Project-Int.+Freedom

**Steps in My Reconsideration Process:**

1) A request for reconsideration form should be completed, in writing, and returned to the head librarian. 2) The resource should remain available to faculty and students while the reconsideration process occurs. 3) Upon receipt of the request for reconsideration form, the principal of the school involved will meet with a committee including the following people: the curriculum director, the principal, the library media center director, a teacher, and a PTA representative. 4) After meeting, the reconsideration committee will create a report on the material containing its recommendations on the matter. 5) Respond to the request in a timely manner, within one week of receiving the request for reconsideration form. 6) The Principal will notify the complainant of the committee's decision and explain the book selection system, give the guidelines used for selection, and cite authorities used in reaching decisions. 7) The Principal will send a formal report and recommendation to the Superintendent. 8) If the complainant is still not satisfied, they may ask the Superintendent to present an appeal to the Board of Education, which shall make a final decision on the issue.
 * SOURCE- Douglas County Libraries web site
 * SOURCE- Pappas
 * SOURCE- ALA web site
 * SOURCE- ALA web site
 * SOURCE- Douglas County Libraries web site
 * If the committee decides to keep the work that caused the complaint, the complainant will be given an explanation. If the complaint is valid, the principal will make recommended changes.
 * SOURCE- ALA web site
 * SOURCE- ALA web site
 * SOURCE: A mixture of the ALA web site and the Douglas County Libraries web site

Works Cited Douglas County Libraries web site: []

Pappas Article (Library Literature Database): []

ALA web site: [|http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=dealing&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=11173#reconsideration]

__**Organizations** __

Liberal Web Sites American Civil Liberties Union: []
 * ABOUT: This web site wishes to protect the rights and liberties of the American people as well as our right to privacy. They advocate for those who are underrepresented in the population or those who have been denied their rights in the past. They also had a lot of information and postings about Banned Books Week. I knew this web site was more liberal because they wanted equal rights for everyone. There were links about gay rights and other "liberal" ideas.
 * GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: The ACLU 's philosophy seems to be that every American should be awarded the rights promised to them by the Constitution and the laws of the United States. When I say every American, I mean every American. I saw a post about the ACLU's most notable cases and one involved them fighting for Nazis to march in Chicago. I know that everyone should be awarded the rights of the Constitution, but sometimes it is difficult for me in these circumstances.

American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom: []
 * ABOUT: The ALA web site is definitely "liberal." The American Library Association believes in intellectual freedom, especially when dealing with books. This web site has a link to information about Banned Books Week, including ideas about how to implement these books into the classroom and library as well as a list of recently banned/challenged books and the reasoning behind why they were challenged as well as the final ruling on a particular book.
 * GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: The ALA's philosophy is to uphold the [|Library Bill of Rights]. Libraries should be a place where the mind is free to wander without restriction. People should have free access to libraries and library material as well as confidentiality concerning the materials they utilize (except in a court of law).

Electronic Frontier Foundation: []
 * ABOUT: This web site works to protect citizen's rights to free speech, especially through technology, in the court room. I believe the Electric Frontier Foundation to be liberal because they advocate for freedom of speech with no restrictions.
 * GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: The Electric Frontier Foundation's philosophy is to support and fight for citizen's and creator's freedom concerning technology.

National Coalition Against Censorship: []
 * ABOUT: The NCAS supports freedom of expression and thought through many different outlets including: art, film, writing, etc. This web site seems liberal because they are against censorship. I was very interested in the [|Youth Free Expression Project]. This program struck me because while the goal of most of the conservative web sites is to protect children from information, this project is meant to increase their rights to access information and form their own, informed decisions.
 * GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: To protect free expression and access to information through educating the public.

People for the American Way: []
 * ABOUT: PFAW supports the American way through freedom of religion, speech, etc. They strive to represent all people and promote equal rights to all Americans. PFAW also included information about [|banned and challenged books].
 * GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: All Americans should have the basic rights promised to them in the constitution.

Conservative Web Sites American Family Association: []
 * ABOUT: The AFA was founded in 1977 by a pastor. It is a "pro-family" organization and is "on the front-lines of America's culture war." They claim their mission is to inform the public on the foundations of American culture, but I believe it seems more accurate to say their mission is to push their Christian agenda. I could tell just by the title that this web site would probably be a more conservative site. The constant discussion of God, the bible, and God's Word cemented my suspicions. Honestly, I found this whole web site jarring. Most of their action statement just upset me.
 * GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: The AFA's philosophy seems to be that the American public should base all of their decisions on God's Word. Every aspect of culture should be decided upon by scripture.

ClassKC.org: []
 * ABOUT: The point of this web site is to encourage a love of reading in students, but they do not seem to agree with some of the resources provided in the classroom. I believe ClassKC.org is conservative because while they want to foster a love of reading in students, they do not believe that children should be exposed to any kind of literature that may have controversial themes, words, or ideas. I was shocked by a link called [|"F-word Profanity"]. Here, parents went through books covered in the classroom and picked "bad" words out those books. One of the bad words, found in J.D. Sallinger's //Catcher in the Rye// was butt. The nerve of these teachers for introducing the word, "butt" to high school students; as if the majority of them didn't already use this word.
 * GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: The goal of this web site seems to be the desire to get parents involved with the schools and make them more aware of what students are reading in the classroom. ClassKC.org wants students to be reading "excellent literature" which appears to me to be, in general, more classic literature.

The Eagle Forum: []
 * ABOUT: This web site is a place where people can discuss conservative ideas about politics, education, immigration, etc. I was confused by The Eagle Forum's stand on women in the workplace. I felt like they were saying women only belong at home, but I am not exactly sure.
 * GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: The goal of this web site is to involve conservatives in different levels of government policies. The Eagle Forum supports American sovereignty, the American identity, the constitution, and traditional education.

Focus on the Family: []
 * ABOUT: This web site gives advice about different aspects of family life including: marriage, parenting, faith, social issues, and life challenges. Like many of the other conservative web sites, Focus on the Family web site encourages families to be created in God's vision.
 * GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: Focus on the Family's philosophy is that issues in the family can be solved through God's guidance and children should be educated about God.

PABBIS: []
 * ABOUT: While this group challenge books, but they do not seem to have a religious agenda. They are also seem to only concerned with books, not family or politics. However, I was disturbed by the statement, [|"There are a lot of bad books in the schools and it is getting worse."]
 * GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: PABBIS philosophy is that parents should be involved in determining what is acceptable reading material for their children.

Parents Protecting the Minds of Children: []
 * ABOUT: This web site does not wish to remove books from the library, but wants parents to be able to choose what is appropriate for their children. They have a list of petitions parents can sign opposing some library books. The web site also includes excerpts from "shocking" books.
 * GENERAL PHILOSOPHY: Their philosophy is to inform parents about books used in the school's that they may find unsuitable for their children.

__Policy High Points__

Fayetteville, Arkansas 1) "Patrons may voice their concerns through the District Challenge Procedures." 2) Upon being informed of a concern, a timely and fair hearing will occur. 3) "The principal shall ensure that the (Reconsideration) committee composition reflects the diversity of that school." 4) "The Reconsideration committee is charged with making one of three recommendations: Retention of material (with or without modification), removal of material from this school, or removal of material at district level." 5) "When a request for Reconsideration is in process, no other request concerning the same material filed at any other school will be heard until the request on file is complete."

REASONING: I selected these ideas to add to my own policy because they seemed important. While some of these ideas made things easier for patrons, others made the whole process more organized and effective for librarians and other school district members. I thought it was very important that there were only three options that the Reconsideration committee could choose from, to maintain fairness from one case to another. I also liked that they maintained organization by not allowing themselves to become taken over by requests for reconsideration.

Blue Valley, Kansas 1) "A person shall be deemed to have a conflict of interest when the person's personal or financial interests may influence, or appear to others to influence, the person's ability to review learning resources objectively or to otherwise participate in the review process." 2) "The complainant will review the completed //Request for Reconsideration of Learning Resources-School Level 4610.1// with the school principal. 3) "If the decision is to retain the Learning Resource, the notice shall include the complainant's right to appeal that decision to a district review committee." 4) If the complainant wants to appeal the Reconsideration committee's decision to a district review committee, members from the school review committee will not be included in that decision. 5) "Any Directly Affected Person with a complaint about any Learning Resource(s) shall first discuss that complaint with the teacher using the resource(s) or the library media specialist in the case of a library media resource(s)."

REASONING: These are all ideas that would make a reconsideration process stronger and more air-tight. I think it is very smart that the same people who initially review the resource in question are not secondary reviewers as well. I also like the idea of the principal sitting down with the complainant and covering the school's request for reconsideration policy because if they have any questions or if there is any confusion, the administrator can answer them immediately.