HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-26; Library Board of Trustees; ; Freedom to ReadOct. 26, 2022 ITEM 7 1 of 5
Meeting Date: Oct. 26, 2022
To: Library Board of Trustees
From: Sheila Crosby, Deputy Library Director
Katie Nye, Deputy Library Director
Staff Contact: Sheila Crosby, sheila.crosby@carlsbadca.gov
Katie Nye, katie.nye@carlsbadca.gov
Subject: Freedom to Read
District: All
Recommended Action
Receive a report on the principles for managing library collections.
Executive Summary/Discussion
Deputy Library Director Katie Nye will present information on the principles for managing
library collections, the current nationwide situation regarding the freedom to read, and
Carlsbad’s handling of requests to remove library materials from the collection.
Next Steps
None.
Fiscal Analysis
None.
Public Notification
Public notice of this item was posted in keeping with the Ralph M. Brown Act and was available
for public viewing and review at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting date.
Exhibits
1.Library Bill of Rights
2.Core Values of Librarianship
LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Staff Report
Oct. 26, 2022 ITEM 7 Page 2 of 5
EXHIBIT 1
Library 'Bi[[ of niglits
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 which 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.
Amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2, 1961; June 27,
1967; and January 23, 1980;
inclusion of "age" reaffirmed January 23, 1996, by the ALA Council.
EXHIBIT 2
Oct. 26, 2022 ITEM 7 Page 3 of 5
Core Va lues of Librarianship
The foundation of modern librarianship rests on an essential set of core values that define, inform, and
guide our professional practice. These values reflect the history and ongoing development of the profession
and have been advanced, expanded, and refined by numerous policy statements of the American Library
Association. Among these are: access, confidentiality/privacy, democracy, diversity, education and lifelong
learning, intellectual freedom, preservation, the public good, professionalism, service, social responsibility,
and sustainability.
It would be difficult, if not impossible, to express our values more eloquently than ALA already has in
the Freedom to Read statement (/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement), the Library Bill of Rights
(/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill), the ALA Mission Statement (http://www.ala.org/aboutala/), Libraries: An
American Value (/advocacy/intfreedom/americanvalue), and other documents. These policies have been
carefully thought out, articulated, debated, and approved by the ALA Council
(http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/council). They are interpreted, revised or expanded when
necessary. Over time, the values embodied in these policies have been embraced by the majority of
librarians as the foundations of their practice. These selections are direct quotes from the ALA Policy
Manual (/aboutala/governance/policymanual).
Access
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. ALA
Policy Manual
(http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/53intellfreedom#B.2.1
.14)8.2.1.14 Economic Barriers to Information Access
(http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/53intellfreedom#B.2.1
.15)
Confidentiality/Privacy
Protecting user privacy and confidentiality is necessary for intellectual freedom and fundamental to the
ethics and practice of librarianship. ALA Policy Manual B.2.1.17 Privacy
(http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/53intellfreedom#B.2.1
.17)
Democracy
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. Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights
(http://ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations), Economic Barriers to Information Access
(/advocacy /i ntfreed om/Ii bra ryb i II/i nterpretati o ns/ econ om i cba rri e rs)
Diversity
EXHIBIT 2
Oct. 26, 2022 ITEM 7 Page 4 of 5
We value our nation's diversity and strive to reflect that diversity by providing a full spectrum of resources
and services to the communities we serve. ALA Policy Manual B.3 Diversity
(http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/3diversity), Libraries:
An American Value (http://ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/americanvalue)
Ed ucation and Lifelong Learning
ALA promotes the creation, maintenance, and enhancement of a learning society, encouraging its members
to work with educators, government officials, and organizations in coalitions to initiate and support
comprehensive efforts to ensure that school, public, academic, and special libraries in every community
cooperate to provide lifelong learning services to all. ALA Policy Manual
(http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section 1 /1 mission )A.1.1
Introduction
(http://www.a la .org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section 1 /1 mission)
Intellectual Freedom
We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources. ALA Policy
Manual B.2 Intellectual Freedom
(http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/53intellfreedom), ALA
Code of Ethics, Article II (http://ala.org/tools/ethics)
The Public Good
ALA reaffirms the following fundamental values of libraries in the context of discussing outsourcing and
privatization of library services . These values include that libraries are an essential public good and are
fundamental institutions in democratic societies. 1998-99 CD#24.1, Motion #1
(http://www.ala.org/tools/outsourcing/background)
Preservation
The Association supports the preservation of information published in all media and formats. The
association affirms that the preservation of information resources is central to libraries and librarianship.
ALA Policy Manual B.8.3. Preservation
(http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanua1/section2/52libsvcsandrespon#
B.8.3), Preservation Policy (http://ala.org/alcts/resources/preserv/01 alaprespolicy)
Professionalism
The American Library Association supports the provision of library services by professionally qualified
personnel who have been educated in graduate programs within institutions of higher education. It is of vital
importance that there be professional education available to meet the social needs and goals of library
services. ALA Policy Manual B.7.1 Graduate Programs in Library and Information Studies
(http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section2/56libeduc#B.7.1)
Service
We provide the highest level of service to all library users. We strive for excellence in the profession by
maintaining and enhancing our own knowledge and skills, by encouraging the professional development of
co-workers, and by fostering the aspirations of potential members of the profession. ALA Code of Ethics
(http://ala.org/tools/ethics)
EXHIBIT 2
Oct. 26, 2022 ITEM 7 Page 5 of 5
Social Responsibility
ALA recognizes its broad social responsibilities. The broad social responsibilities of the American Library
Association are defined in terms of the contribution that librarianship can make in ameliorating or solving the
critical problems of society; support for efforts to help inform and educate the people of the United States on
these problems and to encourage them to examine the many views on and the facts regarding each
problem; and the willingness of ALA to take a position on current critical issues with the relationship to
libraries and library service set forth in the position statement. ALA Policy Manual A.1.1 Mission Priority
Areas, Goals
(http://www.ala.org/abouta la/govern a nee/pol icy man ua I/updated pol icy man ua I/section 1 / 1 mission)
Sustainability
ALA is supporting the library community by showing its commitment to assisting in the development of
sustainable libraries with the addition of sustainability as a core value of librarianship. This consists of
practices that are environmentally sound, economically feasible and socially equitable. Libraries play an
important and unique role in promoting community awareness about resilience, climate change and a
sustainable future. They are also leading by example by taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint.
ALA Policy Manual A.1.4 Core Organizational Values
(http://www.ala.org/aboutala/governance/policymanual/updatedpolicymanual/section 1 /1 mission#A.1.4 %20C
ore%20Organizational%20Values%20(OId%20Number%201 .3.1))
Adopted January 2019, by the ALA Council.
Freedom to Read
Katie Nye, Deputy Library Director
Sheila Crosby, Deputy Library Director
Library & Cultural Arts
October 26, 2022
{ City of
Carlsbad
BOOK CENSORSHIP IN 2021
The American Library Association counted 729
attempted book bans on 1,597
unique titles
ITEM 7: FREEDOM TO READ
{ City of
Carlsbad
BOOK CENSORSHIP IN 2022
There have been 681 attempts at book
banning on a record 1,651 unique titles
as of Aug. 31 2022
ITEM 7: FREEDOM TO READ
{ City of
Carlsbad
ITEM 7: FREEDOM TO READ
10 Most
Challenged
Books in
2021 • THE
• HATE u
GIVE
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ANGIE THOMAS
PERfORMW 8Y SAHNI TURPIN
·Slunnina.'
JOHN CREDI
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Toni Morrison
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Mt ANO t AR l ::~ Dy ING
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JESSE ANDREWS
Guiding Documents
•Library Bill of Rights
•ALA Core Values of Librarianship
•Freedom to Read Statement
•Collection Development Policy
ITEM 7: FREEDOM TO READ
( City of
Carlsbad
Library Bill of Rights & Core
Values of Librarianship
ITEM 7: FREEDOM TO READ
Intellectual
~Er om_
Freedom to Read Statement
Freedom itself is a dangerous way
of life, but it is ours.
ITEM 7: FREEDOM TO READ
Comment Form
ITEM 7: FREEDOM TO READ
4(_cityof
Carlsbad
Lil>r'a.ry & cuhur.al Arts
CITIZEN'S COMMENT R GARDING LIBRARY MATERIAl
Name _____________________ _ Date _____ _
Address _____________________________ _
City ________________ _ Ziip Cod e ________ _
Phone _______________ _
Gom1ment represents ______ s,el'f _ ____ o,ganlz:atlon
o,ga,nization name~ a ddress~ phone _____________ _
MATERIAL: Title _____________________ _
Author ____________________ _
Type of material!: __ boo!< __ v ideo/DVD audio __ oth@r
Did you read/ hear / see the ent ire work? If not, wh"t parts?
What do you believe· is t he general them e or subject o-f the item?
To what •n the-material do you object? Please be specific .and c ite pages. o r scene5.
What do vou feel m ie,:ht be the re:sul~ of reading/ hearing/ viewing this Item?
Is there anything good about the mate.rial} in your opinion ?
CONTINUED O N THE SACK OF THE FORM: PLEASE TURN OVER
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CARLSBAD?
ITEM 7: FREEDOM TO READ
( City of
Carlsbad
ITEM 7: FREEDOM TO READ
Questions?
( City of
Carlsbad