Camarillo Board of Library Trustees
AGENDA REPORT
Date: April 23, 2025
To: Honorable President and Trustees
From: Greg Ramirez, City Manager
Submitted by: Mandy Nasr, Camarillo Public Library Director Subject: Library Board of Trustees Policy 13.06 – Collection Development Policy
BACKGROUND
The California Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825) requires every public library jurisdiction that directly receives any state funding to establish, adopt, and maintain a written and publicly accessible collection development policy for its libraries by January 1, 2026. The bill would require the collection development policy to, among other things, (1) guide the selection and deselection of library materials and (2) establish a process for community members to share their concerns regarding library materials and request materials be reconsidered for inclusion in the library’s collection.
DISCUSSION
In December 2024, the Camarillo Public Library Director submitted the existing Camarillo Public Library Collection Development Policy to the California State Library. In January 2025, the State Librarian reported back that further statements must be added in order to be in compliance with the California Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825).
The California State Library provided a “California Freedom to Read Act Process and Checklist” to Camarillo Public Library in response to their existing Collection Development Policy.
The following items in the Collection Development Policy are in compliance with the California Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825):
1. The library posted their collection development policy on their public website.
2. The policy establishes a process for community members to share their concerns regarding library materials and to request that library materials be reconsidered for inclusion in the library’s collection.
3. The policy guides the selection and deselection of materials.
Library Board of Trustees Policy 13.06 – Collection Development Policy April 23, 2025
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The following statements need to be included in the existing Library’s Collection Development Policy in order to be in compliance with the California Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825):
1. The collection meets the broad and diverse interests of the community and respects both the library’s autonomy and their specific community needs.
2. The public library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas.
3. Library materials should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people, and should present diverse points of views in the collection as a whole.
4. The right of the public to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences is acknowledged.
Recommended edits to Library Board of Trustees Policy 13.01 – Code of Conduct Policy are provided in Attachment 1. At their meeting on March 27, 2025, the Policy Committee reviewed the proposed edits and recommends the City Council approve the proposed revised policy.
Once the City Council approves the Collection Development Policy, the Camarillo Public Library Director will send the amended Collection Development Policy to the California State Library. To be in compliance with the California Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825), the amended policy must be submitted to the California State Library before January 1, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no budget impact as a result of this action.
CEQA DETERMINATIONS
Not applicable
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend adoption of the revised Collection Development Policy.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Collection Development Policy Redline
2. Collection Development Policy Clean Copy
3. California Freedom to Read Act Process and Checklist Library Board of Trustees Policy 13.06 – Collection Development Policy April 23, 2025
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REFERENCE MATERIALS – AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT CITY HALL AB-1825 California Freedom to Read Act
URL: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1 825