Project-Int.+Freedom


 * 1. Reconsideration Process: **
 * 1) The patron has filled out a "Citizen's Request for Reconsideration of Material" and turned it into the principal.
 * 2) The librarian will notify the concerned party that his/her request has been received and will begin the reconsideration process. (Send the procedure with the note).
 * Make sure that the concerned party knows that the materials under reconsideration will not be removed from use, or have access restricted, pending completion of the reconsideration process.
 * 1) Report the request for reconsideration to the superintendent and other staff members. It is important to demonstrate the ability and commitment to protect the rights of students and staff and still provide due process for those registering their concern.
 * 2) The librarian and the principal will appoint a committee to review the complaint. This committee shall be composed of the librarian, two teachers from the school (one from the discipline and/or grade representing the subject matter of the material and one from a different discipline and/or grade), and two member of the school community (this person could be a member of the Parent-Faculty Organization or another parent interest group).
 * Provide an explanation of selection procedures, a copy of the selection policy, and a copy of the reconsideration form.
 * Have the committee focus on principles rather than attempt to define or interpret materials or parts of materials.
 * 1) The committee will review the complaint and make a written report presenting both majority and minority opinions. Present the report to the principal when the process is completed.
 * 2) Final disposition authority to keep, remove or replace the challenged material rests with the principal and the librarian.
 * 3) A letter explaining the decision shall be sent to the complainant (including instruction on how he/she can continue his/her pursuit) and the superintendent by the principal.
 * The staff will also be notified by the librarian.
 * 1) If the complainant wishes to pursue the matter, he/she must bring the complaint to the school board through the superintendent.
 * 2) School board members will make the decision and notify the complainant and the committee of their decision.


 * 2. High Profile Organizations: **

**Support for Keeping the Book: ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">__American Civil Liberties Union__ – [|http://www.aclu.org]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Impression: This is a really attractive and very well organized Web site. It has that newspaper feel. I liked the sentence that greets all viewers, “Because freedom can’t protect itself.” I automatically assumed the ACLU would be a liberal organization based on the “Wedding Planning: New York Style” feature article.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Philosophy& Agenda: The ACLU considers themselves “our nation’s guardians of liberty.” Their work is centered on equal rights for __all__ people.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">__American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom__ – []
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Impression: This is a straight to the point kind of Web site. There is a lot of well organized content (good flow).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Philosophy& Agenda: The focus is on implementing the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights. Their goal is to educate people about the importance of intellectual freedom in libraries.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">__Electronic Frontier Foundation__ - []
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Impression: This is such an eye catching Web site. It is very easy to navigate!
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Philosophy& Agenda: The EFF in an advocate of the “networked world.” They fight battles concerning consumer rights; free speech, privacy, innovation.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">__National Coalition Against Censorship__ – []
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Impression: This Web site is really good-looking. Even though the NCAC sounds like a very serious group, I thought the Web site was inviting and almost fun.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Philosophy& Agenda: The organizations involved with the NCAC are dedicated to helping those dealing with censorship issues. They also work to spread awareness about censorship.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">__People for the American Way__ – [|http://www.pfaw.org]
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Impression: This Web site gives of a patriotic vibe. It took me a second to feel out this Web site. It had so much going on I could not place which side of the fence they would be on (support or take issue).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Philosophy& Agenda: The People for the American Way focus on making America a place where everyone is equal under the law. They will defend the rights of all and will combat hatred and bigotry.

**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Take Issue with Keeping the Book: ** <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">__American Family Association__ – [|http://www.afa.net]


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Impression: This is a sharp looking Web site. It definitely looks professionally done. The video collection on the home page is magnetic.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Philosophy& Agenda: This is a non-profit Christian organization that focuses of strengthening the moral core of the USA. They work to “expose the works of darkness,” uphold Christian virtues, help people find their way to Christ, etc…

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">__ClassKC.org__ - []


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Impression: This site looked a bit dated. It looks like it is fairly organized, but definitely does not give off the vibe that it is professionally maintained even though it probably is.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Philosophy& Agenda: They work to expose the “inappropriate” literature children have access to in public schools. They want to educate parents about the filth their children could potentially be reading and work towards a world where children are only exposed to appropriate literature.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">__The Eagle Forum__ – [|http://www.eagleforum.org]


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Impression: Very patriotic. This Web site is clean, organized, and is all about the pro-family movement.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Philosophy& Agenda: This organization definitely has a conservative agenda; they even say that in their mission statement. They “oppose liberal propaganda in the curriculum” and support parent’s rights to protect children from “immoral instruction and materials.”

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">__Focus on the Family__ – [|http://www.family.org]


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Impression: They use a very soothing color scheme for their web site; it is very inviting. The content is very well organized.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Philosophy& Agenda: This is a Christian organization focused on “helping families thrive.” They work to help families “protect themselves from the harmful influences of culture.”

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">__PABBIS__ - []


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Impression: Parents Against Bad Books in Schools looks like it was created in 1990 and never changed. It was easy to scroll through, but not all that appealing.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Philosophy& Agenda: This organization exists to help parents protect their children from the increase of controversial titled taking over K-12 schools. They believe school values have become far too similar to Hollywood values.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">__Parents Protecting the Minds of Children__ - [|http://www.teachclean.com]


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Impression: The main page is a blackboard; links to the content are at the bottom of this huge image. I found this main page a bit confusing. The rest of the Web site is very plain.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 15px;">Philosophy& Agenda: Their goal is not to remove materials from schools, but to enforce their parental rights to choose for their children. It provides examples of inappropriate content, reconsideration forms, etc…

**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Fayetteville, Arkansas ** Library Materials Selection Policy #6.15 [] Administration Regulations for Policy #6.15 []
 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 19px; line-height: 115%;">3. Important Features of Selection Policies: **


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**An interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights** – This is a wonderful addition to the policy. It is important to have a thorough explanation of such an important part of our structure. Interested parties should be able to comprehend the Library Bill of Rights and this portion of the policy fulfills that need.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Opportunity for Parent Preview of Selected Materials** – I think that having the list of acquisitions available is wonderful. This section also points out that parents will need to follow up with the librarian about purchases made during the semester. It is a great idea to have these lists available so that it does not look as though the acquisitions are top secret.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**District Challenge Procedures, Definitions** – Having the definitions of the library council and the packets explained helps with understanding of the process.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">**Checklist for Reconsideration Committee** – This is great to see as part of the policy because everyone understands how the committee judges the material.

**<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Blue Valley, Kansas ** Selection of Learning Resources [] Selection of Learning Resources (Guidelines for Policy 4600) [] Challenges to and Reconsideration of Learning Resources [] Challenges to and Reconsideration of Learning Resources (Guidelines for Policy 4610) []


 * 1) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Conflict of Interest **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">– This is an interesting part of the selection of resources document. It clearly states that people that may not be able to review materials objectively will be part of the process. This is reassuring and obviously at one point could have been an issue.
 * 2) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Appendix A : Book Approval Process **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">– This chart is very easy to understand and makes all the steps very clear.
 * 3) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Appendix B: Letter to Inform Parents of Novel Selections **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">– This letter is a great way of informing parents about novels their child will be reading. It informs and allows issues to be resolves nice and early.
 * 4) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Appendix C : Guidelines for Providing an Alternate Novel **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">– This section breaks down the suggestion of an alternate novel, but could very well be adapted for any material. The form that goes along with this policy is also very well developed.
 * 5) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Challenges to and Reconsideration of Resources **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> – The four parts of this document are really great. They explain the process at each level thoroughly.

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