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Material Selection Policy

Purpose of Policy

The purpose of this Policy on material selection is to guide in the selection of materials and to inform the public about the principles upon which selections are made. This statement was approved and adopted by the on August 2020, Bracken County Public Library Board which assumes full responsibility for all legal actions which may result from the implementation of any policies stated herein.

Library Aims

The aim of the Bracken County Public Library is service to all people. This encompasses individuals and groups of every age, education, philosophy, occupation, economic level, ethnic origin and human condition. Fulfilling the education, informational and recreational needs of these people is the Bracken County Public Library’s Broad purpose. More specifically, it helps people to keep up with change in all areas, educate themselves continually, become better members of their family and community, become socially and politically aware, be more capable in their occupations, develop their literature and art, contribute to the overall expanse of knowledge, and stimulate their own personal social well-being. All printed and non-printed materials are selected by this Library in accordance with these basic objectives.

Censorship / Intellectual Freedom

The library subscribes to the Library Bill of Rights and its several interpretations:

  • Freedom to Read Statement
  • Freedom to View Statement

The selection of library books and materials is predicated on the library patron’s right to read, and, similarly, the freedom from censorship by others. Many books are controversial and any given item may offend some persons. Selections for this Library will not, however, be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits of the material in relation to the building of the collection and to serving the interests of the readers. This Library holds censorship to be a purely individual matter and declares, while anyone is free to reject books and other materials of which he/she does not approve, that person cannot exercise this right to censorship to restrict the freedom of others.

With respect to the use of library materials by children, the decision as to what a minor may read is the responsibility of his parent or guardian. Selection will not be inhibited by the possibility that books may inadvertently come into the possession of minors.

Selection Responsibility and Principles

Ultimate responsibility for selection rests with the director who operates within the framework of policies adopted by the Board. The director may delegate initial selection to experienced staff because of training and position. Recommendations from customers are encouraged.

In general, the Material Selection Policy addresses the roles for library service through the provision of the highest quality available materials on all levels and in all acceptable formats.

Materials purchased, as well as gifts and donations, are judged as follows:

  1. Controversial issues will be addressed in collection by materials representing all sides of an issue while maintaining a balance.
  2. Acquisition of a title is based upon the merit of the specific title and the value of the title to the community. See below for further information.
  3. Specialized and ephemeral requests for topical materials are filled through Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Requests for the general user are filled by the local collection.
  4. Duplication will be avoided except for high demand materials.
  5. Parents are responsible for guiding their children’s reading. Library staff cannot censor their choice or refuse them information of any type.

Use will be made of selection aids such as retrospective and current general lists, specialized bibliographies in areas suitable for small public libraries and standard current media. Standard selection aids include but are not limited to: Library Journal Booklist, School Library Journal and VOYA.

Criteria for Selection

General Criteria

  1. Suitability of physical form for library use.
  2. Suitability of subject & style for intended audience.
  3. Present/potential relevance to community.
  4. Appropriateness and effectiveness of medium to content.
  5. Insight into human and social condition.
  6. Importance as a document of the times.
  7. Relation to existing collection and other material on subject.
  8. Reputation and or significance of author.
  9. Skill, competence and purpose of author.
  10. Attention of critics, reviewer and public.

Specific Criteria for the Evaluation of Works of Information and Opinion

  1. Authority.
  2. Range & depth of treatment.
  3. Objectivity.
  4. Clarity, accuracy & logic present.

Specific Criteria for the Evaluation of Works of Imagination

  1. Representation of important movement, genre, trend, or national cultures.
  2. Vitality and originality
  3. Artistic presentation

Formats

  1. Books
  2. Audio-Visual
  3. Magazines
  4. Newspapers
  5. Digital
  6. Video games

Designated Areas and Special Formats

Religion

Well written materials will be selected which represent fundamental concepts and beliefs of various religions. Also selected will be materials on comparative religions, Biblical interpretations, church history, religious education and all types of inspirational literature. No proselytizing materials will be added.

Politics and Campaign Literature

The library recognizes a particular responsibility to provide material representing all points of view concerning political issues. However, the library does not purchase or accept for dissemination slanted campaign literature for a particular candidate’s background and platform.

Video/DVD

Video & DVD’s purchased for the local collection will be primarily current, popular titles, nonfiction, and classic films.

Digital/Electronic

Audiobooks, CD’s, e-book, e-audio, etc of professional quality only will be added to the collection.

Maintenance and Evaluation (Weeding and Inventory)

Weeding (also known as deselection) is an essential aspect of collection development. With rapidly changing information, it is especially important to keep the collection current and reliable; getting rid of the old is just as important as acquiring the new. Every library’s print collection is limited by the space available to house it, and collections should change over time to reflect changes in the community and in the library’s goals. Weeding is a periodic or continual evaluation of resources intended to remove items that are no longer useful from the collection.

Why Weeding Is Necessary

  • To identify and withdraw inaccurate or outdated materials – It is a disservice to library users to keep books that contain inaccurate or dated information. Users depend upon the library to provide up-to-date information. Outdated medical, legal, travel, tax, computer and educational information especially can cause serious problems for library users. In addition, outdated materials often contain unacceptable stereotypes.
  • To remove worn, soiled or damaged materials – Attractive, clean materials are preferred by all users and give the message that the library is modern, up-to-date source of information. A well-maintained collection sends the message that we expect users to treat the library’s materials with respect and return them in the good condition in which they were borrowed. Users appreciate a well-maintained collection and are more likely to support it with their tax dollars, than they would a library collection that looks like someone’s old attic. Popular titles should be withdrawn and replaced with attractive newer editions. Classics will circulate heavily if they are clean and inviting.
  • To increase circulation – Oddly enough, decreasing the size of the collection – through the removal of worn, outdated items, often results in increasing circulation. Users find it difficult to locate useful materials when the collection is overcrowded with outdated, unattractive, irrelevant materials. Weeding makes the “good stuff” more accessible. Death from overcrowding is a common result of collections that are not properly and regularly weeded.
  • To improve the overall quality of the collection – For the library staff, weeding has additional advantages. Through the examination of items considered for removal areas of weakness in the collection are discovered. When “gaps” in the library collection are identified new purchases can be made with confidence that space will be available. In addition, the process of weeding uncovers ephemeral materials and multiple copies that are not being used.

The Weeding Process

  • Identify items that are candidates for weeding – Probably the most well known weeding method for public libraries is the CREW method: Continuous Review, Evaluation and Weeding. This method is used to provide guidelines for the removal of materials from the Bracken County Public Library.
  • Identify items that are of value to the collection – The Bracken County Public Library uses standard bibliographies such as the Fiction Catalog, Children’s Catalog, the Public Library Catalog and the Reader’s Catalog. These resources provide valuable assistance in the recognition of older titles that are still important to the library collection.
  • Identify items that might be valuable – In many cases, library books have decreased value because of property stamps, barcodes and other ownership marks. The Bracken County Public Library uses a variety of Internet resources to determine the potential value of older books, such as, Bibliofind and Alibris.
  • After items are identified for removal from the collection they are withdrawn from the online system. Depending upon popular interest, condition, monetary value, etc., weeded items are sold through the library book sales or via the Internet; selected items are given to community agencies and inevitably some books are discarded.

The collection is maintained through judicious weeding which is an essential component of the collection development process. Five percent (5%) of the collection will be weeded annually, and fifty percent (50%) of the non-fiction will be copyrighted within the last five (5) years. This process must be continuous to ensure high standards are met.

Specific criteria will follow a modified version of the CREW Method, available from either the regional office or through ILL.

Discarded books will be sold in book sales sponsored by the library unless their content is so outdated that the nature of the information makes them harmful to the public. Such books will be destroyed, through a recycling operation if possible.

Gifts, Donations, and Memorials

A gift such as art objects, portraits, or antiques or other permanent displays will be evaluated as to their appropriateness for the library. Those gifts that do not aid in furthering the mission of the library will be sold and the funds used to purchase equipment, materials, or to support library activities. Gifts of materials are accepted with the understanding they will not necessarily be added to the library’s collection. The material will be judged by the same standards of selection as those applied to the purchase of new materials. If the materials are not suitable because of condition, outdated information, or other factors, they will be sold or discarded. This policy will be explained to anyone wishing to make a donation before the materials are accepted. The donor will sign a form acknowledging this agreement. This form will serve as a statement for tax purposes. The library does not appraise or fix monetary value to gifts. Memorial or honor gifts will be accepted. The director will select materials needed for the collection. The library reserves the right to withdraw gifts from the collection on the same basis as purchased materials.

Gifts of cash will be accepted as long as they are freely given to the library without limiting considerations. While it is acceptable to designate that monetary gifts be spent for specific needs (such as children’s books, programming for older adults, etc.) it is impractical for the library to accept gifts that will create additional expenses (such as providing an opposite point of view to maintain a balanced collection, increasing liability insurance to cover situations created by the gift, etc.). Acknowledgments of memorial donations will be sent to the family of the deceased and to the donor.

Customer suggestions that the library purchase a certain item are always welcome. Suggestions are evaluated on the following criteria: need in the collection, appropriateness to collection, cost, and availability elsewhere in the area. The submission of a request does not guarantee its purchase. If a work is not selected for purchase, the customer is encouraged to request the book through Interlibrary Loan.

Reconsideration of Library Materials

The library is a unique institution charged with being an unbiased repository of recorded expression. While the board has delegated the responsibility for selection and evaluation of library materials to the director and such staff as he/she may designate, they have the legal responsibility for the collection and its protection under the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution.

Reconsideration of material in collections is also a continuing process. Any patron who seriously requests reconsideration of materials should be given a “Request for Reconsideration of Library materials” form.

As soon as that form is completed by the patron, the Director shall evaluate the original reasons for the purchase and the book in question. The objections will be considered both in terms of the library’s materials selection statement and the opinion of the various reviewing sources used in materials selection. The Director shall communicate his/her decision in writing, to the complainant.

If the complainant still feels that his objections have been met with inadequately, the matter will be placed before the Board of Trustees. The Director will provide each Board member with copies of the complaint, the Director’s response, pertinent book reviews, and copies of the book being reconsidered (if enough can be borrowed). Each Board member shall notify the Director when he/she has finished reading the book and at the Board meeting after everyone is finished, the issue shall be put to a vote. Each Board member shall vote to retain or remove the book. Any member who is unable to attend that meeting, shall communicate his/her vote to the Chairman of the Board prior to that meeting. A simple majority will prevail. The Secretary of the Board will notify the complainant of its decision.