Collection Development Manual > Intellectual Freedom
Intellectual Freedom, Censorship & the Law
The primary purpose of the Multnomah County Library is to meet the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs of all of the communities it serves. The library subscribes to the principle that the freedom to read is essential to our democracy, and that free communication is essential to the preservation of a free society. To insure free communication and the rights of the residents of Multnomah County to a broad range of ideas and concepts, the library endorses the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom To Read Statement and the Freedom to View Statement.
The American Library Association declares as a matter of firm principle that it is the responsibility of every library to have a clearly defined materials selection policy in written form which reflects the "Library Bill of Rights", and which is approved by the appropriate governing authority.
Challenged materials that meet the criteria for selection in the materials selection policy of the library should not be removed under any legal or extra-legal pressure. The "Library Bill of Rights" states in Article I that "Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation" and in Article II, that "Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval". Freedom of expression is protected by the Constitution of the United States, but constitutionally protected expression is often separated from unprotected expression only by a fine and uncertain line. The Constitution requires a procedure designed to focus searchingly on challenged expression before it can be suppressed. An adversary hearing is a part of this procedure. Therefore, any attempt, be it legal or extra-legal, to regulate or suppress materials in libraries must be closely scrutinized to the end that protected expression is not abridged."
Adopted June 25, 1971; amended July 1, 1981; amended January 10, 1990, by the ALA Council.
Multnomah County Library will respond to customer complaints. Customers may request that library materials be re-evaluated with reference to the Library's selection criteria. Customers will be asked to complete a "Statement of Concern About Library Resources" form when filing their objection.
The library reports all challenges to materials to the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse, a project of the Center for the Book at the Oregon State Library. The Clearinghouse collects reports about challenges against all types of library materials in all types of Oregon libraries in an attempt to document the level of censorship attempts in Oregon. An Annual Report of the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse is produced and released during September of each year. While the Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse cooperates with other persons and groups concerned with intellectual freedom or related issues, it is intended that the Clearinghouse be an unbiased information resource.