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Policy 7.2.1 - Library
I. Mission
The Montgomery Community College Library’s mission is to provide access to information in a variety of formats and to serve as an integral part of the College’s teaching, learning, research, and service to on-campus and distance education students, faculty, staff, and community in direct support of the College’s mission.
II. Objectives
To accomplish the Library’s mission, it shall continually work to:
A. Build, with the collaboration of faculty, a collection of resources appropriate to the curriculum and to the College community’s current and future needs.
B. Utilize current technologies to provide a system of organization and physical access to the Library’s collection and to sources beyond the collection.
C. Design and deliver instruction and consultation about organization, content and use of learning resources that includes instruction that is user-based, on demand and customizable.
D. Provide a functional, accessible, attractive, user-centered physical facility to support and increase the use of learning and information resources.
Adopted: November 13, 2019
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Policy 7.2.2 - Library- Intellectual Freedom
The Library Services Team affirms its support of intellectual freedom consistent with the official position of the American Library Association (ALA). The Library Services Team endorses the Library Bill of Rights and the Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights as espoused by the ALA.
Adopted: November 13, 2019
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Policy 7.2.3 - Challenges to Library Materials
Books and other instructional material shall only be removed from the Library for legitimate educational reasons and subject to the limitations of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. A committee of professional educators are in the best position to determine the appropriateness of the materials in the Library’s collection.
If a complaint is made by a current student or faculty member, the following procedures will be followed:
A. The complainant must file his/her objections in writing on the prepared questionnaire. The questionnaire is printed in the Library Handbook and a copy may be obtained in the Library. The completed questionnaire will be submitted to the Information Services Committee (“Committee”) as a formal complaint.
B. The questionable material will not be withdrawn until a final decision (including appeals) has been made on the complaint.
C. Within ten (10) business days after receiving the completed questionnaire, the Committee will meet with the complainant to discuss the complainant’s objection. The meeting will be a closed meeting with only the complainant and the Committee. After the meeting, the Committee will make a decision on the objection and provide written notification to the complainant within five (5) business days.
D. The complainant may appeal the Committee’s decision to the President in writing within five (business days) receipt of the written decision.
E. The President shall conduct an “on the record” review of all previously submitted documents. If necessary, the President may solicit more documentation from the complainant and/or Committee. The President shall make a decision within thirty (30) business days after receipt of the complainant’s appeal. The President’s decision shall be final.
Adopted: November 13, 2019
Legal References: U.S. Const. Amend. I; N.C. Const. Art. I, §14; Board of Educ. v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1982)
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Policy 7.2.4 - Selection of Materials
The selection of materials involves many people – students, faculty, staff, administrators and library professionals. The responsibility for coordinating the selection of instructional materials and making the recommendations for purchase rests with the professionally trained library personnel. The librarian has the specific responsibility for evaluating the existing library collection and using reports of reputable, unbiased, professionally prepared evaluations to assist in selection of new materials. If controversy arises concerning an item to be purchased or the priority of an item, the Information Services Team will make a purchasing recommendation.
Adopted: November 13, 2019
