| Materials
Selection Policy |
From
Section B1.1-1.4of the Harford County Public
Library Policy Manual |
The Harford County Public
Library Board of Trustees recognizes that within Harford
County there are groups and individuals with diverse
interests, backgrounds and needs, and further recognizes
that the library was created to serve all Harford County
citizens.
Materials selected for
the library collection are intended to meet the cultural,
informational, educational, and recreational needs of
the citizens of Harford County. Materials selected will
meet the library's mission to provide library resources
that enrich the quality of life and support and encourage
life-long learning. The primary objective of selection
is to acquire materials of both contemporary significance
and permanent value. Harford County Public Library strives
for representative and current materials that reflect
new trends, ideas, and controversial topics from various
points of view as well as a broad range of material
that illuminates the past. The library provides materials
to support the needs of specific populations including
children, youth, older adults, adults learning to read,
and the disabled. The library provides a sampling of
experimental and ephemeral materials that stimulate
the imagination, increase potential for creativity,
and, even though controversial at times, may extend
the individual's capacity to understand the world.
With this in mind, the
Harford County Public Library and the Library Board
of Trustees uphold the following principles of service:
- Provide open, non-judgmental access
to collections and services without regard to race,
citizenship, age, educational level, economic status,
religion, or any other qualification or condition.
- Provide free access to, and promote
the communication of ideas and information.
- Advocate and support First Amendment
rights and the Library Bill of Rights, and protect
library materials from censorship.
- Create an environment that encourages
users to encounter the rich diversity of concepts
on which a democratic society depends.
Each item selected or
donated, regardless of format, is evaluated by professional
library staff in terms of the criteria listed below
in order to build collections of merit and significance
that reflect community needs. The criteria used apply
to materials for all age levels, and may not apply equally
to any single item, but should be flexibly applied according
to the individual title, format, and specific population
being considered.
- Subject relevance and importance
of the material in meeting the needs of Harford County
citizens
- Appropriateness and relevance to
the interests and skills of the intended user
- Significance of subject matter and
its relationship to other materials in the collection
- Timeliness of information
- Interest in the material itself
which will create public demand
- Reputation, authority, popularity,
or significance of the author, publisher, film director,
composer, performer, or producer
- Accuracy and currency of information
- Literary, artistic, or other recognized
merit including receipt of or nomination for major
awards or prizes
- Inclusion of title in standard bibliographies
or indices
- Favorable reviews from professional
sources, or reviews which point to particular significance
of material (see Procedures for list of review sources)
- Clarity and accuracy of presentation
- Contribution to the diversity or
breadth of the collection including the need to provide
materials of differing points of view
- Important as a record of the time
or of current and/or permanent value to the collection
for present and future use
- Suitability of format (size, paper
quality, binding) to the contents and intended audience
- Readability, style, and presentation
of concepts and issues at the sophistication and developmentally-appropriate
level of the intended audience
- Ease of use (in particular, relating
to electronic resources and reference materials)
- Sustained interest or anticipated
need
- Need to balance the cost/accessibility
of print materials with the cost/accessibility of
material in online or electronic format
Harford County Public
Library identifies materials for purchase in a number
of ways, including the use of print and electronic selection
and review sources (as specified in library procedures).
Other sources include customer and interlibrary loan
requests, gifts, subject bibliographies, library-generated
replacement lists, vendor-generated replacement lists,
standing orders, publisher approval plans, trade and
association publication catalogs, publishers' catalogs,
and publisher representatives' samples.
Advances in electronic
publishing and other forms of electronic access have
far-reaching implications for Harford County Public
Library's collection development plan. Limited space
and budgets and the possibilities of simultaneous and
remote users make electronic access an attractive alternative
to some print sources. As more materials become available
electronically, the selection process will involve deciding
what format (print or electronic) is the most appropriate
to provide optimum accessibility, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness.
Harford County Public
Library recognizes the wealth of resources available
through other libraries and agencies and does not needlessly
duplicate materials.
Duplication of titles
is essential in meeting the public demand for best-sellers
and other heavily used materials. However, Harford County
Public Library does not duplicate every title, nor can
it duplicate specific popular titles in sufficient quantities
to fill every request immediately given budget constraints
and the necessity of meeting other collection needs.
Because it is often impossible to supply enough copies
to satisfy demand for materials used in school assignments
or those materials subject to high loss or theft, branches
may keep reference copies of these items to ensure access.
Materials within the library
collection are continuously monitored. Items may be
withdrawn if they contain outdated or inaccurate information,
are superseded by a newer edition, become worn, badly
marked or damaged, or are duplicates or seldom-used
materials. Space, replacement cost, and the quality
and appearance of the collection are factors in this
decision. The de-selection process is an integral part
of collection development and maintenance. De-selection
and retention criteria are detailed in library procedures.
Harford County Public
Library accepts books and other materials with the understanding
that they may not necessarily be added to the collection.
The material is evaluated by the same selection criteria
standards employed for the purchase of new materials.
If the material is not suitable because of condition,
out-dated information, or other considerations, the
library reserves the right to discard, sell, or refer
such material to another institution or to the Friends
of the Library for re-sale (all proceeds which benefit
the library directly or indirectly). The library accepts
gifts of money for the purchase of materials, from individuals
and organizations. Such gifts may be in the memory of
an individual, in which case a memorial plate is added.
Library selection criteria also apply in these cases.
The Library Board of Trustees
believes that while anyone is free to reject for himself/herself
library materials which he or she does not approve,
the individual cannot restrict the freedom of others
to read, view, or hear. Parents or legal guardians have
the responsibility to guide and direct the reading,
viewing, or listening of their own minor children. The
library does not take the place of the parent or legal
guardian.
Ultimate responsibility
for the selection of library materials rests with the
Library Director, who operates within the framework
of this policy determined by the Library Board of Trustees.
Ongoing responsibility is shared with the Associate
Director and the Materials Manager, who monitor the
selection process. Initial selection of materials is
delegated to members of the professional staff who are
qualified for this activity by reason of education,
training, and experience.
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