Selection and the Library’s Mission
The Oakfield Public Library Board of Trustees has adopted this policy to assist in fulfilling its mission to enrich lives by connecting community, information, and ideas to promote literacy, lifelong learning, and exploration.
This policy which guides the selection of materials for the Oakfield Public Library is intended to comply with the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights” and its “Freedom to Read Statement.”
Final responsibility for selection of materials rests with the library director who operates within the framework of policies adopted by the Board of Trustees. However, other members of the library staff, including the children’s librarian, participate in various levels of selection. Recommendations by library users and other members of the community are also used.
Selection Aids and Other Criteria in Selecting Materials
Because large numbers of new items are published each year, it is not possible for library staff to personally examine all items selected, nor can library staff be expected to have technical expertise in all of the subjects covered in the library’s collection. As a result, reviews in professional journals and lists compiled by reputable contributors are heavily relied upon in making selections. However, the lack of a review or an unfavorable review shall not preclude the library’s acquisition of a title. If the title is in demand or is determined to fill a particular need of the library, it may be acquired.
Some factors influencing selection of an item include factual accuracy and reliability of information, timeliness, current usefulness, significance of the subject, popular interest, permanent value, relevance to the existing collection, qualifications of author or illustrator, style and reliability, reputation of the publisher, availability in the community and in other libraries in the Winnefox Library System, format and cost.
Demand by library users is a valid factor in material selection. Materials selected using this criterion will be of popular interest and in high demand or of significant current interest, not always of enduring value. An item in heavy demand may be duplicated if prolonged use is anticipated.
Scope and Access to the Collection
The library is aware of the increasing availability of information in forms other than the printed page and will incorporate other formats when appropriate. It attempts to provide materials on a wide variety of topics for users of different ages and reading levels. These materials will include both print and non-print formats. The library also recognizes its responsibility to provide various points of view, within the limits of space, budget, and availability.
The library assures unrestricted access to its holdings for all adult patrons who are free to select or reject for themselves any item in the collection. Individual or group disapproval about a particular item or about a type of material in the collection may not preclude its use by others.
Request of Reconsideration and Appeals Procedure
It is recognized that although great care is taken in the selection process of library materials, occasional objections will be made. Anyone in the community having an objection to items in the library collection may request that they be reconsidered by submitting a written statement expressing his/her concerns. The library director will respond to the statement and may provide copies of reviews or other documents supporting the value of the items in the collection. If the person filing the request for reconsideration is not satisfied with this response, the statement will be passed on to the Library Board. The Library Board will decide on what action to take regarding the materials in question and this decision shall be final.
Gifts
Gift books and other materials are welcomed with the understanding that any gifts will be added to the collection only if they meet the same standards required of purchased materials. The library board has final discretion on the use of library donations. All donations become the property of the library from the time of receipt until the time of disposal. Gift materials not added to the collection may be given to other organizations, sold, recycled or discarded. Whenever a gift item is no longer needed by the library, it will be disposed of in the same manner as purchased materials.
Withdrawals
An up-to-date, attractive and useful collection is maintained through a continual discarding and replacing process. Materials are withdrawn because they are out of date, so badly worn or damaged that they cannot be mended, because it is cheaper to replace them, or because they are once-popular items that are no longer used. Space, the cost of replacement, and appearance of the collection are factors in these decisions. In some cases, different formats may be used to replace older items, especially when storage space and accessibility are important issues.
Approved by the Oakfield Public Library Board – November 10, 2011 Approved by the Oakfield Public Library Board – February 16, 2016