Salem Public Library
Intellectual Freedom
Intellectual freedom is the basis for our democratic system. It encompasses the freedom to hold, receive and disseminate ideas. The Board of Trustees fully supports the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. Intellectual freedom provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause or movement may be explored.
The Board of Trustees believes that censorship is a purely individual matter and declares that while anyone is free to reject for himself materials of which he does not approve, he cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom of others to read and to view whatever materials they choose.
The library affirms that it is the responsibility of a parent/guardian/custodial caregiver to monitor information accessed by his or her children under the age of eighteen. No restrictions on access to information are made by the library. The library will not act in loco parentis, nor assume the functions of parental authority in the private relationship between parent and child. All parents/guardians/custodial caregivers are encouraged to take an active role in helping their children access information most appropriate to their needs.
The Board of Trustees adopts and declares that it will adhere to and support the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association, and its Interpretations, the Freedom to Read statement and the Freedom to View statement of the Ohio Library Association. See Appendix B: Intellectual Freedom Documents.
