The Library strongly supports the diversity of scholarship and opinion which characterize the University, and abides by the principle of intellectual freedom as outlined in the Canadian Library Association Statement on Intellectual Freedom:
"All persons in Canada have the fundamental right, as embodied in the nation's Bill of Rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, to have access to all expressions of knowledge, creativity and intellectual activity, and to express their thoughts publicly. This right to intellectual freedom, under the law, is essential to the health and development of Canadian society.
Libraries have a basic responsibility for the development and maintenance of intellectual freedom.
It is the responsibility of libraries to guarantee and facilitate access to all expressions of knowledge and intellectual activity, including those which some elements of society may consider to be unconventional, unpopular or unacceptable. To this end, libraries shall acquire and make available the widest variety of materials."
Materials in the Library’s collection are selected according to a general collection policy covering a wide range of subject profiles in support of teaching, learning, and research at Carleton University.
The Library recognizes that some library users might object to items in the collection on grounds of relevance, scholarly authority, accuracy, religion, politics, morality, sexuality, violence, or offensive content. There may be occasions when a faculty member, student, staff member, public user, or other member of the University community challenges a specific item, and requests that the Library reclassify it, move it to a special limited-access area of the Library, or remove it from the collection outright.
Any challenges to or complaints about the collection should first be made to the Associate University Librarian – Collections & Academic Services. The AUL – Collections & Academic Services will contact the relevant subject selector(s) related to the challenged material, who will prepare a brief report, contacting faculty experts in the area where appropriate. The AUL – Collections & Academic Services then assesses the validity of the challenge in light of the collection policies and practices, the subject selector’s report, and formally responds to the challenger. The Library reserves the right to make the final decision on the retention of all items in the collection.
