MATERIALS SELECTION POLICY
INTRODUCTION
The
Greendale Public Library offers on equal terms materials to individuals and
organizations in the community. The
library’s materials are available to all residents of
The
mission of the Greendale Public Library shall be to provide high quality,
publicly funded library resources, services and information to all residents of
To provide for the
conservation of cultural and historical heritage of the community
To
facilitate continuing education, both formal and informal
To meet the
basic information needs of the community.
To provide
materials that will enable and support the varied
interest,
abilities, and recreational needs of the
community
The Greendale Public Library adheres to the principles expressed in the
following documents from the American Library Association:
The Library
Bill of Rights
The Freedom
to Read Statement
The Freedom
to View Statement
The Policy
on the Confidentiality of Library Records
General Statement for Selection
Suitability
of physical form for library use
Insight
into human and social conditions
Suitability
of subject and style for intended audiences
Present and
potential relevance to community needs
Appropriateness
and effectiveness of medium to content
Importance
as a document of the times
Relation to existing
collections and other materials on the subject
Reputation
and/or significance of author
Attention
of critics, reviewers and public
Specific Criteria for the Evaluation of Works of Nonfiction
Authority
Comprehensiveness
and depth of treatment
Clarity,
accuracy, and logic of presentation
Statement
of challenging or original point of view
Date
Attention
of critics, reviewers and public
Specific Criteria for the Evaluation of Works of Fiction
Representation of important
movements, genre, trends, or national culture
Vitality
and originality
Artistic
presentation and experimentations
Sustained
interest
Effective
characterizations
Authenticity
of historical, regional or social setting
Attention
of critics, reviewers and the public
EXCEPTIONS AND SPECIAL MATERIAL
Non book material will be selected on the basis of the criteria listed
above.
Textbooks are not added to satisfy school demand but to provide
information on subjects where there is little or no other type of material.
The collection may contain the various positions expressed on important
or complicated questions, including unpopular or unorthodox viewpoints, to
provide a background of information which will enable community members to make
choices. The acquisition of this
material does not mean the library endorses every idea contained in the
material. The library will place
principle above personal opinion, reason above prejudice, and judgement above
censorship in the selection of materials in order to provide objective
materials in the area of opposing viewpoints and controversy. Selection of material is based on the value
to the library collection as defined in the selection criteria listed above.
LOCAL HISTORY
The library will retain a copy of all material which contributes to a
knowledge of
GIFTS
A gift for the library collection may consist of materials or funds for
the purchase of materials. Funds may be
given for acquiring materials recommended by the Library Director or the
purchase of specific items suggested by the donor and approved by the Library
Director. The library encourages gifts
not earmarked for specific materials.
Gift additions must meet the same selection criteria as listed above for
purchased materials.
Gifts of materials are
subject to the following:
The library
retains unconditional ownership of the material
The library retains the
right to decide the conditions of display, housing, and access to the material
The Library
Director makes the final decision on its own use or
disposition
of the material
All gift materials that are not to be added to the library’s collection
are given to the Greendale Public Library Foundation for disposition through
their Friends of the Library book sales with the revenue to be returned to the
library for the purchase of library materials.
REPLACEMENT
The liability of library materials to theft and mutilation is not an
influencing factor in the original selection.
Stolen or mutilated materials will be replaced when they are deemed
necessary for the maintenance of the collection.
A replacement means an item purchased to take the place of the
identical copy in the collection of which the last copy has been
withdrawn. It is the library’s policy
not to replace all books withdrawn because of loss, damage or wear. Need for replacement in each case is judged
by two factors:
Existence of adequate
coverage in the item’s field
Demand for the specific
title
WEEDING
The discarding of materials is selection in reverse. Library materials are discarded for the
following reasons:
Irreparable damage
Obsolescence
Insufficient use
All weeded materials are given to the Greendale Public Library
Foundation for disposition through their Friends of the Library book sales with
the revenue to be returned to the library for the purchase of library materials
or are destroyed.
FORMAL RECONSIDERATIONS PROCEDURE
Any library patron may file an official Request for Reconsideration form on
any library materials within the library collection. Such a request must be presented to the
Library Director in writing on the form provided. The patron will be notified in writing by the
Library Director within ten days after receipt of the request as to the
library’s decision on the material.
Any patron not satisfied with the decision of the Library Director may
appeal the decision to the Library Board of Trustees. Request for appeal must be made in writing to
the President of the Library Board. The
patron will be notified of the Board meeting at which the appeal will be
considered and will be expected to attend.
The decision of the Library Board is final.
Adopted 01/12/05
Revised 01/12/05
Reviewed 01/11/06