Collection Development

Gatesville Public Library

Collection Development Policy

I. Introduction

The Material Selection Policy of the Gatesville Public Library is based on the principles expressed in the Freedom to Read Statement (American Library Association, revised 1991) and the Library Bill of Rights (ALA, revised 1980) and the Freedom to View statement. In general, these documents state that "Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval."

Budgetary and space limitations necessitate some selective judgment in order to provide the best of available materials.

The Gatesville Library will, within the guidelines of this Collection Development Policy, attempt to acquire and/or make available materials in a variety of formats which will aid people to educate and inform themselves and to support their social and cultural well-being. To obtain materials outside the scope of our collection, items from more specialized collections will be acquired through the Interlibrary Loan process.

II. Selection of Material

Overall responsibility for selection rests with the Director of the Library.

Criteria for Selection: 

• Material should be of interest and/or relevance to the local community.
• Material must meet basic literary and/or artistic standards based on the collective experience of the staff.
• Sources of quotations and authorities for statements of fact must be cited in non-fiction materials.
• Material representing specific or diverse viewpoints on an issue will be eligible for inclusion in the collection, if it can be determined that the viewpoint is expressed in an accurate and informative manner.
• Material in very specialized areas and/or of a highly technical nature may not be selected unless community demand for the item is significant.
• Textbooks will not be included in the collection unless they provide information not otherwise available.
• Present and anticipated community needs and interests as well as items of historical interest will be taken into account during the selection process.
• The library staff will consider all formats of material, both print and non-print. Formats chosen will depend on community need, size of materials budget and space considerations.
• Material should be durable, meet basic production standards, and be capable of withstanding reasonable public use.
• Consideration will be given to the library's legal liability as part of the selection process.
• Material will be selected without regard to the race, religion, or lifestyle of the author or creator.
• Material, which is of a controversial nature, will be eligible for inclusion in the collection if the above criteria are met.

III.  Gifts of Money or Material

Gifts of money or material will be accepted by the library within the following guidelines:

• Materials obtained as gifts must meet the standards in Section II, Selection of Material.
• Gifts become the sole property of The Gatesville Library.  Material may be added or withdrawn as deemed necessary and without consulting the original donor.
• The library staff reserves the right to add only selected items from a donation.

IV. Use of Material
 

• Generally material will be available to any member of the community. No item will be sequestered except for the purpose of protection from damage or theft.
• Selection will not be inhibited by the possibility that material intended for an adult audience may come into the possession of minors. Responsibility for the use of library material by minors rests with parents or legal guardians.
• The library staff will not mark or identify material in any manner that might indicate approval or disapproval of the contents.
• Material selected primarily for staff use will be made available to the public upon request.

V. Criteria for Removing Material from the Collection
 

• Material is no longer of interest or of use to the community.
• Information is no longer accurate in the light of present knowledge.
• Items are worn out and cannot be repaired.
• Material fails to meet the criteria in Section II (Selection of Material) of this document.

VI. Reconsideration Procedures

The choice of library materials by users is an individual matter.  Responsibility for the reading materials of children and adolescents rests with their parents or legal guardians.  While a person may reject materials for themselves or for their children, they cannot exercise censorship to restrict access to the materials by others.

Only library patrons in good standing who live in the libraries's immediate service area may make a request for consideration.

Requests for reconsideration shall be made in writing on the Materials Reconsideration Request form and given to the library director for a written response.