Sheridan trustees adopt revised library policy, remove Library Bill of Rights from district policy

The Sheridan County School District No. 2 Board voted to adopt revisions to policy IJL (library material selection, access, and reconsideration) on second reading and to delete related IJL exhibits and forms referenced in the agenda.

Policy presenters said the board committee recommended removing the Library Bill of Rights from the district policy because of potential conflicts with other policy language and governance inconsistencies. The committee's recommendation allows the Library Bill of Rights to remain as a reference resource for school libraries but not as codified policy.

Trustee Moore said the decision reflected a history of inconsistent treatment of the Bill of Rights in district policy and stressed governance precedence: "If we put the library bill of rights in policy, it's bringing back inconsistencies." He said the committee had discussed the issue and that removing the Bill of Rights from the policy would reduce contradictions and better align governance documents.

Trustee Wyatt said she had heard positive public comment about retaining the Bill of Rights and said she was initially taken aback by removing it. Trustee Lansing and others said the Bill of Rights can be a resource for librarians without superseding district policy.

After further discussion the board approved IJL on second reading and carried the motion to delete the associated IJL exhibits (voice vote).

The motion was procedural and did not, in itself, change day-to-day library operations; the board and policy committee indicated they will continue to provide resources and guidance to librarians.