YORK COUNTY, SC – The York County Library Board officially approved a new Book Collection Policy today, establishing updated guidelines for selecting and organizing materials across the library system, with specific emphasis on age-appropriate content for juvenile and teen collections.
The new policy includes comprehensive criteria for selection, maintenance, and removal of materials, but key attention was paid to the sections governing books for younger patrons and the specific language addressing sexual and sexually explicit content.
Juvenile (Children) Collection (Ages up to 12)
The policy outlines specific criteria for materials in the Juvenile Collection, emphasizing the importance of format, quality, and age-appropriate content.
The selection criteria for this collection includes the General Selection Criteria with the added responsibility that the materials are age and developmentally appropriate.
In addition to general criteria, the policy states that the library will consider:
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The rulings of the South Carolina Department of Education.
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Guidance from the South Carolina State Library.
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Reviews by ratedbooks.org.
Key Wording on Sexual Content:
The policy includes explicit language concerning sexual content for this collection:
The rulings of the South Carolina Department of Education, guidance from the South Carolina State Library, and reviews by ratedbooks.org will also be considered. In terms of sexual content, the library will additionally follow all applicable laws for minors and such State of South Carolina Provisos, as may be applicable.
The policy also introduces a provision for themes considered mature for the collection:
Books that contain or depict sexually explicit content are prohibited in the Juvenile-Collection and Juvenile Sections of the Library’s Branches. Books addressing topics on gender identity or other mature themes may be excluded from the Juvenile-Collection and placed in another collection
Teen Collection (Ages 13-17)
The Teen Collection section acknowledges the diverse interests, backgrounds, and development levels of this age group. Materials are selected to provide a balanced collection of popular and classic titles, with an awareness that paperbacks hold a special appeal.
Similar to the Juvenile Collection, the selection criteria for the Teen Collection includes the General Selection Criteria with the added responsibility that the materials are age and developmentally appropriate. The policy also requires consideration of rulings from the South Carolina Department of Education, guidance from the South Carolina State Library, and reviews by ratedbooks.org.
Key Wording on Sexual Content:
The language regarding sexual content in the Teen Collection also adheres to state guidelines:
The rulings of the South Carolina Department of Education, guidance from the South Carolina State Library, and reviews by ratedbooks.org will also be considered. In terms of sexual content, the library will additionally follow all applicable laws for minors and such State of South Carolina legislative Provisos, as may be applicable.
The policy also specifies that mature themes are acceptable for this collection, where appropriate:
Books addressing mature themes or topics on gender identity or other mature themes may be placed in the Teen-Collection and Teen Sections of the Library Branches, as may be designated.
The new policy takes effect immediately and will guide the York County Library staff in their selection and organization of materials going forward, ensuring a balanced collection while adhering to standards of age and developmental appropriateness.
The full policy is available here.
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