Rev 1/18/2006
COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY
Definitions
"Library" shall cover jurisdiction of the Baxter County Library Board.
"Library Board" and "Board" shall cover the governing Baxter County Library Board unless a specific other board is named.
I. Specific Policy Statements
The Baxter County Library and its Board are committed to the idea that the public library is the place where the members of the community should be able to go for the satisfaction of their information and reading needs. We endorse the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement as established by the American Library Association. (Attached)
II. Statement of Library Objectives in Regard to Library Materials
The Baxter County Library will use money collected and donated for the benefit of the public to:
III. Statement of General Collection Development Policies
A. General Collection Development
The collection of the Baxter County Library shall be developed under the supervision of the Baxter County Librarian. The collection shall be expanded and weeded according to library policy as implemented by the best professional judgment of the Baxter County Librarian or those designated by her/him in order to provide access to the human records of the past and present, whether factual, imaginative, scientific, or cultural, on all intellectual levels, in a variety of forms--both print and non-print.
The library will coordinate with the Arkansas State Library and the Arkansas State University—Mountain Home library as well as public school libraries in Baxter County in collection development and acquisition to reduce unnecessary duplication, facilitate efficient acquisition and sharing of materials and information, and use funds allotted in the most effective manner possible, in order to preserve all significant and representative materials in a variety of forms at all intellectual levels.
The collection will be developed and organized for access in many ways to make it possible for citizens to inform and entertain themselves as their needs and desires occur, and to allow access for those disadvantaged by lack of education, cultural background, age, or physical or mental handicaps.
The collection in the Gassville Branch will be developed as its use expands based on the needs/interests of its patrons. Due to the need to rotate materials frequently because of its small size, it is preferable to exchange materials frequently with the main branch to increase circulation than to develop a static collection in this branch until its use would warrant such a step.
C. Partisan, Doctrinal, and Proselytizing Materials
Selection in various subject and user areas will be such that partisan, doctrinal, and proselytizing materials, including those of a religious, political, or philosophical nature, will be considered on the basis of the actual demand of the public for such items and upon the contribution made presently and in the future to the total collection. Materials will be considered which are in high demand, provide an authoritative viewpoint on a subject, or serve to balance information or viewpoints of materials already included or being considered for inclusion in the collection. Materials favored in current standard library selection tools will be given priority in being considered.
D. Policy on Gifts and Memorials
1. Baxter County Library is pleased to accept gifts and/or memorial gifts from patrons. Gifts are gratefully and willingly accepted as long as no restriction is placed on their use. No commitment to accept gifts shall be made by anyone except the Librarian and Board. All such offers made indirectly shall be referred to the Librarian. In respect to gift books, this policy shall be followed: The library maintains the right to decide whether or not any gift is to be added to the collection, sold, or discarded.
2. It should be made clear to the donor that:
a. The library is not obligated to retain any gifts which fail to meet its criteria for selection.
b. The library has the right to discard any gifts in poor physical condition (e.g., brittle paper, water or mildew damage, underlining in the text, torn and/or missing pages).
c. The library has the right to sell any gifts which duplicate materials already in the collection that are not needed for replacement or duplicate copies.
d. The library is not obligated to retain back issues of gift periodical subscriptions that are of limited interest or are not indexed.
e. The library has the right to determine suitability for inclusion in the reference or circulating collections and those materials which are useful to the library collection will be retained and other items will be disposed of in whatever manner the library deems best.
f. The library will determine the classification, housing and circulation policies of all gifts as with purchased items.
g. The library does not appraise gifts or provide evaluations of gifts for tax deductions or other purposes, but will acknowledge receipt of gifts in writing if requested by the donor.
3. Suggestions of specific titles or subjects are welcomed when memorial donations are given, but the final decision based on the library collection, rests with the Librarian.
4. The library reserves the right to integrate gifts into the general collection, as they cannot be given special housing, but an appropriate book plate will be placed in each gift if requested by the donor.
5. Materials written or produced by local authors must meet the general selection standards for inclusion in the library collection. No materials will automatically be added to the collection.
6. The library generally considers the following unsuitable as gifts:
a. Most textbooks except those in areas where titles represent the main body of knowledge or best available sources of information.
b. Most complimentary desk copies or publisher's samples.
c. Older editions of titles already owned by the library, unless the earlier edition contains different information or is deemed intrinsically valuable.
d. Marked-up or dilapidated copies.
e. Consumable materials including workbooks and instructional supplies.
f. Most ephemera.
g. Outdated titles containing erroneous or misleading information, particularly in the science, social science, and business disciplines.
h. Mundane gifts which might result from a spring housecleaning, such as Reader's Digest Condensed Books.
i. Broken and defective sets of periodicals, unless the acquisition would complete an existing run.
7. Gifts will be withdrawn from the collection and disposed of following the policy guidelines set forth for the Baxter County Library in Section.
F. Policy for Withdrawing Materials
As the physical plant of the library limits collection capacity, and as the use and age of materials limits their life and effectiveness, materials must be periodically re-evaluated as to their current and future value to the library.
1. Damaged or worn materials of continuing value will be repaired when possible and/or replaced with materials of similar use when possible.
2. When, in the best professional judgment of the Librarian and/or those designated by her/him, the current and future value of materials do not warrant retaining multiple or any copies, the Librarian will authorize withdrawal of materials according to the "Crew Guidelines for Weeding" and the following standards:
-Materials worn out through use
-Ephemeral materials which are no longer timely
-Materials which are no longer considered factual or accurate
-Materials which have not circulated in the last three years or less than twice in the last five years and are of questionable value.
-Duplicates
-Superseded editions
-Books that are infested, dirty, shabby, worn out, etc.
-Unused, unneeded materials
-Periodicals with no indexes
These materials will be disposed of based on the discretion of the Librarian.
IV. Responsibility for Selection of Materials
Materials for the library will be selected according to the needs and desires of the public served, as determined by the best professional judgment of the Baxter County Librarian and those designated by her/him within the limits of funding approved by the Library Board and policies set by the Library Board. Considerations will include the development needs of the collection in serving the public's present and future needs and desires; obtaining the best possible value for funds spent, and providing a fair and reasonable distribution of materials among the ages and interest of the public served.
V. Procedures for a Request for Reconsideration of Materials Owned or Under Consideration for Purchase, Asking for Restricted Circulation or Removal from the Collection
A. Procedures
1. A written request is made by completing the Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials From (see form attached). The form must be completely filled out by each individual making the request, hereafter called Requestor. Certification of citizenship in the county may be requested by the Librarian at any time before proceeding with the request. Requests made by anyone not established to be a resident of the county are subject to dismissal without consideration by the Library Board.
2. Upon receiving a properly completed request, the Librarian shall notify the Library Board that a request has been made, and provide all information and the date of the next Library Board meeting when the request shall be on the agenda. Notice must be posted in the Library for a minimum of thirty (30) days before any Board meeting considering the request. The item in question will be subject to recall from circulation in time for examination at the meeting.
3. The Librarian will assemble all information on which selection and retention of the item was based, such as reviews, quotations, the number of circulations and requests for the item, and such information as might be relevant to the item's place in the collection.
4. The Library Board shall meet with the Librarian to consider the item, according to library policy. A decision to retain the item, remove it from or restrict it within the collection shall be made.
5. Notice of the Library Board's decision is sent to the Requestor(s) and posted in the library for at least sixty (60) days for public information.
6. If the restriction or removal is objected to by anyone in the county (person hereinafter called the Supporter), the Supporter may request reinstatement to normal circulation and/or retention of the item. If the request is made before the Library Board meeting to consider the item, the request may be considered jointly with the reconsideration request. Otherwise, it will be treated as a new request for acquisition. The Library Board may elect to then decide whether to reinstate the item or to obtain it only on an interlibrary loan basis in the future, following a minimum of (30) days notice as before.
Adopted 11/28/1990
Revised 3/22/1992
Revised 1/18/2006
Deborah A. Knox, Chairman
CITIZEN'S REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS
Author_______________________________________________________________________________
Title_________________________________________________________________________________
Publisher (if known)____________________________________________________________________
Request initiated by ___________________________________________________________________
Telephone________________ Address____________________________________________________
City___________________________________________________Zip____________________________
Requestor’s Name___ _________________________________________________________________
If representing an organization, name of organization
1. Did you read the entire book / view the entire video or film /listen to the entire tape? If not, what parts? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What do you believe is the theme of this item? __________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
3. To what in the book/video or film/tape do you object? (Please be specific: cite pages or scenes)
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
4. What harmful effect do you feel might be/was the result of reading this book/viewing this video or film/listening to this tape? ___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
5. Do you believe this item serves any of the following purposes?
A. Promotes understanding of other cultures and of lifestyles? ___yes ___no
B. Promotes discussion of societal issues? ___yes ___no
C. Provides information about a subject unavailable from another source? ___yes ___no
6. In its place what book/video or film/ tape of equal quality would you recommend that 'would convey as valuable a picture and perspectives? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Signature of Requestor________________________________________________ Date_______________
Please note that we are subject to Freedom of Information Act, this form will be made available to the media if requested.