During its regular meeting on May 19^th, 2025, the Campbell County Public Library System Board of Trustees took the following action:

 

NAME	VOTE
Rachel Cartwright, Chair	YES
Kim Martin, Vice Chair	YES
Donna Roberts	YES
Tanita Anthony	YES
Bill van Opstal	YES
Christel Coman	YES
Susan Jevitt	YES

 

WHEREAS, the Campbell County Public Library System operates under collection development policies that include guidelines for the selection and deselection of material, considering the varied needs and expectations of the approximately 55,000 citizens in the Campbell County community; and

WHEREAS, these established policies provide clear means for individuals to request reconsideration of library materials, with processes to ensure that the best interests of the entire community are considered when evaluating library content; and

WHEREAS, the Campbell County Public Library System’s staff includes people with advanced degrees, all of whom receive extensive professional training, making them uniquely qualified to develop collections based not on their personal preferences or beliefs, but rather designed to meet the broad and varied interests and needs of their communities; and

WHEREAS, Library staff take active measures to ensure that no obscene materials, as defined by Section 18.2-372 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, and the case Miller v. California, 413 U.S. 15 (1973), are introduced into the Campbell County Public Library collection; and

WHEREAS, the library purchases only from reputable vendors that are legally restricted from selling and distributing materials determined by state and federal law to be obscene; and

WHEREAS, the Campbell County Public Library System does not impose value judgments about materials, and therefore does not sequester, segregate, rate, label, or otherwise indicate approval or disapproval of contents, or inhibit access to materials; and

WHEREAS, the Campbell County Public Library System’s youth collections contain content that has been identified by publishers and reviewers as intended for those audiences, and that the Library provides these materials for a broad variety of families with differing needs and values; and

WHEREAS, all Campbell County Public Library System materials may be found in the Library’s online catalog, ensuring full collection transparency and the ability to preview titles for suitability; and

WHEREAS, the Campbell County Public Library System actively solicits collection requests from community members via social media and the library website; and

WHEREAS, a list of review sources that citizens can use to assist in evaluation of materials is located on the Campbell County Public Library System website; and

WHEREAS, Campbell County Public Library System staff and librarians are available to assist all patrons in locating materials that suit their personal preferences and values; and

WHEREAS, the Campbell County Public Library System requires that all children under age 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult aged 18 or older while in a library facility; and

WHEREAS, said adult is responsible for all the child’s activities in and access to library spaces, resources, services, and events; and

WHEREAS, no child under the age of 18 may obtain a library card without parental or legal guardian approval, and parents or legal guardians have full access to and control of their child’s library account until they turn 18; and

WHEREAS, when a parent or legal guardian obtains a library card for their child, they given the option to opt-in to receive email notifications of items checked out on their child’s account; and

WHEREAS, a parent may utilize the online system to further monitor their own checkouts and the items on their child’s account at any time; and

WHEREAS, parents are informed of their ability to access their child’s account via the new card application form and the welcome brochure; and

 WHEREAS, the freedom to read and access information is protected by the First Amendment to the       Constitution of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, the public library is a cherished American institution established to support and protect the free flow of information and ideas vital to a strong, functioning democratic republic; and

WHEREAS, a public library provides a broad variety of materials, subjects, and viewpoints that enable citizens of all demographics to better understand and navigate a complex world; and

WHEREAS, parents and legal guardians are guaranteed the right by the First Amendment to determine what their own children may read or access, but do not have the right to determine what all children may read or access, or dictate what other parents may allow their children to read or access; and

WHEREAS, Campbell County took action with a unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors on December 1, 2020, to declare Campbell County a First Amendment Sanctuary.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Campbell County Public Library System Board of Trustees:

• Affirms the Campbell County Public Library System’s existing practices to protect minors by providing for collection transparency and parental/guardian access and control in minors’ use of library materials, services, resources, and events;
• Supports the Campbell County Public Library System’s existing policies guiding the selection and deselection of materials reflecting the needs and interests of the community, without discrimination against or preference to specific individuals, groups, or viewpoints; and
• Actively supports and defends citizens’ First Amendment rights, including the right to read and access information freely and to form their own opinions;
• Defends parental rights to choose content that is suitable for their own families and children, but not to determine what is appropriate for other families and their children;
• Affirms the Campbell County Public Library System’s vital role in protecting citizens’ constitutional and parental rights and enabling all citizens to understand and navigate a complex world.

Adopted this 19 day of May 2025.