Intellectual Freedom Policy and Statement of Concern Procedure

Last Updated Date

Philosophy and Purpose 

As part of its mission, Teton County Library ensures freedom of information for all. The selection of library materials is made on the patron’s right to read, listen, or view, free from censorship by others. The Library holds censorship to be a purely individual matter and declares that while anyone is free to reject books and other materials of which they do not approve, they may not restrict the freedom of others. 

Materials available in the Library present a diversity of viewpoints, enabling patrons to make the informed choices necessary in a democracy. The Library selects a wide variety of materials that satisfy the diverse interests of the community. The Library upholds the right of the individual to secure these resources, even though the content may be controversial, unorthodox, or unacceptable to some. The library’s varied collection is available to all; however, it is not expected that all items in the collections will appeal to everyone. 

Responsibility for materials selected and read by children and adolescents rests with the youth’s parents or legal guardians. The Library does not stand in loco parentis. Selection decisions are not influenced by the possibility that materials may be accessible to minors. 

Genre and shelf labels on materials exist to indicate various collections but will not be used for the purpose of restricting access or endorsing content. No materials are sequestered except to protect them from damage or theft. 

Teton County Library recognizes that a collection of diverse materials, a wide variety of programs, exhibits, and services, or library policies and practices may result in some complaints and/or requests for action. Procedures have been developed to ensure that complaints or requests for action are handled in an attentive and consistent manner. 

Statement of Concern Procedure 

The following steps will be used when an individual believes that action is necessary to address concerns about a library resource, program, exhibit, service, or policy. 

For the duration of this process, the resource in question will remain in circulation in the library collection, an exhibit/display will remain on view, and a policy or practice will remain in force. 

  1. A concerned patron who is dissatisfied with earlier informal discussions with Library staff will be offered a packet of materials that includes the Library’s mission and vision statements, Collection Development Policy, Intellectual Freedom Policy, Library Gallery Exhibit Policy, Library Programs Policy, Statement of Concern About Library Resources, Programs, Services, & Policies form, and the Library Bill of Rights.
  2. The concerned patron is required to complete and submit a Statement of Concern About Library Resources, Programs, Services, & Policies form to the Director of Library Services. In order to submit a form, the concerned patron must be a Teton County, Wyoming resident. The Library Board shall be notified once a Statement of Concern form has been received.
  3. The Director of Library Services will form a Review Committee composed of the Director of Library Services, a library professional whose job description includes responsibilities relevant to the individual’s concerns (e.g. selector, programmer, etc.), and a member of the Library Leadership Team. The Committee will review the statement of concern form and the resource/program/exhibit/display/service/policy/practice in question to determine whether the resource was acquired following the criteria stated in the selection policy, the display/exhibit was developed following the gallery exhibit policy, or the program/event was developed following the programs policy. The Review Committee will follow the operational guidelines as outlined by the American Library Association.
  4. The Director of Library Services shall make a written response to the concerned patron within twenty-one (21) days of the date that the statement of concern form was submitted, informing the patron of the Committee’s decision and the reasons for the decision.
  5. If the concerned patron is not satisfied with the decision, a written appeal may be submitted within ten (10) business days to the Library Board. The Library Board will address the appeal at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Library Board will consider the findings of the Review Committee and other appropriate information, including professional/critical reviews and recommendations, comments from Library staff, comments from other Teton County, Wyoming residents, and comments from the concerned patron. The Library Board decision is final. 

Please refer to the Collection Development Policy for additional information. The Library is further guided by: