Western Washington University Libraries Statement on Challenged Materials

Western Washington University's (WWU) mission is to prepare and inspire individuals to explore widely, think critically, communicate clearly, and connect ideas creatively. Western Libraries is committed to a culture of excellence, integrity, and leadership that inspires visionary thinking, critical discourse, accountability, and transparent practices. Thus, the Libraries welcomes feedback regarding materials in our collections, regardless of format.

Western Libraries and Academic/Intellectual Freedom 

Intellectual freedom is the foundation of academic inquiry (see WWU’s Academic Freedom Resources). A researcher must be able to study ideas as academic subjects, free from judgment or assumption that they espouse those ideas. Barring exceptional legal or ethical circumstances, most requests to return, withdraw, destroy, or delete materials already in the collection will be refused in keeping with the Libraries’ commitment to preserve its collections, and the scholarly and cultural record.

Western Libraries adheres to the following professional standards and guidelines:

• The Library Bill of Rights (American Library Association)
• Intellectual Freedom Principles for Academic Libraries: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights (American Library Association)
• The Freedom to Read Statement (American Library Association)
• Privacy: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights (American Library Association)
• ACRL Statement on Academic Freedom (Association of College and Research Libraries)
• WWU Resources on Academic Freedom (Western Washington University)

Indigenous Rights and Holdings

Western Libraries welcomes dialog about stewardship of culturally sensitive Indigenous materials with the impacted communities of origin. Western Libraries’ procedure for reviewing these materials may differ from procedures for other library materials, and will be carried out in accordance with WWU Policy on Compliance with Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, as well as the Protocols for Native American Archival Materials, and University mission, vision and goals. Western Libraries complies with the following university policies and professional guidelines and library/divisional policies:

• WWU POL-U2100.06 Compliance with Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (Interim)
• Protocols for Native American Archival Materials
• WWU Strategic Plan, Mission, Values and Goals
• Western Libraries Archives & Special Collections Policy on Native American Archival Materials [forthcoming]

How to share feedback on Western Libraries Materials

Western Libraries will respond as follows:

1. You will be notified that your message was received.
2. A review process will be conducted by Western Libraries (including collection stewards and Libraries leadership).
3. The status of collection materials will not change while the review process is being conducted.
4. Western Libraries will contact you about the outcome of the review process in a timely manner. We advise users of the webform that content submitted (and any follow-up communication with Western Libraries) may be subject to disclosure pursuant to the Washington State Public Records Act (RCW 42.56).

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We acknowledge the repurposing of some content and language provided by the following academic libraries:

• University of Washington Policy on Requests To Withdraw Materials
• WSU Libraries Statement on Intellectual Freedom
• Sonoma State University Library Collections Dispute Procedures
• Dartmouth Libraries Challenged Materials Policy