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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 />Attachment 2 <br />Page 10 of 22