Approved by Library
Board: April 21, 2005
Approved by Guthrie
City Council: July 5, 2005 (Resolution 2005-16)
Responsibility for Collection Management
The Director of Library Services is responsible for
selection and management of all library materials within the framework of this
policy. Actual selection and management activities are shared among trained
library staff who shall discharge this obligation consistent with this policy
and established procedures.
Guidelines for Selection
Materials will be
chosen in accordance with the stated mission of the
library and the following guidelines. The order of
the criteria does not indicate relative importance.
- Community needs, interests and demands.
- Relationship to existing materials in order to
achieve a balanced collection.
- Clarity,
accuracy and objectivity of information and/or
presentation.
- Suitability of
subject, style and reading level for the
intended user.
- Positive
reviews in selection aids.
- Artistic,
literary, historic and/or scientific merit.
- Reputation
and/or authority of the author, editor,
illustrator or publisher.
- Price in
relation to total budget, availability and
demand.
- Format and
durability.
- Availability of
shelf space.
Audio-Visual
Media - New audio-visual media that are introduced into the marketplace are
studied carefully to assess their suitability for
public library use. If it is determined that they
will receive lasting and wide-spread public
acceptance, collections of new forms will be added
to the library according to the selection criteria
above.Video Collection
- Non-fiction/Non-theatrical videos. Definition
of non-theatrical videos: general interest non-fiction and short fiction works
produced for the education and home video markets, including items such as
documentaries, how-to, self-paced learning and instruction, travel, music,
health and fitness, dance, theater, inspiration, etc. Non-theatrical videos are
purchased when the format provides a useful way of presenting information to a
customer. Titles are acquired in all general subjects.
- Entertainment/feature videos. Definition of feature
videos: full-length dramatizations including foreign and U.S. produced
contemporary films and classics. The library will provide entertainment feature
films for adults and children that are established classics, major award
winners, film versions of books, important representative films from other
countries, and titles from the “Best Films” lists that are periodically
published by critically-recognized journals and reviewers. Final selection will
be based on judgment of the film’s overall merit, using several specific
criteria. To be acquired, a film will meet at least one of the following
criteria: be of present and potential relevance to community needs; provide
insight into human and social needs; provide high quality performances; be
produced with technical skill; or be an outstanding example of artistic
expression. In addition, feature films determined to be appropriate for general
family viewing may also be added to the collection.
Paperback Books -
Paperback
books will be purchased and catalogued only if
unavailable in hardback form.
Selection Aids
Professional reviewing
media and in-library inspection are used for selection
of materials.
Materials Not Selected
Rare Books -
Since it is the public library’s function to make
materials available to all users, the Guthrie Public
Library does not collect rare or unusual materials
that require special handling. Rare publications
pertaining to Guthrie or Logan County will be given
to the Oklahoma Territorial Museum or another
appropriate institution for preservation and
protection.
Genealogy
Materials -
The library collects basic materials on genealogical
research but does not collect more specialized
publications such as family histories.
Textbooks -
The library
does not buy textbooks, including those used by the
local schools, colleges or universities.
Gifts -
Gifts are accepted with the understanding that they will be evaluated with the
same criteria used for purchased materials. If they do not meet these standards,
they may be conveyed to the Friends of the Guthrie Public Library for the
benefit of the library or disposed of if condition warrants.
Discarding and Replacing Materials
In order to maintain
a vital, current collection that meets the needs of
the community, examination of materials is an
ongoing process. An item is considered for discard
when it is obsolete or outdated, damaged or worn
beyond use, no longer circulating and/or used for
reference purposes, or one of many copies of a
formerly popular title.
A work chosen for
discard may be replaced with another copy of the
same title or another work on the same subject.
The aids used for
selection of materials will also be used when
examining materials to be discarded.
Patron Objections to Library Materials
Library patrons may
suggest books or other materials to be removed from
the collection. When a patron wishes to suggest a
material to be removed from the collection, the
following procedure is followed:
-
A member of the
library staff explains the selection policy to
the patron. If the patron wishes, s/he may
submit a written request to review an item to
which the patron has objections.
-
The completed form
is reviewed by one or more members of the
library staff who have responsibility for
materials selection and by the Director of
Library Services. Library staff will objectively
review the resource in question to ascertain
that the selection criteria and principles
stated in this policy were applied in the
selection process. A written response will be
provided to the library user making the request,
and the Director of Library Services will notify
the Library Board of each request submitted.
-
In the event that
the library user who initiated the request is
not satisfied with the response of the Director
of Library Services, s/he may submit a written
request that the item be placed on the agenda of
the next regularly scheduled meeting of the
Library Board. This request must be received by
the Director of Library Services no later than
seven (7) work days before the board meeting in
order to meet the requirements of the Open
Meeting Act. The Board may handle the matter as
a body or refer the question to an advisory
committee for a recommendation. In either case,
a letter will be sent to the library user
informing him or her of the Board’s decision.
-
Library resources are not removed
from the collection during the review period.
Copies of the materials in question may be
checked out as evaluation copies for use by the
members of the staff and the Library Board.
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