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Request for Reconsideration

Use this form to file an official complaint.

Request for Reconsideration

Following the guidelines set forth by the American Library Association (ALA), individuals who are concerned about the appropriateness of Library resources may make informal complaints in public and to Library staff members. Brazil Public Library card holders may formally request the reconsideration of an item in the collection using the Request for Reconsideration form. Verbal requests are accepted, but they do not follow the same procedure as formal complaints.

The following steps provided by the ALA will be used when an individual feels that further action is necessary to address concerns about a Library resource. For the duration of this process, the material in question will remain in circulation in the Library collection.

  1. A concerned patron who is dissatisfied with earlier informal discussions will be offered a packet of materials that includes the Library’s mission statement, selection policy, reconsideration form, and the Library Bill of Rights.
  2. Patrons are required to complete and submit a reconsideration form to the Library director.
  3. The director, with appropriate professional staff, will review the reconsideration form and the material in question, to consider whether its selection follows the criteria stated in the collection policy.
  4. Within 15 business days, the director will make a decision and send a letter to the concerned person who requested the reconsideration, stating the reasons for the decision.
  5. If the individual is not satisfied with the decision, a written appeal may be submitted within 10 business days to the Board of Trustees.
  6. If the board plans to address the appeal at their board meeting, the individual will be notified of when and where the meeting will be held.
  7. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to limit the length of public comments.
  8. The decision of the board is final.