Request for Material Reconsideration Policy

Last Reviewed and Approved: June 21, 2023

There may be occasions when a patron is concerned about a particular title in the library’s collection, presentations or events at the library or displays found in the library.  If a patron wishes the library to reconsider the inclusion of a particular title, a Materials Reconsideration Form is available at the library.  This form must be completed in its entirety by a patron with a current Valley Park Community Library library card.  Challenges may not be filed on behalf of groups.  Challenges that specifically target children’s materials, presentations, events, and displays are limited to patrons of the Valley Park Community Library who are guardians of minor children. Either the parent/guardian or the minor child are required to have a library card.  This form must be completed and returned to a library staff member, who will forward it to the Library Director.  The Library Director will submit the form for discussion and review at the next appropriate Board of Trustees Meeting. The Board of Trustees will recommend action after consideration of the patron comments, reviews of the title, the criteria used in selecting the item, and reasons for including it in the collection.  A written response to the patron will be sent in a timely manner.  The names of any materials, presentations, events or displays that are the subject of a challenge along with the date of the challenge will be publicly disclosed.  Due to the fact that reconsideration requests/challenges are considered a “library record”, the disclosure of which is prohibited by RSMO 182.817, any identifying information will be redacted from published results.  Once a challenge is submitted on an item it is unable to have anymore challenges for 365 days from the date of the first challenge.