(En Español: Política de selección de programas)
Program Selection Policy
This policy guides Anne Arundel County Public Library’s (AACPL) decisions for developing and selecting programs which support the vision, purpose, and priorities of AACPL.
AACPL offers free programming to members of the community of all races, ethnicities, cultures, faiths, ages, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and socio-economic statuses.
AACPL makes every effort to provide programs that represent a broad spectrum of knowledge, people, and opinions.
AACPL values all the communities it serves with special consideration given to programming relating to Annual History and Heritage months. Community and individual input are encouraged and used to identify unmet needs and interests.
The evaluation of programs is characterized by flexibility, open-mindedness, and responsiveness to changing customer needs.
Intellectual Freedom Principles
The library affirms and supports customers' freedom and responsibility to choose library programs according to their needs, individual tastes, or family values. Customers apply those values to library programming only for themselves and may not restrict or interfere in any way with other customers' freedom to view or attend programs.
Programming Considerations
The ultimate responsibility for selection and approval of programs rests with the Chief Executive Officer who may delegate specific authorities and tasks. A team of library staff apply this policy along with their professional knowledge and experience to make program selection decisions. AACPL presents programs in a variety of formats including in person and virtual, at the library and in the community. Formats are chosen based on cost, audience for program and demand by AACPL customers.
The presentation of programs does not represent the library's endorsement of any opinion, belief, philosophy, or precept. A program that meets selection criteria will not be altered or cancelled solely because it represents a particular opinion, belief, or philosophy.
Selection and creation of programs is based on a variety of factors, including the following:
- Popularity, timeliness and general interest and relevance to Anne Arundel County residents
- Customers' informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs
- Diverse and inclusive content
- Need to adequately cover the subject and provide representation for people of all backgrounds, abilities, and identities
- Suitability of content for the intended audience
- Authoritativeness and reputation of the presenter
- Value for the cost of the program
Reconsideration of Programs
Customers may request reconsideration of a particular program. Reconsideration requests may be made in person or by email to any library branch manager or through the library’s Tell Us What You Think email form on the library website. Reconsideration requests are administered through a formal procedure approved by the Chief Executive Officer.