society, requires of all bookmen
the utmost of their faculties, and deserves of all citizens the fullest of their support.
We state these propositions neither lightly nor as easy generalizations. We here stake
out a lofty claim for the value of books. We do so because we believe that they are
good, possessed of enormous variety and usefulness, worthy of cherishing and keeping
free. We realize that the application of these propositions may mean the dissemination
of ideas and manners of expression that are repugnant to many persons. We do not
state these propositions in the comfortable belief that what people read is unimportant.
We believe rather that what people read is deeply important; that ideas can be
dangerous; but that the suppression of ideas is fatal to a democratic society. Freedom
itself is a dangerous way of life, but it is ours.
FREEDOM TO READ - 4
13
Adopted June 25, 1953, by the ALA Council.
Endorsed by:
American Library Association Council, June 25, 1953
American Book Publishers Council, Board of Directors, June 18, 1953
Subsequently Endorsed by:
American Booksellers Association, Board of Directors
Book Manufacturers' Institute, Board of Directors
National Education Association, Commission for the Defense of Democracy
through Education
FREEDOM TO READ - 5
14