Reconsideration of Library Materials
Purpose:
The Reconsideration of Library Materials procedure establishes the framework for any person or group registering a complaint or formal challenge to library resources.
Guidelines:
Diverse perspectives within library collections are essential to meet the educational and research needs of the Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) academic community and the broader public it serves. The BMCC library endorses the intellectual freedom guidelines expressed in the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights and Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries as adopted by the Association of
College and Research Libraries. These documents provide the basis for the principles listed below.
- The library acquires materials in support of BMCC’s instructional programs reflecting a wide variety of viewpoints on subjects that may be considered controversial. Material will not be excluded from the collection because of the political, moral, religious, sexual, social, economic, or scientific views expressed.
- The library's preservation and replacement efforts will attempt to ensure that balance in library materials is maintained, and controversial materials are not removed from the collections through theft, loss, mutilation, or wear.
- The library affords equal access to information for all in BMCC’s academic community with no discrimination on the basis of any legally protected class (i.e., race, gender, sexual orientation, cultural or ethnic background, etc.).
- The library has an established procedure to ensure due process for requests for removal or addition of library resources or exhibits. The library will not remove any challenged material until a formal review mandates such action.
Steps required for reconsideration:
- Individuals within the BMCC academic community or a resident of the College service district may challenge library resources. Patrons who wish to challenge materials should forward a completed Reconsideration of Library Resources Request Form to the Director, Library & Learning Hub.
- Within ten (10) business days upon receiving the Reconsideration of Library Resources Request Form, the Director, Library & Learning Hub will create an ad hoc review committee. This committee will be composed of the Director, Library & Learning Hub, who will serve as the committee Chair, at least one faculty member from an academic department related to the material subject matter, and a designee of the Vice President, Instruction. Additional representatives may be sought at the discretion of the Chair.
- The committee will meet to review the challenged material for relevancy based on BMCC Library Collections Procedure and make a recommendation regarding the status of the item.
- The Chair will compose a written response to the request for reconsideration, explaining the committee’s rationale for the decision to retain or withdraw the resource or exhibit. The Chair will also submit a completed form detailing the challenged material to the State Library of Oregon’s Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse.
- Copies of the written response to the request for reconsideration will be forwarded to the Office of Instruction within 30 working days of the original submission (days that classes are not in session will not be considered working days for this purpose) The Office of Instruction will notify the individual who completed the Reconsideration of Library Resources Request Form of the final dispensation of the request for reconsideration.
- The Director, Library & Learning Hub will keep records of all requests for reconsideration.
- Items that have been challenged may not be challenged again within the same three-year period but may be withdrawn according to standard weeding practices.
- The Vice President, Instruction will consider any appeals to the decision of the review committee.
adopted by College Senate 4.9.2025
