guidance on the management of controversial material in public libraries

Guidance on the management of

controversial material in public libraries

Agenda for today

• Introduction to the MLA Guidelines

• Coffee and tea break

• Introduction to workshop activities

• Scenario-based workshops

• Feedback from workshops

• Action planning

• Summary and close

Background

Prime Minister’s statement to Parliament, 14th November 2007:

“The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport isworking with the Museums, Libraries and ArchivesCouncil to agree a common approach to deal with the inflammatory and extremist material thatsome seek to distribute through public libraries, whilealso of course protecting freedom of speech.”

Guidance has …

• Been agreed by ~ MLA~ CILIP~ SCL~ DCMS~ Home Office

• Been published on the MLA website

Library providers in a multi-cultural society

Each individual in our global society has the right to a full range of library and information services. In addressing cultural and linguistic diversity, libraries should:•serve all members of the community without discrimination based on cultural and linguistic heritage•provide information in appropriate languages and scripts•give access to a broad range of materials and services reflecting all communities and needs

IFLA

First principles of the guidance

• Library authorities :~ Have a statutory duty to provide a “comprehensive

and efficient” service~ Are accountable to local communities~ Should respond comprehensively and non-

judgementally to need~ Are founded on democratic principles of free access ~ Are required to operate within the law

Format of guidance

• Guidance on management of controversial material

• Outline of current legislation

• Case studies illustrating best practice in dealing with controversial material

• Examples of stock development policies

Guidance looks at:

• Collection Development Policies

• Stock selection• Controversial subjects• Involving others • Access to library

material

• Presentation and promotion of stock

• Donations• The Internet (in brief)• Legislation • Monitoring and review

of guidance

Collection development policies

• Should be:~ up to date ~ publicly available~ responsive to local demography and needs of

communities~ reflective of library’s role to promote information,

ideas and the cultural experience

• Should recognise:~ personal and academic freedoms~ the rights of individual citizens to access published

material~ the neutrality and responsibilities of the librarian

Stock selection• Should be:

~ selected according to Collection Development Policy~ chosen for its literary, cultural and recreational relevance or for

its information and learning value ~ not determined by the personal views of library staff, suppliers or

other partners~ managed with reference to balance and demand

• Librarians should aim for a library stock that :~ reflects the demography of the area~ supports the policy priorities agreed for the library service ~ provides a diversity of information, opinion and literature

• Staff need to be trained in and alert to professional ethics and established codes of conduct

Controversial subjects

“In the interest of intellectual freedom, material should not be rejected solely because it is considered controversial.

A good library should encompass controversial issues and different perspectives in the interests of democracy and discovery.”

Involving others

• Benefits:~ insight in to community

cultures~ information about

demand~ access to language

and cultural expertise~ fulfilment of duty to

involve

• Potential partners include:~ local residents and

community groups~ stock suppliers~ regional, national or

specialist consortia

Access to library material

• All should be catalogued and information made available

• Role of inter-lending facilities and library network:~ “liaison between library sectors is essential to

promote a common understanding of stock policies and systems”

• British Library’s policy on lending and public access in line with this guidance

Presentation and promotion of stock

• Promotion can:~ raise awareness~ encourage understanding, bring communities

together and encourage debate~ improve accessibility~ increase library usage

• Should not:~ promote a particular belief~ ignore wider sensitivities~ knowingly incite a person to undertake an illegal

activity

Donations

• Acceptance of donations should be subject to the same principles, and decisions on their acceptance remain with the responsible staff

• Collection Development Policy should be the benchmark for all decisions

• Donors should be advised of the criteria

The internet: general principles

• Integral and essential to the purpose of libraries• Many of the same principles apply, HOWEVER the

internet is global and essentially self-regulating • Library provider’s responsibility is to enable access:

responsibility for the interpretation and use of information rests with the user

“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

IFLA/UNESCO

Internet accessLibraries should:

~ provide internet access in accordance with principles of freedom of thought and expression

~ respect the privacy of users

~ enable users to make the most of the internet through assistance and training

~ provide an Acceptable Internet Use Policy

~ provide a published policy on use by children and young people

~ be pro-active in drawing users’ attention to these policies and educating them about acceptable internet use

Relevant legislation

• Summarises the key relevant legislation• Not a substitute for tailored legal advice• Intended to help identify key areas of risk• Looks at:

~ Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964

~ Terrorism Acts 2000 & 2006

~ Race relations and “religious hatred” legislation

~ Human Rights Act 1998

~ Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007

Appendices

• Stock Selection & Collection Development Policies:~ Examples of good practice

• Case studies:~ Selection and management of materials~ Handling complaints~ Stock promotion~ Donated materials~ Stocking of religious texts

Any questions?

Over to you

Workshops:

• Scenarios based on real-life situations

• Use as basis for examining your own authorities’ stock policies

• Focus in particular on where changes and improvements might be made to those policies

• Review and update

• Share and discuss

• Understand and manage risks proactively

Some final thoughts