Statement of Concern About Library Resources Policy
Any WPL patron residing in Waterloo or rural Black Hawk County who objects to the presence, absence, classification, or location of a material, program, display, or other resource in the library’s collection may do so by meeting with the Library Director to discuss their concerns. Should that discussion prove unfeasible or fail to address the patron’s concern, they may complete a “Statement of Concern About Library Resources” form, available upon request. Completed “Statement of Concern About Library Resources” forms may be considered public information.
This “Statement of Concern About Library Resources” form may be submitted to the library for formal review by a committee of at least five people composed of Board of Trustees members, library administration, and library professionals whose job description includes responsibilities relevant to the patron’s concern. The committee will examine the challenged material, program, display, or other resource and determine if it follows the library’s Collection Development and/or Programming and Display Policy and all applicable laws. The committee will then make a determination and library administration will notify the patron of the outcome and provide any supporting documents. The review process will proceed as expediently as possible given the availability and length of the material being reviewed. Patrons will be updated on the status of their challenge periodically throughout the review process.
If the patron is unsatisfied with the committee’s decision, they may choose to proceed with their challenge by petitioning at the next Board of Trustees meeting for the Board to review the outcome and supporting documents. The Board shall make a final decision at the next regularly scheduled public Board of Trustees meeting.
Material under review shall remain in the circulating collection without restriction until a determination is made. Once specific materials or other resources have completed the review process, they will not be eligible for review again for a five year period.