TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Anthony Halstead - Director of Library Services
REPORT BY: Michelle Carreon - Supervising Staff Services Analyst
SUBJECT: Updates to Section 29 of the Napa County Policy Manual
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution amending Section 29, Part I of the Napa County Policy Manual with revisions to Napa County Library's Library Use Policy, Community Meeting Room Policy, include AB-1825 California Freedom to Read Act as required by State Law, and updates for consistency and non-substantive changes. (No Fiscal Impact)
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BACKGROUND
In an ongoing effort to streamline processes and improve customer service, the Napa County Library has updated its policy in several areas. Some of the major changes include the following:
The Library's Use Policy was updated to clarify language around photographing, recording or video recording, and explicitly prohibit certain activities on library property, whether they are using library provided computers, a library provided Wi-Fi connection or their own internet connectivity. This update explicitly states that we will use filtering software in an attempt to block this content.
Reference to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Emergency Connectivity Fund's support of hotspots was removed as the grant period and funding has ended. The library continues to fund hotspots using its own revenue.
AB-1825 - California Freedom to Read Act was passed in 2024. It attempts to protect the right to access diverse information in public libraries, requires collection development policies that affirm this requirement, prohibits censorship based on content or author characteristics as well as discipline or dismissal of staff when adhering to this policy. The Napa County Library's updated policy includes a description of the law and our library's commitment to it as well as the full text.
In keeping with the updates around AB-1825, the prior Request for Reconsideration was changed and updated. The newly crea...
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