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Exhibit 5 <br /> ITY ,05 F <br /> !.m <br /> 0 <br /> PLEASANTON, ,,, <br /> Inclusiveness in Materials Statement <br /> Pleasanton Public Library's (Library) mission is to be a place for all members in the <br /> community to "Discover, Connect, and Share" and is guided by the Library and <br /> Recreation Department's values of integrity, inclusiveness, innovation, customer <br /> service, and collaboration. To fulfill its mission and values, the Library is dedicated to <br /> free and equal access to resources in a variety of formats to meet the cultural, <br /> informational, recreational, and educational needs of the diverse community it serves. <br /> This statement articulates the Library's position on its freedom to acquire lawful <br /> materials without content limitations, and the Library's commitment to oppose attempts <br /> to ban, remove, or otherwise restrict library patrons' free and open access to books, <br /> materials, information, and resources. In doing so, this statement reinforces the <br /> Library's commitment to a patron's individual choice. <br /> Book Challenges in Public Libraries <br /> Books have been banned throughout the history of the United States, without sustained <br /> success or benefit to its citizenry. Removing or denying access to resources based on <br /> personal bias, prejudice, or because the materials may be viewed as controversial or <br /> objectionable, is a form of censorship which is constitutionally restricted. <br /> The American Library Association's (ALA) Library Bill of Rights, a set of guiding <br /> principles originally adopted in 1939, outlines free and equitable access to information <br /> to support an enlightened citizenry. The American Library Association launched Banned <br /> Books Week in 1982 in response to a surge in the number of challenges to books in <br /> schools, bookstores, and libraries. The event highlights the value of free and open <br /> access to information and brings together community members, librarians, booksellers, <br /> publishers, journalists, and teachers in shared support of the freedom to seek and <br /> express ideas. Banned Books Week is celebrated each year in October to highlight <br /> these important freedoms. <br /> Despite these efforts, the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom <br /> reported that book challenges in the United States nearly doubled between 2021 and <br /> 2022, reaching the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling <br /> data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. <br /> Individual Choice in Libraries <br /> The Library affirms the right for individuals to make their own decisions about their use <br /> of library materials and information. The Library is a public space established for the <br />