Mission: Honoring the spirit and legacy of our founder, The Mark Twain Library is Redding’s destination for discovery, enrichment, and connection…where books are just the beginning. –Adopted 01/13/2025
Purpose
Displays are provided for the interest, information and enlightenment of all Redding residents. They are a resource for voluntary inquiry, the disseminations of information and ideas, independent ideas, the educational needs of residents, and to promote free expression and free access to ideas by residents
Principles and Criteria
The final responsibility for the display of library materials is held by the Library Director, but day-to-day responsibility is shared by library employees throughout the library that are professionally trained to curate and develop displays. Library staff uses the following criteria in making decisions about display topics, materials, and accompanying resources:
- Community needs and interest
- Availability of display space
- Historical, cultural, or educational significance
- Connection to other community or national programs, exhibitions, or events
- Relation to library collections, resources, exhibits, and programs
- The Library may partner with other community agencies, organizations, educational institutions, or individuals to develop and present co-sponsored displays and exhibits.
Collectively, material on display should represent a wide range of varied and diverging viewpoints and provide access to content that is relevant to the research, independent interests and educational needs of residents. All library materials are evaluated and made accessible in accordance with the protections against discrimination set forth in section 46a-64
of the general state statutes. The Library will consider all requests for the withdrawal of materials from display using the Library Material Review and Reconsideration Policy. The library limits consideration of requests to reconsider displays or programs to residents of Redding, CT.
Intellectual Freedom and Censorship
The Mark Twain Library has space for displays in physical or digital formats as a benefit to the community. These displays are in accordance with the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, which states:
- “Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.” (Article I)
- “Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.” (Article II)
The Mark Twain Library is guided in its display policy, and in all its activities, by the American Library Association’s “Freedom to Read and Freedom to View Statements.”
Mark Twain Library does not currently make book display space available to community groups or individuals. However, our community bulletin board is available as a service for the public. Notices posted on the community bulletin board are not necessarily reflective of the Library’s viewpoint.
