Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall
Collection Development / Materials Selection Policy
March
28, 2007
A.
Objectives
The purpose of the Andrew Carnegie Free
Library is to provide all individuals in the community with carefully
selected books and other materials to aid the i ndividual in the
pursuit of education, information, research, pleasure, and the creative
use of leisure time.
Because of the volume of publishing, as well as
the limitations of budget and space, the library must have a selection
policy with which to meet community interests and needs.
The materials selection/collection development
policy is used by the library staff in the selection of materials and
also serves to acquaint the general public with the principles of
selection.
The Library Bill of Rights (click here to see the Library Bill
of Rights) and The Freedom to Read Statement (click here to see the Freedom to
Read Statement) have been endorsed by the Andrew Carnegie Free Library
& Music Hall Board of Trustees and are integral parts of the
policy.
The materials selection/collection development
policy, like all other policies, will be reviewed and/or revised as the
need arises.
B.
Responsibility for Selection
The ultimate
responsibility for selection of library materials rests with the
library director who is qualified and trained in this repect and who
operates within the framework of the policies determined by the Andrew
Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall Board of Trustees.
C.
Criteria for Selection
1) The main
points considered in the selection of materials are:
a)
individual merit of the item
b) popular
appeal/demand
c)
local/regional interest
d)
suitability of material for the clientele
e) existing
library holdings
f) budget
2) Reviews
are a major source of information about new materials.
3)
The lack of a review or an unfavorable review shall not be the sole
reason for rejecting a title that is in demand. Consideration is,
therefore, given to requests from library patrons and books discussed
on public media. Materials are judged on the basis of the work as a
whole, not on a part taken out of context.
4)
Special consideration will be given to materials purchases that support
programming in the facility - currently theater, baseball, and the
civil war.
5)
Materials will typically be purchased in proportion to the popularity
of that type of material.
6)
Consideration will be given to the quality and availability of
materials on the Internet when purchases are made. The library will
provide Internet links to patrons as an alternative to purchasing those
materials.
7) The
library will not typically purchase duplicates, rare books, textbooks,
or out-of-print books and magazines.
D.
Interlibrary Loan
Because of limited budget and
space, the library cannot provide all materials that are requested.
Therefore, interlibrary loan is used to obtain from other libraries
those materials that are beyond the scope of this library's collection.
In return for utilizing interlibrary loan to
satisfy the needs of our patrons we also lend our materials to other
libraries through the same interlibrary loan network. The content of
our collection is readily available to all through eiNetwork.
E.
Gifts and Donations
The library accepts gifts of
books and other materials with the understanding that they will be
added to the collection only if appropriate and needed. If they are not
needed because of duplication, condition, or dated information, the
director can dispose of them as he/she sees fit. Gifts must meet the
same standards as other materials selected for inclusion in the
library's collection. Memorial gifts of new items or money are also
accepted with suitable bookplates placed in the book. Specific memorial
books can be ordered for the library on request of a patron if the
request meets the criteria established by the Board. It is desirable
for gifts of or for specific titles to be offered after consultation
with the library director. Book selection will be made by the director
if no specific book is requested. Andrew Carnegie Free Library
encourages and appreciates gifts and donations.
By law, the library is not allowed to appraise the
value of donated materials, though it can provide an acknowledgment of
receipt of the items if requested by the donor.
F.
Weeding
An
up-to-date, attractive, and useful collection is maintained through a
continuous review, evaluation, and weeding process. Replacement of
outdated and obsolete items is dependent upon current demand,
usefulness, more recent
acquisitions, cost and availability of newer editions. This ongoing
process of weeding is the responsibility of the library director and is
authorized by the Board of Trustees. Withdrawn materials will be
handled in a similar manner and under the same authority as donated
materials.
G.
Potential Problems or Challenges
Andrew Carnegie
Free Library recognizes that some materials are controversial and that
any given item may offend some patrons. Selection of materials will not
be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely
on the basis of the principles stated in this policy.
Responsibility for the reading of children rests
with their parents or legal guardians. Selection of library materials
will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may come into
the possession of children.
Library materials will not be marked or identified
to show approval or disapproval of their contents, and no library
material will be sequestered except to protect it from damage or theft.
H.
Challenged Materials
Although materials are
carefully selected, differences of opinion regarding suitable materials
will occur. Patrons requesting that material be withdrawn from or
restricted within the collection may complete a "Statement of Concern
About Library Resources" form which is available on the library's
website. The inquiry will be handled by the Library Director. If the
issue can not be resolved at that level, it will be placed on the
agenda of the next regular meeting of the Andrew Carnegie Free Library
& Music Hall Board of Trustees.
Statement of Concern About
Library Resources Form
