Mark Twain Library Material Review and Reconsideration Policy

Mission Statement

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

The library welcomes expressions of opinion concerning materials, programs or displays. A Redding, CT resident with a vested interest who wishes that a specific item, program or display be reconsidered is asked to complete and submit a  Request for Reconsideration Form. 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. In accordance with Public Act 25-168 Sec. 322, 323 Mark Twain Library abides by the following statutory requirements:

• No library material, display or program shall be removed, or programs be cancelled, because of the origin, background or viewpoints expressed in such material, display or program or because of the origin, background or viewpoints of the creator of such material, display or program.
• Library materials, displays and programs shall only be excluded for legitimate pedagogical purposes or for professionally accepted standards of collection maintenance practices as adopted in the collection development and maintenance policy, the display policy, or program policy.
• The materials review and reconsideration process for Redding, CT residents to challenge any library material, display or program shall neither favor nor disfavor any group based on protected characteristics.
• Consideration of requests to reconsider material, displays or programs will be limited to individuals residing in Redding, CT
• The individual completing a request for reconsideration form must include specific information about which portion or portions of such material they object to and provide an explanation of the reasons for such objection. The Request for Reconsideration form must include the individual’s full legal name, address and telephone number.
• Reconsideration requests are not confidential patron records under section 11-25 of the general statutes.
• Any library material being challenged will remain available in the library according to its catalog record and be available for a resident to reserve, check out or access until a final decision is made by the library director.

Review Process:

The library director, along with appropriate staff, will evaluate the request for reconsideration form, read the challenged material in its entirety, evaluate the challenged material against the collection development and maintenance policy and make a written decision on whether or not to remove the challenged material not later than sixty days from the date of receiving such request. The library director shall provide a copy of the library director’s decision and report to
the individual who submitted the form. The individual who submitted the request for reconsideration form may appeal, in writing, the library director’s decision to the Board of Trustees or other governing body for the Library. The final authority regarding the removal or retention of library materials ultimately resides with the Library’s Board of Trustees.

Any appeal of the decision of the library director should be directed to the Library Board of Trustees. The Library Board, after evaluating the challenged material under the collection development and maintenance policy, shall:

(A) consult with (i) the library director, (ii) the State Librarian, or the State Librarian's designee, (iii) a representative of the cooperating library service unit, as defined in section 11-9e of the general statutes, (iv) the president of the Connecticut Library Association, or the president’s designee, and (v) the president of the Association of Connecticut Library Boards, or the president’s designee,

(B) deliberate on such request for reconsideration,

(C) provide a written statement of the reasons for the reconsideration or refusal to reconsider
the library material, and

(D) provide any final decision that is contrary to the decision of the library director.

Once a decision has been made by the library director or the Board of Trustees or other governing board on the reconsideration of any library material, such material cannot be subject to a new request for reconsideration for a period of three years. The library director may consolidate any requests for reconsideration of the same challenged library material. Requests to reconsider material, displays, or programs are limited to residents of Redding, CT.

The Library is prohibited by state statutes from removing, excluding or censoring any book on the sole basis that an individual finds such book offensive. Any librarian or staff member of Mark Twain Library who, in good faith, implements the policies described in this section shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed and shall have the same immunity with respect to any judicial proceeding that results from such implementation.