Metuchen Public Library

To support the Metuchen Public Library’s mission to inform, enrich, and empower the public, support intellectual freedom and encourage lifelong learning in a diverse and innovative community, the Library fully endorses the principles documented in the Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read, Statement of the American Library Association.

The Library materials available to everyone in the community present a diversity of viewpoints, enabling residents to make the informed choices necessary in a democracy.  The Library upholds the right of the individual to secure these resources, even though the content may be controversial, unorthodox, or unacceptable to some. The Library’s wide ranging collection is available to all. It is not expected all of the collections will appeal to everyone.

The procedure for the reconsideration of library materials is as follows::

1. The request may only be submitted by Metuchen residents with a valid Metuchen Public Library card.
2. The library cardholder must complete the Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials Form and submit it to the supervising librarian who is on duty, or the Library Director. This request can not be submitted anonymously.
3. The librarian will consider the item based on the selection criteria of the Library’s Collection Development Policy and will make every effort to address the library user’s questions or concerns.
4. The Library Director and the Personnel, Policies and Public Relations (PPP) Committee from the Library Board of Trustees will consider each request in terms of the library’s selection criteria as indicated in the Collection Development Policy, and the principles outlined in the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read, and the Freedom to View Statements of the American Library Association.
5. No action will be taken to remove or restrict access to any materials during the review process until a final decision has been made by the Library Director and the Library Board of Trustees.
6. The Library Director will respond in writing with a decision within 60 days and send it to the library user.
7. The appeal of this decision may be made in writing to the Library Director detailing the reasons. Such appeal shall not exceed two pages and should include copies of the original Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials Form and the written decision from the Library.
8. The final responsibility for materials reconsideration resides with the Library Director and the Library Board of Trustees.
9. The completed decision on reconsideration of a specific library item shall remain in effect for three years.

1st Reading November 15, 2022
2nd Reading December 13, 2022

The Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials Form can be obtained at the library’s main service desk.