Chatham County Public Libraries staff selects material with great care, using established criteria and giving full consideration to varying age groups as well as to differing education and cultural backgrounds of patrons the Libraries serve.  Selection criteria are described in detail in the Collection Development Policy, which is available on the Libraries’ website.

Any Chatham County Public Libraries cardholder may request that an item in the Libraries’ collections be reviewed for appropriateness.

The procedure for review of material is as follows:

1. The patron seeking review of a work receives a copy of the Chatham County Public Libraries Collection Development Policy and a Request for Review of Library Materials form. These are available online and at all public service desks.
2. The patron seeking review must read, view, or listen to the entirety of the work before requesting reconsideration of library material.
3. The patron may submit the Request for Review of Material form at any public service desk. The patron will receive notification within two weeks acknowledging receipt of the Request for Review form by the Libraries and advising that a written response to the Request will be sent within 28 days.
4. The form is routed to the Branch Manager, who will assign a librarian to review and research the request. The librarian will present a recommendation to the Branch Manager and Library Director.
5. The Library Director will contact the patron to discuss the patron’s request and the decision regarding the material.
6. The Libraries’ decision will be given within 28 days of the original request.
7. If the patron is not satisfied with the stated decision, the patron may file a written notice of appeal within 30 days to the Library Director.

Patrons who would like CCPL to review a title’s place in the collection are required to complete this form.

The Request for Review of Library Materials form and its written response becomes part of Chatham County’s public record.

Request for Review Form

 Revised  07-2023