Material Challenge Procedure

The Library is committed to the principles of intellectual freedom as outlined in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights. In this commitment to intellectual freedom, any request to remove a book or other item from the Library’s collections is taken very seriously. As such, any E&H Library user who wishes to request the removal of an item or challenge the inclusion of an item in the Library’s collections is asked to follow this process:

1. Submit a complete written and signed complaint to the Director of the Library. Incomplete or anonymous complaints will be filed but not given a response. The written complaint must include:
   
   1. Full name, address, email address, phone number, and E&H Status (Faculty, staff, student, community member, etc)
   2. Complete bibliographic information of the item subject to the complaint
   3. Justification for removal from the Library’s collections including why the justification overrides the principles of intellectual freedom
   4. Signature(s) of the person(s) making the complaint and date the complaint is lodged (submitted)
   5. Submit by mail, email, or in-person to: Director of the Library, Kelly Library, PO Box 948, Emory, VA 24327, askalibrarian@ehc.edu
2. Within seven (7) business days of the receipt of the complaint, the Director of the Library will respond in writing on College letterhead, by mail or email, with a decision of whether the item will be removed from the collection or remain in the Library and the justification for that decision. The Director’s response will be copied to the College Provost and the faculty chair of the Library Committee.
3. Should the person(s) who filed to complaint wish to appeal the Director of the Library’s decision, they should respond in writing within seven (7) business days of receipt of the decision to the Director requesting that appeal.
4. If a request for appeal is received, the Director the Library will inform the faculty chair of the Library Committee and request that the Committee be convened to consider the initial complaint, the Director’s decision, and the request for appeal. (The Director of the Library is an ex officio member of the Committee.) The Committee will make the final decision on the appeal of the Director’s decision. The faculty chair will inform the complainant(s) of the decision in writing and copy the College Provost and Director of the Library.