Library Bill of Rights
The Library Bill of Rights is a foundational document established by the American Library Association (ALA) that emphasizes the importance of free access to information and resources in libraries. Originally adopted in 1948 and revised multiple times, this document asserts that libraries should serve all members of their communities without discrimination based on origin, background, or opinions. It advocates for the inclusion of diverse viewpoints and challenges censorship, promoting the idea that libraries should not exclude materials based on their creators’ backgrounds.
Significantly, the bill extends beyond traditional books to encompass non-book materials and digital resources, reinforcing a commitment to the free exchange of ideas. The ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom actively opposes unwarranted censorship, advocating against the removal of materials based on subjective judgments of their authority or appropriateness. The inclusion of privacy rights for library users in 2019 further underscores the evolving nature of this commitment. This document has influenced numerous libraries across the United States in shaping their internal policies, often leading to discussions on the interpretation of its principles, particularly regarding equitable service provision to all age groups.
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Library Bill of Rights
- TYPE OF WORK: Tract
- ADOPTED: 1948; revised 1961, 1967, 1980, and 2019
- AUTHORS: Members of the American Library Association (ALA)
- SUBJECT MATTER: Statement denouncing censorship
- SIGNIFICANCE: The ALA adopted this declaration to foster the free exchange of ideas through the unrestricted use of library materials
An articulation of the basic rights of library patrons, the Library Bill of Rights asserts that the resources of any library should be for use of all members of the community that it serves; that no material should be excluded because of the origin or background of the creator; that all points of view should be represented; that libraries should challenge censorship and cooperate with individuals and groups concerned with opposing restriction of free speech; that no persons should be denied the use of a library because of their origin, age, background, or views; and that library exhibit rooms and meeting spaces should be available on an equitable basis, regardless of the views of individuals or groups requesting their use. The bill pertains not only to books, but to nonbook materials and access to electronic services.
Prior to its revision in 1967, the bill permitted librarians to remove materials they regarded as not being “of sound factual authority.” Because the bill defined no standards for “factual authority,” it left librarians free to remove books that they found personally objectionable, or that they believed did not serve the public’s best interests. The language justifying such behavior has since been removed from the bill.
The bill’s 1980 revision broadened its encouragement of having libraries provide the widest possible range of ideas on all topics. The ALA’s Office of Intellectual Freedom has condemned as unwarranted censorship such behavior as the removal of materials meeting the standards of the library’s collection policy; restricting access to materials to certain groups or persons for any reason other than physical protection of the materials (such as rare books and special collections); labeling of materials that some may find “objectionable;” and restricting access of minors to certain materials, instead of relying on parents to guide their children.
Many American libraries have adopted all or part of the Library Bill of Rights into their own internal policies. This has occasionally led to controversy over the bill’s interpretation—particularly in the question of having to provide the same services to all people regardless of age. The American Library Association added a seventh article addressing the privacy and confidentiality of all library users in 2019.
Bibliography
"First Library Bill of Rights?" American Library Association, www.ala.org/tools/first-library-bill-rights. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
"Library Bill of Rights." American Library Association, www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
"Library Bill of Rights." Tocker Foundation, tocker.org/library-resources/intellectual-freedom/library-bill-of-rights. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.