Intellectual Freedom Handbook, 1999
Diversity in Collection Development:
An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights
Throughout history, the focus of censorship has fluctuated from
generation to generation. Books and other materials have not been
selected or have been removed from library collections for many reasons,
among which are prejudicial language and ideas, political content,
economic theory, social philosophies, religious beliefs, sexual forms of
expression, and other topics of a potentially controversial nature.
Some examples of censorship may include removing or not selecting
materials because they are considered by some as racist or sexist; not
purchasing conservative religious materials; not selecting materials
about or by minorities because it is thought these groups or interests
are not represented in a community; or not providing information on or
materials from non-mainstream political entities.
Librarians may seek to increase user awareness of materials on
various social concerns by many means, including, but not limited to,
issuing bibliographies and presenting exhibits and programs.
Librarians have a professional responsibility to be inclusive, not
exclusive, in collection development and in the provision of
interlibrary loan. Access to all materials legally obtainable should be
assured to the user, and policies should not unjustly exclude materials
even if they are offensive to the librarian or the user.
Collection development should reflect the philosophy inherent in
Article II of the Library Bill of Rights: "Libraries should provide
materials and information presenting all points of view on current and
historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because
of partisan or doctrinal disapproval." A balanced collection
reflects a diversity of materials, not an equality of numbers.
Collection development responsibilities include selecting materials in
the languages in common use in the community which the library serves.
Collection development and the selection of materials should be done
according to professional standards and established selection and review
procedures.
There are many complex facets to any issue, and variations of context
in which issues may be expressed, discussed, or interpreted. Librarians
have a professional responsibility to be fair, just, and equitable and
to give all library users equal protection in guarding against violation
of the library patron's right to read, view, or listen to materials and
resources protected by the First Amendment, no matter what the viewpoint
of the author, creator, or selector.
Librarians have an obligation to protect library collections from
removal of materials based on personal bias or prejudice, and to select
and support the access to materials on all subjects that meet, as
closely as possible, the needs and interests of all persons in the
community which the library serves. This includes materials that reflect
political, economic, religious, social, minority, and sexual issues.
Intellectual freedom, the essence of equitable library services,
provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any
and all sides of a question, cause, or movement may be explored.
Toleration is meaningless without tolerance for what some may consider
detestable. Librarians cannot justly permit their own preferences to
limit their degree of tolerance in collection development, because
freedom is indivisible.
Adopted July 14, 1982; amended January 10, 1990, by the ALA Council.
[ISBN 8389-6552-0]
Copyright (c) 1999, American Library Association.
