Library Complaint and Censorship Records (Converse Middle School Library)

Chris Peterson filed this request with the Converse Middle School Library of Palmer, MA.
Est. Completion None
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No Responsive Documents

Communications

From: Chris Peterson

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

From: MuckRock.com

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.

From: Converse Middle School

Attn: Chris Peterson

This correspondence is written in response to your request of April 4, 2013
for information regarding complaints and challenges to materials included
in our library. I did not receive your first request dated March 19, 2013.

Your request specifies information from January 1, 2010 until present for
which we have no records of "written and electronic complaints for
removal..." from our Converse Middle School library in Palmer, MA. This is
not to say that challenges have no occurred during that time period but
since my tenure as librarian beginning in September of 2012 I have not had
challenges, written or otherwise, nor have I found records in the previous
two librarian's files.

I trust this information fulfills our requirements to the Massachusetts
Public Records Law (M. G. L. Chapter 22, Section 10) and if you should have
further questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

--
Chani Craig

*Converse Middle School*
Library and Information Specialist
413-283-8109 x2214
413-283-2655 (FAX attn: Chani Craig)

*"The more you read, the more things you will know. The more that you
learn, the more places you'll go.”*
- Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!"

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