Library Complaint and Censorship Records (Lawrence High School Library Media Center)

In response to your request below, the Lawrence High School Campus Media Center has received no complaints or challenges for removal, reclassification, or other reconsideration of publications or other media from January 1, 2010 to the present.

____________________________________
Mary Lou Bergeron, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent for Operations & Support Services/
Keeper of the Records
Lawrence Public Schools
255 Essex Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
mary.bergeron@lawrence.k12.ma.us<mailto:mary.bergeron@lawrence.k12.ma.us>
(978)975-5905 ext. 25622
(978)722-8542 (fax)

Confidentiality Notice:
The information contained in this e-mail, including any attachments, is intended for the person(s) or entity to which it is addressed as it may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any review, copying, printing, or re-transmission, dissemination or other use of or reliance upon such information by any person or entity other than the intended recipient is prohibited.

March 19, 2013

Lawrence High School Library Media Center

70-71 North Parish Road

Lawrence, MA 01843-2914

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