Intellectual Freedom and Censorship
The Library recognizes that access to all ideas, controversial or otherwise, along with the freedom of expression are fundamental
to the educational process. Accordingly, the Library supports and complies with the American Library Association’s Library
Bill of Rights [Appendix A]. The Library will not add or withdraw any materials at a group or individual‘s request when it
is based on partisan, doctrinal or religious disapproval. Anyone questioning the appropriateness of library materials will
be referred to the Associate Provost for Library & Information Resources.
Confidentiality
The Code of Ethics of the American Library Association (ALA) states that "Librarians must protect each user's right to privacy
with respect to information sought, received, and materials consulted, borrowed, or acquired" (ALA Policy Manual section 54.16, Professional Ethics, point 3). The Dudley Knox Library also adheres to the American Library Association's "Policy on Confidentiality of Library Records"
(ALA Policy Manual section 52.4l) and supports the American Library Association’s Resolution on the USA Patriot Act
“The American Library Association (ALA) opposes any use of governmental power to suppress the free and open exchange of knowledge
and information or to intimidate individuals exercising free inquiry…ALA considers that sections of the USA PATRIOT ACT are
a present danger to the constitutional rights and privacy rights of library users.”
Copyright
The Dudley Knox Library complies fully with all of the provisions of the U.S. Copyright Law (17 U.S.C.) and its amendments.
The Library strongly supports the Fair Use section of the Copyright Law (17 U.S.C. 107) which permits and protects citizens' rights to reproduce and make other uses of copyrighted works for the
purposes of teaching, scholarship, and research. The Library also supports the provisions of the “Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act” (TEACH Act) which allows for limited access to copyrighted electronic information in support of distance education. Faculty
are responsible for ensuring that copyright permission has been obtained.
Selection/Deselection Criteria of All Materials
Criteria for Selection (Adding) to the Collection:
- Is it relevant to the curriculum and/or research programs and to the present and future needs of library users?
- Does it relate to the existing collection and NPS and DKL needs?
- What credibility or reputation does the author/publisher have?
- Is the work authoritative in its field?
- Does the work contain any additional research aids or special features (e.g. bibliography, index, illustrations, maps, software
etc)?
- Is the cost justified?
- In what format is the material available and what, if any, are the access restrictions?
- What are the physical and technical qualities of the material – is it durable?
- What is the strength of the current holdings in the same or similar subject?
- Does the Library have earlier editions of the same title and if so, have they circulated much?
- What are the Interlibrary Loan demands for materials of the same or similar subjects?
- If old, is the source of historic value or significance as a classic in its area?
Criteria for Consideration of Removal (Weeding) from the Collection:
- Does the work still add any value to the subject?
- Are there more accurate and recent titles available?
- Is it considered a classic in the field?
- Are there more recent editions and are they complete replacements for the older one? Or is information lost with the disposal
of the old edition?
- Does the physical condition warrant its retention?
- Are multiple copies no longer needed?
- Is it valuable despite the condition?
- Has the material been superceded and would its retention be potentially harmful due to the outdated information?
