Statement on Challenges to Materials

Statement on Challenges to Material

The Saint Mary’s College of California Library collection is intentionally curated by the College’s librarians to reflect the current curriculum and co-curricular interests of the SMC community. The selection and deaccession of material is governed by the Collection Development Policy and is at the discretion of the librarian subject selectors. The Library adheres to the principles of intellectual freedom as outlined in the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association. As a library, we support academic freedom and the free expression of opinion and do not censor materials in the collection. Materials will not be barred from purchase or subsequently withdrawn solely based on accusations of offensive or harmful content.  A challenge to a resource in the Library must relate to the resource's failure to align with the Library’s collection development policy.

Individuals affiliated with the College wishing to challenge a resource in the Library will be asked to complete a Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources. The completed form will be submitted to the Dean of the Library and Academic Resources. The request will then be considered by the Head of Collection Management, with the assistance of the librarian responsible for collection development in the subject area of the resource. The recommendation(s) of the Head of Collection Management will be sent to the Dean of the Library and Academic Resources, who will make the final decision. The person making the challenge will be notified in writing by the Dean of the decision and any action to be taken. While under review, the challenged material will remain in the collection until a final decision is made. 

Approved by Library Cabinet, April 22, 2024