Information for School Libraries
There are legal requirements that all libraries must meet to comply with the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 (the Classification Act). If these requirements are not met libraries can open themselves to complaints and possible enforcement action.
The key topics covered on this page are:
- The classification system
- Restricted books/magazines/graphic novels
- Lending films/DVDs/games
- Using online material in the library
- Restricted sound recordings
- Information resources available from the Office of Film and Literature Classification
Please note that the Classification Act does not cover copyright or intellectual property. These are governed by different legislation. For information on copyright, contact NZFA©T on 0800 267 974 or via www.nzfact.co.nz. Inquiries about intellectual property should be directed to the Intellectual Property Office via www.iponz.govt.nz.
The Classification System
What are classifications and who assigns them?
In terms of the Classification Act, a classification is a statement about who can legally access a publication. The definition of publication includes books, films, DVDs, electronic games, magazines, computer files and other printed or recorded information.
Classification decisions are made by the Office of Film and Literature Classification and are legally binding. This means it is an offence to make a publication available to someone who is too young to legally have it.
Publications can be classified as:
- Unrestricted (can be made available to a person of any age)
- Restricted to certain classes of people or individuals or for certain purposes. These are legal restrictions on who may have access to that publication. The most common type of restriction is an age restriction, for example R16
- Objectionable (banned)
Restricted Books/Magazine/Graphic Novels
Every year the Classification Office classifies a small number of books and a number of magazines. Most of these are sexually explicit or drug-related and would not be in school libraries. However, occasionally the Classification Office does classify mainstream books and graphic novels. Some of these are classified as unrestricted, others have age restrictions placed on them. Some graphic novels recently classified as restricted are:
- Chobits v.1 - R13
- Chobits v.2 - R13
- 100 Most Infamous Criminals - R13
- Ghost World - R16 Contains offensive language and sexual themes
- The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume II - R13 Contains violence and sex scenes
You can search for classifications on books using the NZ Censorship Decisions Database, available through the home page of our website: www.censorship.govt.nz, or use the spreadsheet of classified books which is sent to libraries with our library e-newsletter (see below).
It is important to note that if a book has been classified as restricted (even if this decision was made 20 years ago), the restriction still applies to identical editions of the book. If your library holds a book which you discover is restricted, but you consider the decision is outdated, you should contact the Information Unit to find out how to get a classification decision reconsidered.
Books that were classified as restricted after 2005 must carry the same type of classification labels as films. Books classified as restricted before that date did not have labels issued but the restrictions still apply. Many libraries choose to hold age-restricted materials away from the general shelving areas.
Can libraries choose to restrict access to some books?
Collection policies within schools may restrict some books to certain age groups/classes. This is an internal decision based on the needs of individual schools.
Libraries newsletter and spreadsheet of print publications requiring classification labels
This free e-newsletter is sent out several times a year and highlights classification issues of relevance to librarians, such as recently classified books, and answers to questions we’ve been receiving from librarians. The newsletter is sent out along with an Excel spreadsheet of books which require classification labels. To subscribe to the newsletter contact the Information Unit.
Lending Films/DVDs/games
The Classification Act requires all films (this includes videos, DVDs and restricted games) to be labelled with New Zealand classification labels before they can be supplied to the public (including supplying to teachers and students). The labelling requirements also apply to DVDs and videos provided electronically such as downloadable videos.
There are some films exempted from labelling requirements. These are discussed in the section on exemptions below.
Rating and Classification labels
If you are unsure of what the New Zealand labels look like, go to the Film Labels page.
If your library collection includes any restricted DVDs, books or games, it is important that access to them is controlled and they are not available to students who are not legally entitled to borrow/watch them. Remember that teachers/parents cannot give permission for an underage student to watch a restricted DVD, even for educational purposes.
Green and yellow labels (G, PG and M) on DVDs show that a film is unrestricted. Unrestricted films can be seen by people of any age. However, not all unrestricted films are aimed at younger audiences. The rating level and descriptive notes on films can be a useful guide to their content (eg PG: Contains violence), but as with books it is always good to be aware of the content of DVDs you are lending from the library.
It is important to remember that a yellow ‘M Suitable for mature audiences 16 years and over’ label does not mean a film is restricted. A number of films aimed at school-age audiences (for example the Harry Potter series) carry M labels. However, M films are often aimed at older audiences or may contain themes which younger viewers may find challenging.
A red label on a film/DVD/game (or book or sound recording) means a legal restriction has been imposed on that publication. It is an offence to make a restricted publication (e.g. an R16 film) available to any person under the age of restriction. These restrictions apply at home and at school.
Some films carry RP classifications (for example RP16). These films can be shown to someone under the age of restriction, but only if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian (including a teacher) over the age of 18.
Certain types of films are exempted from the requirement to carry a classification label
Under section 8 of the Classification Act some types of film are exempt from labelling requirements. The Classification Office cannot grant such an exemption – instead it is the responsibility of the supplier (in this case the library) to read section 8 of the Act and decide whether their DVD fits into one of the exempt categories.
DVDs which are exempt from labelling may include DVDs directly related to the current New Zealand curriculum, documentaries, sporting DVDs or scientific DVDs. If you are uncertain about whether your DVD is exempt from labelling, contact the Information Unit.
Exemptions do not apply if the DVD is a restricted publication. For example, a documentary is not exempt from labelling if it contains content that would make it restricted.
If you lend out DVDs you must display a label poster
Any premise (including libraries) that lends out videos or DVDs or exhibits films must display a label poster explaining what the different classification labels mean. Posters can be obtained free from the Information Unit and come in A2 and A3 formats.
Buying DVDs
If you are buying DVDs for your library, you need to make sure they have New Zealand labels before they can be loaned. If you receive DVDs that do not have the correct labels you should contact your supplier and request that they obtain these. If you buy DVDs from overseas suppliers such as Amazon, you will need to get New Zealand labels for them.
Labels can be obtained from the Film and Video Labelling Body. There is a cost associated with this, and that should be factored in if you are purchasing DVDs from overseas. The Labelling Body’s contact details are:
Film and Video Labelling Body, Inc.
PO Box 2627, Freemans Bay, AUCKLAND 1011
Phone 09 361 2790 Fax 09 360 3448
Email: enquiries@fvlb.org.nz Web: www.fvlb.org.nz
Box sets of DVDs
Some libraries have box sets of DVDs in their collection. These may be films in a series or with a common element (such as the same director), or DVDs of television series. Often box sets will only come with one classification label, affixed to the box itself. Sometimes the individual DVDs within the set will have different classifications or ratings assigned to them. However the label on the box will only display the highest of these classifications.
For example, in the DVD version of series one of The Sopranos, some discs are classified as R13 while others are R16. To check the classifications of individual discs, search the Decisions Database or the Film and Video Labelling Body's website. If labels are not already affixed to the individual discs, contact the Film and Video Labelling Body.
Sometimes libraries purchase a DVD box set, but intend to issue the DVDs individually. In this situation individual classification labels will need to be obtained for, and be affixed to, each DVD that is to be loaned out. In the first instance you should contact your supplier and ensure that they obtain the correct labels from the Labelling Body. If the DVDs are being lent out as a complete box set then the label affixed to the box will be sufficient.
If the label is attached to the plastic shrink wrap, which is then removed from the box set, you will need to transfer the label to the cover of the box set itself before loaning.
Children’s books with DVDs
Sometimes children’s books are accompanied by a DVD. Even though these DVDs may at times be animated, or very short in duration, they are still required to carry a New Zealand classification label. As noted above, in order to obtain the correct label you should in the first instance contact your supplier, or the Film and Video Labelling Body. Due to the cost involved, libraries may choose to remove the DVD and issue the book on its own.
Exemptions from restriction for educational purposes
If a teacher wishes to show a restricted film/book to underage students (e.g. as part of a senior Media Studies course), they can apply to the Chief Censor for an exemption from the classification. For more information see the Schools and Films page.
Using online material in the library
Information accessed via computer is subject to the provisions of the Classification Act. If you have any concerns over material being accessed on library computers you can contact the Information Unit at the Classification Office. If you have a concern that there may be an unsafe situation or illegal activity, you should contact the Censorship Compliance Unit at the Department of Internal Affairs via censorship@dia.govt.nz or freephone 0800 257 887.
Restricted sound recordings
Sound recordings fall under the definition of ‘publication’ in the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993 and can be classified. Very few sound recordings are restricted or banned. Most labels placed on CDs are put there as consumer advisory notes by the music industry.
If a sound recording has been officially classified it must carry the relevant classification label. As with films, it is illegal to supply a restricted sound recording to an underage person.
Information resources available from the Office of Film and Literature Classification
The Classification Office has an Information Unit which can provide information on the process for classification, labelling and any queries relating to censorship. The Unit has produced a number of resources about the Classification Office and its functions which can be obtained from the Information Unit or the Classification Office’s website. It also produces an e-newsletter for libraries.
The Classification Office also has a website targeted especially at students studying NCEA Media Studies.