|
Libraries in America are cornerstones of the communities
they serve. Free access to the books, ideas, resources, and information
in America's libraries is imperative for education, employment,
enjoyment, and self-government.
Libraries are a legacy to each generation, offering the
heritage of the past and the promise of the future. To ensure that
libraries flourish and have the freedom to promote and protect the
public good in the 21st century, we believe certain principles must be
guaranteed.
To that end, we affirm this contract with the people we
serve:
-
We
defend the constitutional rights of all individuals, including children
and teenagers, to use the library's resources and services:
-
We value
our nation's diversity and strive to reflect that diversity by providing
a full spectrum of resources and services to the communities we serve;
-
We
affirm the responsibility and the right of all parents and guardians to
guide their own children's use of the library and its resources and
services;
-
We
connect people and ideas by helping each person select from and
effectively use the library's resources;
-
We
protect each individual's privacy and confidentiality in the use of
library resources and services;
-
We
protect the rights of individuals to express their opinions about
library resources and services;
-
We
celebrate and preserve our democratic society by making available the
widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions and ideas, so that all
individuals have the opportunity to become lifelong learners- informed,
literate, educated, and culturally enriched.
Change is constant, but these principles transcend
change and endure in a dynamic technological, social, and political
environment.
By embracing these principles, libraries in the United
States can contribute to a future that values and protects freedom of
speech in a world that celebrates both our similarities and our
differences, respects individuals and their beliefs, and holds all
persons truly equal and free.
Adopted February 3, 1999, by the
Council of the American Library Association
|
 |
