9. a. In addition to the duties prescribed in section 18 of P.L.1969, c.158 (C.18A:73-33), the State Librarian, in consultation with the New Jersey Library Association, shall establish a model policy on the curation of library material within a public library. The purpose of the curation policy is to: provide standards for the curation of library material; establish criteria for the removal of existing library material or library material selected for inclusion in the public library; and provide protection against attempts to censor library material. b. The model policy shall, at a minimum:
(1)recognize that public libraries serve as centers for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas;
(2)promote the free expression and free access to ideas by residents by prohib
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9. a. In addition to the duties prescribed in section 18 of P.L.1969, c.158 (C.18A:73-33), the State Librarian, in consultation with the New Jersey Library Association, shall establish a model policy on the curation of library material within a public library. The purpose of the curation policy is to: provide standards for the curation of library material; establish criteria for the removal of existing library material or library material selected for inclusion in the public library; and provide protection against attempts to censor library material. b. The model policy shall, at a minimum: (1) recognize that public libraries serve as centers for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas; (2) promote the free expression and free access to ideas by residents by prohibiting the censorship of library material; (3) acknowledge that library material shall not be removed from a public library because of the origin, background, or views of the library material or those contributing to its creation; (4) recognize that library material should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people and should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole; (5) acknowledge that a librarian is professionally trained to curate and develop collections that provide residents with access to the widest array of library material available to the public library; and (6) establish a procedure for a librarian to review library material within a public library on an ongoing basis, which shall include, but not be limited to: the library material's relevance; the condition of the library material; the availability of duplicates; the availability of more recent material; and the continued demand for the library material. c. The model policy shall be updated as the State Librarian and New Jersey Library Association deem necessary. d. A governing body of a public library shall adopt the model policy established pursuant to this section. If a public library has a policy that complies with the requirements of subsection b. of this section as of the effective date of this act, the library shall not be required to take further action. e. The governing body of a public library, in consultation with staff members of a public library, including a librarian employed by a public library, shall have discretion in selecting, purchasing, or acquiring library material for inclusion in the public library. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a governing body of a public library to purchase, or otherwise acquire, library material for a public library. L.2024, c.96, s.9.