Those who censor would force their point of view on others, many times in the notion of sustaining freedom or preventing moral decay. The right of the individual to free speech, free press, and free expression is protected by the united States Constitution in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. Librarians do not advocate or endorse every idea in every book made available through the library. Their collections reflect diversity and present alternative points of view in order to provide full access to information.
Librarians are often the first defense against the censor.
We must be prepared in advance of a challenge with documented selection policies and procedures for handling complaints. This manual has been designed as a practical document to use when face with challenges to First Amendment rights. It contains guidelines to enable you to prepare ahead to deal with censorship issues, as well as a list of national and state organizations, which may provide assistance in the event of a censorship challenge. You will be put in touch with members of the committee as soon as possible. For your convenience, you may use the Librarian's Report and Request for Assistance form .