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Librarians have responded cautiously to the Museums, Libraries and Archives council’s (MLA) revised draft guidance document on controversial stock, with some still expressing concerns that it could make librarians risk-averse in stock selection.
The MLA has redrafted the guidance it sent out for consultation in the spring after a significant proportion (37%) of respondents said it did not meet library staff needs, with some making comparisons to Clause 28. The new draft guidance, prepared with the assistance of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), includes a different presentation of the legal advice and added case studies from current library practice.
CILIP policy director Guy Daines said the new version was “much improved” and that the CILIP Policy Forum had recommended that it endorse the document “in principle”. “The ‘in principle’ is important because we haven’t seen the final text. The Home Office may insist on certain changes being made which would make it less acceptable to us,” he said.
John Pateman, head of Lincolnshire libraries, said the guidance was “much improved” but added that he would continue to oppose it. “I still strongly believe that our collective professional response should be that we do not need any additional guidance. We already have in place robust and tested stock management policies to deal with controversial, extremist or inflammatory materials,” he said. The “very existence” of the guidance would create “a fear factor among library workers”, he added.
Stephen Edwards, stock manager of Hampshire libraries, said: “They’ve changed it quite a bit to stress freedom of access. From what I’ve seen, I didn’t think there was anything terribly worrying. But the case studies seem to point in different directions and I would say the guidelines sit on the fence.”
An MLA spokesperson said: “The guidance has evolved during the consultation process, and we believe it has taken into account a wide range of views.” The final draft of the guidance will go to the MLA board in November.