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The Board of Trustees of the North Kansas City Public Library, recognizing the pluralistic nature of this community and the varied backgrounds and needs of all citizens, regardless of race, creed, or political persuasion, declares as a matter of collection development selection policy that:
- Library material selection is and shall be vested in the library director, and, under the librarian's direction, such members of the professional staff who are qualified by reason of education and training. Any library material so selected shall be held to be selected by the Board.
- Selection of library material shall be made on the basis of their value of interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community. No library material shall be excluded because of the race, nationality, or the political or social views of the author.
- This Board believes that censorship is a purely individual matter and declares that while anyone is free to reject for oneself materials which do not meet the individual's approval, one cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom to read of others.
- The Library chooses what shelving location is used for library materials using a combination of professional resources and professional judgment. Shelving location is based on a general suggestion of reading ability and/or age, but does not designate age appropriateness for any particular individual. Age appropriateness of materials is determined by the patron or the patron’s parent or guardian.
- This Board defends the principle of the freedom to read and declares that whenever censorship is involved no materials or library material shall be removed from the Library save under the orders of a court of competent jurisdiction.
- The Board of Trustees of the North Kansas City Public Library adopts and declares that it will adhere to and support The Library Bill of Rights, and The Freedom to Read Statement adopted by the American Library Association, both of which are made a part hereof.