Materials Selection and Availability Policy

(adopted Library Board of Trustees meeting, Nov. 12, 1975)

Selection of Materials

Scope of materials selected

Materials selected as a part of the library collection will be consistent with the purpose of the library. Recognizing that effectiveness of our library is measured by the number of Gates residents making use of the library, materials of whatever type - printed, recorded, visual - will be chosen to maximize such use. As new types of materials are developed, the library should be aware of changing trends and gradually include such new developments as interest in Gates increases.

The library strives to provide a comprehensive collection within limitations of budget and space. The depth and scope of the library collection should reflect a corresponding concern and interest in the town. The library must also balance short-lived interests against long term concerns, and see that neither is slighted.

Because the library strives to readily supply needed materials, there should be a supply of requested items sufficient to make the library a dependable source most of the time. Thus within space and budgetary restrictions, the library will duplicate items as deemed necessary by public use.

Responsibility for selection

Administration of the selection process rests with the Library Director. The responsibility for the actual selection of materials may be delegated by the Director to other professional librarians employed by the town.

The procedure for selection should be a careful orderly procedure, with each material selected to be weighed in its entirety for what it brings to the collection.

Criteria for selection
All materials selected should meet at least one of the following criteria, and preferably more:
1. Quality of content in comparison with other published materials on the same subject, as evidenced in reviewing media or by a librarian's examination of the material.
2. Competent representation of important county, state, national, or world concerns.
3. Popularity of the subject or title as demonstrated by public requests from Gates, whether over a short or long time span.
4. In considering the above criteria, the librarians will also take into account both physical durability and cost of the material.

Selection problems

The library recognizes the need for further clarification of the following potential problem areas.

Gifts

While the library generally wishes to encourage donations of materials in good physical shape, and of public interest, the library must apply the same criteria to gifts as are applied to purchased materials. The judgment of the librarians determines what is to be done with any gifts. The Library Board also allows the librarians to refuse any and all donations on the spot, or to dispose of the same in accordance with procedures established by the Library Director.
School curriculum requests

Public libraries everywhere recognize it is not part of their purpose to meet school curriculum needs, as the prime responsibility for such needs rests with each school to fund and adequately stock its own school library. While our library can and does provide materials which are useful in school assignments, rather we see our role in regard to school age people to meet that age's personal interests and concerns. The library recognizes that young people have a life and a mind separate from their schoolwork, just as older people have interests and concerns separate form their employment.
Weeding the collection

Maintenance of an up-to-date, attractive, currently useful collection is essential to viable library service. So the same professionals who select what is added to the collection are also responsible for ‘weeding' the collection. Weeding is defined as a constant discarding, with replacement as needed, or outdated, worn-out or no longer useful materials.

Such discarded materials are disposed of in accordance with the comptroller's opinions governing items purchased with public monies. Gift items, once processes and added to the collection, lose their identity as gifts, and when discarded must be treated as if they had been bought with public monies.
Controversial materials

The library realizes that the world is filled with many controversies. Thus the library, in mirroring the world, will add materials to its collection which may be controversial. The library provides a procedure for the public to air their criticism.

However, if a criticized material is deemed by the Library Board to have been properly selected by the terms of this policy, public use or it shall not be denied or abridged in any way. A material is evaluated as a whole work, not by detached excerpts. A material is not evaluated as to the rightness or wrongness of the author's views, as that would allow personal opinion sway over the ‘free market place of ideas' which the library represents.
Local History

Because this is the only library serving the entire town of Gates, the library accepts a special obligation to maintain as comprehensive a collection as space and money allow of materials related to Gates history and heritage.

Questions on adherence to this policy

Should a Gates resident question any aspect of this policy, he or she should be referred to the Library Director for discussion. The Director should report the question to the Board as the next board meeting. If necessary, a written reply by the Director can be made.

Should the resident still be unsatisfied, he or she has the choice of brining the matter directly to the Library Board's attention, preferably first in writing. When the question resolves around the selection of a particular material, the questioning resident should file a completed Form G-21 prior to the board meeting at which the matter is to be discussed.

The Library Board will listen to the question and determine if further consideration is necessary to resolve the matter.