Watertown Public Library Board recognizes the pluralistic nature of this community and the varied backgrounds and needs of all citizens, regardless of race, creed, or political persuasion. In a democratic society, individuals should feel free to explore any and all ideas in order to decide which are meaningful to them. Therefore, the library, within the limits of selection standards as governed by the library board and executed by the director, chooses representative material espousing all points of view in all fields, including political, social, and religious. The Watertown Public Library Board believes that censorship is an individual matter and declares that while anyone is free to reject for oneself materials which do not meet with the individual’s approval, one cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom of others.

Budgetary and space constraints limit all libraries’ ability to purchase material. Librarians evaluate material on the basis of their value of interest, information and enlightenment for all people of the community. Qualitative standards are used, including recommendations from acceptable professional and commercial reviews. Popularity and community demand are among the major criteria for selecting material. Consideration is given to material which may be of interest to a few patrons as well as that of interest to many patrons. Materials owned by other libraries may be obtained through the consortium (S.H.A.R.E.) we participate in as well as through interlibrary loan.

The roles of the Watertown Public Library include Community Information Center, Popular Materials Library, Childrens’ Door to Learning, and Reference Library. These roles are realized through providing free and open access to the ideas and information available on all subjects and in all media. Watertown Public Library selects and makes available material for the enlightenment, cultural development, and the enjoyment of its public at all ages and levels of ability and interest. All materials are available to all.

The Watertown Public Library Board adopts and declares that it will adhere to and support the American Library Association Bill of Rights.