Guidance on the Management of Controversial Material in Public Libraries
(PDF, 1.72 MB)
This document was published in February 2009 by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
It is endorsed by CILIP, the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL), and the MLA Board. Following the public consultation in 2008, CILIP and MLA worked together to ensure that the guidance upholds the library and information profession’s commitment to freedom of access to information and free expression.
The guidelines were commissioned from MLA by the Government and were developed through extensive consultation with the library and information profession, in particular with CILIP and SCL.
Intended as a voluntary code applying to collection development in public libraries in England, the guidance is aimed at public libraries and also at their partners in the supply chain. They explicitly recognise that: “operating within the law as they do, library authorities will consider for purchase any publication which has not incurred penalties under current UK legislation".
MLA consultation on the draft Guidance 2008
Documents relating to the draft Guidance:
MLA consultation, January 2008 (PDF, 130KB)
CILIP's Response, April 2008 (PDF, 215KB)
MLA summary of responses received, July 2008
(PDF, 91.99 KB )