New York State Library
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Policy on Challenged Materials

Approved and added April 2021

Materials in the New York State Library are selected to support the research needs of the citizens of the State of New York.

It is the responsibility of the Library to ensure that different points of view are represented in the materials and resources provided in the library's collections. Inclusion of a particular resource does not constitute endorsement or advocacy of the ideas or statements found therein.

The State Library adheres to the principles of intellectual freedom outlined in the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Associationexternal link and further explicated in the Freedom to Read Statementexternal link and the Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Librariesexternal link. Pursuant to these, the Library will not automatically withdraw duly selected materials from the library collections in response to a request from an individual or group. It is the task of the Library to make research available for review, rebuttal, substantiation, support or further inquiry.

Process for Requesting Reconsideration of Library Material

  • A patron who wishes to request the reconsideration of library material must file a formal written request for reconsideration using the library-provided form.
  • The request will be reviewed by the appropriate library staff. These librarians will develop a recommendation that will be submitted to the Library Director or the State Librarian, who will be responsible for making the final decision.
  • The patron will receive a final written response to the submitted request for reconsideration within 90 days of the library receiving the request.

If you wish to request reconsideration of a resource, please provide all of the information below to the Office of the State Librarian.

  1. Date
  2. Name
  3. Address (street address, city, stae and zip code)
  4. Phone
  5. Email
  6. Please provide the following information about the resource on which you are commenting:
    1. Title
    2. Author/Producer
    3. Have you examined the entire resource? If not, what sections did you review?
    4. What is it about this material that you would like for us to reconsider?
    5. What action are you requesting the Library consider?

 

Collection Development Policy table of contents

Last Updated: March 3, 2022