Library Complaint and Censorship Records (Barnstable High School Harvard H. Broadbent Library)

Further clarification please. I am the sole librarian in a high school of 2200 students. My time is scarce to say the least.



Sharon Morgan - Library Media Specialist - Barnstable High School

Not in my tenure at Barnsable High School.

Sharon Morgan - Library Media Specialist - Barnstable High School>>>
<requests@muckrock.com> 4/7/2013 10:43 AM >>>

April 7, 2013
Barnstable High School Harvard H. Broadbent Library
Barnstable High School Harvard H. Broadbent Library
744 West Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601-3487

This is a follow up to a previous request:

Hi Sharon -

My apologies for taking up more of your scarce time. What I'm basically
asking is whether any patron, parent, staff member - anyone besides you
as sole librarian - has asked that a book in your high school library be
removed from that library or reconsidered for classification (what the
ALA would probably call a "banned book").

If you have had any such requests, I'm asking that you provide me with
any records / recollections as to their substance. If you have not had
any requests, then just let me know, and I will indicate that Barnstable
High has no responsive requests.

Best,

- Chris

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On April 4, 2013:

Further clarification please. I am the sole librarian in a high school
of 2200 students. My time is scarce to say the least.

Sharon Morgan - Library Media Specialist - Barnstable High School

---

On April 4, 2013:

To Whom It May Concern:

I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information request,
copied below, and originally submitted on March 19, 2013. Please let me
know when I can expect to receive a response, or if further
clarification is needed.

Thank you for your help.

---

On March 19, 2013:

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M. G. L.
Chapter 66, Section 10) for a copy of the following records:

Copies of written and electronic complaints and challenges for removal,
reclassification, or other reconsideration of publications including
books, magazines, movies, websites (e.g. filtered from library
computers), or other media from January 1, 2010, to present, as well as
records, petitions, and correspondence related to these challenges.

We seek such records as, for example, are classified by the
Massachusetts’ Supervisor of Public Records Municipal Records Retention
Manual under Section 17.004: Complaint and Censorship Records, though we
do not limit our request to those so classified.

According to 950 CMR 32.06(5), every custodian of records is encouraged
to waive fees where disclosure would benefit the public interest, as we
believe these will. This request is part of a research project by the
Center for Civic Media to better understand how and why library
materials are challenged in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We are
committed to open access and plan to make our findings broadly available
to the public. If fees cannot be waived please inform me in advance.

We ask that, if possible, you please respond via email with text
documents or clear, high-quality scanned PDFs. If you cannot reply
electronically, please mail us the best quality copies you reasonably
can. Your efforts helps us ensure broad accessibility and equity.

The statute requires your response to this request within 10 business
days. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping us better
understand this important aspect of the work that you do. Please feel
free to email me directly if you have any further questions.

Best,

- Chris Peterson
Research Assistant
Center for Civic Media
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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