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Collection Development

Preamble

Thriving collections of books and other resources are the keystone of excellent library service. Collection development at the Fort St. James Public Library is founded on the principles of Intellectual Freedom, Diversity, and Equal Access for all. Library staff responsible for collection development use selection practices that are flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the community.

 

Policy

The Fort St. James Public Library is committed to developing vital and diverse collections to best serve the needs of the community.

 

Procedure

Guidelines for Selection of Materials:

  1. Responsibility for Selection

Ultimate responsibility for the direction, purpose, and scope of collection development rests with the Library Director, under the authority of the Library Board of Directors. The Library Director may delegate library collection development responsibilities to specific library staff members who more closely manage the wide range of services related to particular collections.

Factors affecting selection decisions:

  • Community feedback (i.e. suggestions)
  • Budget
  • Staff recommendations
  • Library resources such as catalogues, list servs, and newsletters.

 

  1. Criteria for Selection

Materials are evaluated according to one or more of the following criteria; an item need not meet all of these criteria in order to be included in the Library’s collection:

  • Current and anticipated needs and interests of the community
  • Permanence and/or timeliness of the work
  • Authoritativeness and/or standing and reputation of the author/artist/composer/producer, etc.
  • Group and individual social significance
  • Format
  • Price (budget)
  • Importance of subject matter
  • Contemporary significance: i.e. attention of critics, reviewers, and the general public
  • Date of publication
  • Relationship to existing collections
  • Availability elsewhere in the community, area, or region
  • Needs of specific demographic groups within the community

 

  1. Reconsideration of Library Materials

The Library recognizes that many materials are controversial and that any given item may offend some. It is the responsibility of each individual library user to determine which materials are most appropriate for their needs and consistent with their personal or shared values. Although library users are free to reject for themselves materials of which they do not approve, they may not restrict the freedom of others to make their own choices.

Additionally, Library users who object to titles that have been selected for the collection may complete a Request for Reconsideration form, available at the Library Circulation Desk.

 

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