Materials Selection

Objectives

The Inola Public Library places major emphasis on informational, recreational and educational functions.  It recognizes the importance of basic materials of permanent value and timely materials on current issues.  Materials will be purchased in the format that best suits patron needs.

Guidelines

The Trustees of the Inola Public Library support the Library Bill of Rights promulgated by the American Library Association, and it serves as the basis for this policy and other lending policies of the Library Director.  Reviews of new books from both professional journals and popular media form an important tool in the selection process.  Recommendations from the staff and the public are also welcome and evaluated within the framework of the acquisition process.

Responsibility

The Library Director has the final responsibility for the selection of all materials to be incorporated into the Library's collection, regardless of the mode of acquisition.  It is the Director's responsibility to provide materials that are both of current interest and permanent value, that are up to date, that are responsive to the interests and needs of every segment of the community and that do not discriminate against any political, religious, economic or social view or group through deliberate exclusion of their views.  The Director shall try to provide for a diversity of materials without exercising either direct or implied censorship.  The Director shall be responsible for expending available funds in an equitable manner so that all divisions of the collection receive a just proportion of said fund.

Selection Criteria

General Materials:

All acquisitions, whether purchased or donated, are considered in terms of the standards listed below.  However, an item need not meet all of the criteria in order to be acceptable.  Materials are evaluated on the significance of the entire work rather than individual parts.  When judging the quality of materials, several standards and combinations of standards may be used.  The following principals will guide selection:

    Positive reviews in Library Professional Literature
    Contemporary significance or permanent value
    Community interest
    Accuracy of content
    Reputation and/or authority of author, editor, or illustrator
    Literary merit
    Relation to existing collection and to other materials on the subject
    Price, availability and demand
    Format and ease of use
    Scarcity of information in the subject area
    Availability of materials in other area libraries

Specific Materials:

Children's materials are to be selected based upon their literary and artistic merit, contribution to the balance of the total collection, and the suitability of their content and vocabulary to the age of the reader.  Materials will be sought which present an accurate, fair and wholesome picture of the subject.  Textbooks are purchased only when information is not available in any other form.  The goal of the Library is to supplement textbooks by providing materials, which will help broaden interests stemming from the use of the textbook itself.

Periodicals are purchased to supplement the book collection, provide recreational and professional reading and/or provide materials not yet available in book form.  Selection of periodicals will be based upon their consideration as authoritative, objective, or local interest, and demand, and indexed in standard periodical indexes.

Gifts of books and other items will be accepted on the condition that the Director has the authority to make whatever disposition he or she deems advisable.  Gifts will be judged upon the same basis as purchased materials.

Collection Maintenance

To maintain the effectiveness of the Library's total collection, the Library will attempt to systematically remove materials no longer useful.  The Library does not automatically replace all materials withdrawn because of loss, damage or wear.  Need for replacement is weighed with regard to several factors, number of copies, existence of adequate coverage of a field, similar material in the collection, later or more authoritative materials as well as current demand for the particular subject or title.

Reconsideration

Patrons requesting that material in the collection be reconsidered may complete a "Materials Selection Inquiry".  The inquiry will be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the Inola Library Board of Trustees.  Their decision will be based upon this policy after due consideration of the report of the Library Director and the patron's inquiry.  The Library recognizes that some materials may be controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons.  Selection or retention of materials will be not made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval of any group of patrons, but solely on the basis of the principles stated in this policy.  Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of their contents, and no Library material will be sequestered except to protect it from theft.  Responsibility for the reading of children rests with their parents or legal guardians.