RECONSIDERATION POLICY

Section 23 
REVIEW AND RECONSIDERATION POLICY 
 
The Library welcomes expressions of opinion concerning materials, programs or displays. Waterford 
residents with a vested interest who wish that a specific item, program or display be reconsidered is asked to 
complete and submit a Request for Reconsideration Form.  
 
In accordance with Connecticut Public Act 25-168 Sec. 322, 323, Waterford Public Library abides by the 
following statutory requirements: 
• 
No library material, display or program shall be removed, or programs be cancelled, because of the 
origin, background or viewpoints expressed in such material, display or program or because of the 
origin, background or viewpoints of the creator of such material, display or program. 
• 
All library materials are evaluated and made accessible in accordance with the protections against 
discrimination set forth in section 46a-64 of the Connecticut general statutes 
• 
Library materials, displays and programs shall only be excluded for legitimate pedagogical purposes 
or for professionally accepted standards of collection maintenance practices as adopted in the 
collection development and maintenance policy or the display and program policy. 
• 
The materials review and reconsideration process for Waterford residents to challenge any library 
material, display or program shall neither favor nor disfavor any group based on protected 
characteristics. 
• 
The individual completing a reconsideration form must include specific information about which 
portion or portions of such material they object to and provide an explanation of the reasons for such 
objection. The Request for Reconsideration Form must include the individual's full legal name, 
address and telephone number. 
• 
Reconsideration requests are not confidential patron records under section 11-25 of the Connecticut 
general statutes. 
• 
Any library material being challenged will remain available in the library according to its catalog record 
and be available for a Library cardholder to reserve, check out or access, until a final decision is made by 
the library director. 
 
Review Process: 
The library director, along with appropriate staff, will: 
1. Review the Request for Reconsideration Form 
2. Read, view or listen to the challenged material in its entirety 
3. Evaluate the challenged material against the collection development and maintenance policy and 
make a written decision on whether or not to remove the challenged material not later than sixty 
days from the date of receiving such request 
4. The library director shall provide a copy of their decision and provide a written response to the 
individual who submitted the form 
 
The library director may consolidate any requests for reconsideration of the same challenged library 
material. 
 
Individuals who submitted the Request for Consideration form may appeal, in writing, the decision of 
the library director. Written appeals must be directed to the president of the Library’s Board of Trustees. 

The final authority regarding the removal or retention of library materials ultimately resides with the 
Waterford Public Library’s Board of Trustees. 
 
The Library’s Board of Trustees, after evaluating the challenged material under the Collection Development 
and Maintenance Policy, shall: 
1. Consult with (i) the library director, (ii) the State Librarian, or the State Librarian's designee, (iii) 
a representative of the cooperating library service unit, as defined in section 11-9e of 
Connecticut’s general statutes, (iv) the president of the Connecticut Library Association, or the 
president's designee, and (v) the president of the Association of Connecticut Library Boards, or 
the president's designee 
2. Deliberate on such request for reconsideration 
3. Provide a written statement of the reasons for the reconsideration or refusal to reconsider the 
library material 
4. Provide any final decision that is contrary to the decision of the library director. 
 
A resource that has previously been reconsidered by request shall be exempt from additional requests for 
reconsideration for three years following being retained in the Library’s collection despite a formal 
request for reconsideration. The library director shall summarize the previous decision in response to any 
new request for reconsideration during that three-year period. 
The Library is prohibited by state statutes from removing, excluding or censoring any book on the sole 
basis that an individual finds such book offensive. 
Any librarian or staff member of Waterford Public Library, who, in good faith, implements the policies 
described in this section shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be 
incurred or imposed and shall have the same immunity with respect to any judicial proceeding that 
results from such implementation. 
 
Board of Trustees – November 18, 2025