Newcomerstown Public Library

General Selection Policy

Public libraries have the unique honor and responsibility of acting as guardians of the First Amendment as it applies to a person's freedom to read/view/listen to materials. Public libraries must provide the information citizens need to make informed decisions about their lives and their world.

The Newcomerstown Public Library takes this responsibility seriously. The Library strives to maintain a diverse collection that can meet the diverse informational and recreational needs of all people who use the Newcomercomerstown Public Library. This diversity necessitates the inclusion of material that may be considered distasteful to some. The presence of controversial material in the collection does not indicate the Library Board or staff supports or promotes these views. Opposing views are provided so our patrons may investigate all sides of an issue and make informed, appropriate decisions of themselves and their families.

Materials are selected on the basis of overall quality and value added to the collection. General quality will be re-defined for each genre. The Library will not purchase material that is clearly prurient or which promotes prejudice and violence against any group or individual except material used in the context of educating the public about these obstacles to community harmony.

Less stringent guidelines are imposed on adult fiction titles in print, audio, and video formats. Frank language, explicit sex, and graphic violence are common in modern popular works of fiction. The Library will not remove material from the collection or otherwise limit circulation of an item based on an objection to the material by a group or individual. Most theatrical movies are marked with ratings and library user may find them helpful in making selections. However, the Library cannot use the rating system of the film industry to restrict access to videos. If you need assistance locating material to your taste, the library staff can often provide helpful advice.

High standards are set for materials intended for young readers. The Library will make every effort to provide age-appropriate material on topics important to young readers and provide materials that encourage children to become life-long readers and learners. Well-written, balanced material on controversial topics will be sought to help children learn about current issues and make responsible decisions. While the Library will purchase materials for children on controversial topics, the Library will not purchase books intended to glamorize or encourage criminal behavior or hostility toward others.