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Library Materials Selection
To serve all of the people within the Pierce County Library District's service area, materials in the library collection will be selected in accordance with the Library District's Mission Statement:
To bring the world of information and imagination to all people of the county.
The Board of Trustees of the Pierce County Library District recognizes that the highest potential of American Democracy can only be realized when a full rage of ideas is accessible to the people as embodied in the First Amendment of the United States Constitution which protects the free expression of ideas.
The Pierce County Library System’s collection, protected by the First Amendment and Article I of the Washington State Constitution, is a marketplace of ideas which are contained in varied and divergent materials.
Forms of expression that are unprotected by the First Amendment will not knowingly be included in the collection.
A. Selection Policy
1. The library collection will be selected and maintained to provide material which will enable each individual to acquire or to adapt the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in self-government, be productive, elevate his or her humanity and contribute to his or her enjoyment of life according to the full exercise of free choice.
In pursuit of this goal, the Library’s collection will include as wide a selection as possible, and subjects will be covered in sufficient depth to meet anticipated and expressed needs.
The collection will be impartial and will seek the greatest possible balance by including, as available, diverse and opposing points of view on issues of public interest.
Factors to be considered in adding specific materials to the Library’s collection shall include: present collection composition, collection development objectives, interest, demand, timeliness, audience, significance of subject, diversity of viewpoint, and effective expression. No materials shall be excluded because of the race, nationality, religion, political or social view of the author.
The Library welcomes public suggestion of items and subjects not included in the Library’s collection.
2. The Board of Trustees recognizes that full information about issues of public concern requires access to information sources which embody, represent and illustrate these concerns.
The Board believes that library use is an individual, private matter. While individuals are free to select or reject materials for themselves, they cannot restrict the freedom of others to read, view or inquire. Parents have the primary responsibility to guide and direct the library use of their own minor child. The Library does not serve in loco parentis (in the place of parents).
Individual items which in and of themselves may be controversial or offensive to some may appropriately be selected if their inclusion in the collection will contribute to the balance and effectiveness of the Library’s collection as a whole.
3. Selection is and shall be vested in the Director of the Pierce County Library District and, under her direction, in such members of the staff whoa are qualifies by reason of education and training.
4. The Board of Trustees recognizes the right of individuals to question suitability of materials in the library collection. The Library will give serious consideration to each patron’s opinion.
5. The library collection will be organized and maintained to facilitate access. Any additional labeling, sequestering or alteration of materials because of controversy related to them will not be sanctioned.
B. Withdrawal
The Board of Trustees recognizes that withdrawing materials from the collection is as important part of the maintenance of the Library’s collection as the initial selection.
Therefore, the withdrawal policy of the Library shall include the same factors as the selection policy.
The paragraph is not intended to sanction removal of library materials based upon any controversy surrounding the material.
Board Policy 2.6
Adopted by the Pierce County Rural Library District Board of Trustees on November 11, 1992. Mission Statement revised April 11, 1996 with the adoption of the Long Range Plan. Revised February 13, 2008.