Statement on Offensive and Harmful Content in the Library’s Collections

Sacramento State University Library will not remove, solely based on the request of an individual or group, material which has been selected for the collection according to criteria determined by the subject specialist librarian, in accordance with the ALA Library Bill of Rights. The University Library embraces, supports, and aligns with the ALA Statements and Policies on Academic Freedom and the ACRL Statement on Academic Freedom, which inform the practice of collection development for all librarians at the University Library.

In addition, records held in libraries and archives may contain imagery and language that are potentially harmful and could be considered inappropriate or offensive in the context of today. These records continue to be an informative part of the historical record and serve to create a complete and complex view of the time period in which they were created. We attempt to balance the preservation of and access to this history with sensitivity to its presentation. The original descriptions, many of which were written decades ago, can provide important context, but can also demonstrate biases and prejudices.

Today, we strive to be inclusive and write historically accurate and respectful descriptions. We continually work with our partners and contributors to assess and update offensive or harmful content and descriptions. We also work to correct factual inaccuracies in a timely manner, as well as to continuously add more imagery and documents of subjects traditionally underrepresented in the visual and written narrative of history.

For more information or to provide feedback, please contact Library Administration (library@csus.edu).

(Adapted from Getty Images’ Cultural Sensitivity - Archive - Getty Images)