Collection Development – 512
Approved by the Board of Trustees June 15, 2023
St. Joseph Public Library
Reconsideration Policy of Library Materials, Programs, Events, or Displays
Any member of the public is able to voice their opinion on library materials, programs, events or displays to the Library Director at any time or to the Board of Trustees at their regular meetings. Any resident of the St. Joseph Public Library district has the right to challenge library materials, programs, events, or displays.
To make a challenge, a Patron Challenge to: Library Materials, Programs, Events, or Displays form should be completed in full and submitted to an SJPL staff member at any of the four library branches. A challenge will not be considered if the form is not completed in full. All challenge requests are public records and subject to Missouri Sunshine law.
A challenge will be considered by a committee composed of the SJPL Director, appropriate branch manager, and a staff member with knowledge of the material, program, event, or display. All challenges will be taken seriously, and SJPL policies will be consulted to determine the appropriate action to be taken. The committee will make a decision within 30 days and will send written notification to the patron by mail. In the case of programs or events, a good faith effort will be made to render a decision as soon as possible.
If the patron disagrees with the decision of the committee, they may appeal the decision in person or in writing to the Library Board of Trustees. If this appeal is made, the SJPL Director will submit to the Board the original challenge as well as the written response from the committee explaining the decision made. The Board of Trustees will make a final determination on the matter within 60 days and will send a written notification of the final decision to the patron.
The final decision on the challenge of a material, program, event, or display shall remain in effect for three years, upon which said item may be challenged again.
All challenge forms or appeals of committee decisions brought to the Board of Trustees are public records, and both the request and the Board’s decision regarding it will be included in Library Board minutes and posted on the library’s website. In accordance with library policy, patron privacy will be protected and patron information on the challenge form will be redacted from the public record.