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ESO COLLECTION MANAGEMENT POLICY

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Materials Selection Policy 

 

The purpose of the Materials Selection Policy is to list the general standards used to select materials in accordance with the Coos County Library Service Districts mission statement and current policies, including equity, diversity, and inclusion of all users. 

 

Selection Policy Objectives: 

 

  • A written material selection policy serves as a guide to library personnel involved in materials selection. It assists them in selecting and acquiring a useful, well-rounded materials collection to meet the needs of the community served. 

 

  • A written selection policy helps the library board instruct new board members about existing policy and assists the board in determining whether the staff is doing an acceptable job of building a collection of materials that is relevant to current needs. 

 

  • A written selection policy will help to explain to library employees and other interested parties the basis on which materials have been selected. 

 

Materials Collected 

 

Present Collection Level: The Extended Services Office (ESO) continually collects current, relevant materials in both written and digital formats. In addition, user requests are strongly considered. The focus of collection development changes as demands from the users and formats change. 

 

Subject Areas Collected 

 

Subjects: ESO categorizes nonfiction materials according to specific Dewey Decimal numbers. 

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Present Collection Levels: The library acquires nonfiction works based on long-term permanent value and current interest. ESO focuses on large print and audiobooks for the physical collection. Downloadable audiobooks and eBooks are purchased for the digital consortium. Materials for learning another language are generally in digital format through the Mango Languages Database. Electronic reference sources have replaced many print versions. 

 

The following is a breakdown of ESO’s adult nonfiction collection: 

 

SUBJECTS COLLECTED BY DEWEY CLASSIFICATION NUMBERS 

 

000 COMPUTER SCIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND GENERAL WORKS  

100 PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY 

200 RELIGIONS 

300 SOCIAL SCIENCE 

400 LANGUAGES 

500 SCIENCES 

600 TECHNOLOGIES 

700 ARTS AND RECREATION 

800 LITERATURES 

900 GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY 

 

Other Adult nonfiction: 

  • Biographies 

  • Local and State History – A collection of local history is developed with the following objectives in mind: 

  • Local history should contain materials relating to the municipality and the state. 

  • The library reserves the right to accept gifts of local history material, as described in the Library’s Gift Policy.  

 

Future acquisition levels or goals: With all collections, the intent is to maintain currency, weed dated and/or obsolete materials, and listen carefully to user requests. Completing (and keeping up with) series in all fiction collections is achieved by ESO Staff. 

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Special Collections:  

  • Assistive reading devices 

 

Library2Go is a digital collection of audiobooks and eBooks provided to all Coastline library card holders. 

 

Adult Fiction: A basic collection of popular titles and authors. 

 

Audiovisual materials: collected in DVDs format to meet popular demand. 

 

Materials Selection Procedure 

 

Ultimate responsibility for materials selection, as for all library activities, rests with the Administrator, who operates within the framework of policies determined by the Coos Library Board (CLB). The initial selection of material for the library, however, is the responsibility of the staff, as assigned by the Administrator. The professional staff maintains general guidance material selection for the entire collection. Subject and title suggestions are accepted from library users for consideration. 

 

Criteria for Selection: 

The selectors acquire materials using the following criteria (Note: not all criteria listed need apply to every item selected): 

  • Authoritativeness and literary merit 

  • The importance of the subject matter to the collection and scarcity of material on the subject 

  • Timeliness or permanence of the material 

  • Appearance of the title in special bibliographies or indices 

  • Clear presentation and readability 

  • Accurate information 

  • Availability of material in other local library collections 

  • The author’s reputation and significance as a writer 

  • Reputation and standing of publisher 

  • Format 

  • Price, popularity, and user demand 

 

Selection aids may include: 

  • Book reviews in professionally recognized periodicals and journals as a primary source for selection. 

  • Standard bibliographies and booklists by recognized authorities, such as library association and professional library journal publications. 

  • Advice of competent people in specific subject areas. 

 

User purchase requests: All requests from users for specific titles or subject requests will be considered. For requests that do not fall within ESO’s collection development policy we will consult other libraries within CCLSD or try through Inter Library Loan to secure requested titles. 

 

Replacement of Materials: Whenever materials are lost, worn out, or otherwise withdrawn, replacement will be reviewed with the same general criteria as for original purchase. Replacement will depend on the need of the collection and whether other, similar, or more up-to-date materials are available. 

 

Gifts: The library will encourage and accept gifts suitable for its materials collection. Gift materials must meet the same criteria for selection as purchased materials. Any duplicates and out-of-date materials will not be added. 

  • Format must be suitable to library use. If the binding, condition of paper, or unusual format makes an item unsuitable for library use, it will not be added. 

  • Items not added to the library collection will be given to another library, to a non-profit organization, to a Friends Group with CCLSD for sale to benefit the library or will otherwise be disposed of. 

  • Nameplates will be put in gift books at the donor’s request. 

  • Whenever a gift is no longer needed in the collection, it will be disposed of in the same manner as purchased materials. 

  • Gifts that are cataloged and added to the collection will be shelved in their regular classified place on the library shelves and will be available to all borrowers in the Coastline system, and otherwise handled as any other material belonging to the library. 

  • All gifts not designated as part of the materials collection (for example, property, stocks, etc.) will be accepted by and disposed of at the discretion of the library board. 

 

Collection Maintenance 

 

ESO services a diverse community and affirms that the library will attempt to provide books and other library resources for the interest, information, and enlightenment of the entire community within the budget’s constraints. 

 

Limitations and priorities of ESO 

  • Format - The library will purchase material in a format (hardback, paperback, DVD, digital, or audio) appropriate to its anticipated use, availability in alternate formats, cost, and storage space availability. 

  • The library does not attempt to acquire textbooks or other curriculum related materials. 

  • Series – The decision to purchase additional items in a series or to initially purchase a series will be based on the same selection criteria used to purchase single volume materials. 

 

Audiovisual materials are collected in DVD format to meet popular demand. 

  • The goal of the DVD collection is to be well-balanced, serving the needs of the entire community. Selection is based on informational, educational, and recreational value and is also considered in terms of timeliness, demand, quality, and authority. 

  • The DVD collection contains feature films, TV series, and informational films. The collection may include current high interest films, old classics, award winners, foreign films, and nonfiction subjects. 

  • Feature films should contribute to the value of the library’s collection by representing all types and styles of motion pictures that provide pleasant viewing for recreational and creative use of leisure time.  

  • Appropriateness, expected long-term use, and value to the collection are deciding factors in the selection. 

  • Preference is given to the purchase of new titles rather than replacements, but titles in high demand may be replaced as available.  

  • Visual recording purchases will stem from reviews in the most highly regarded sources, although suggestions from users are always welcome and are given serious consideration. Close attention is paid to professional reviews, especially in the selection of documentary and “how-to” films. 

  • Attempts will be made to purchase films at a reduced price. However, there are times when a film is so popular that the library decides to purchase it immediately at full price. 

  • The library recognizes and understands that some visual recordings may be regarded by certain individuals or groups as controversial, whether because of bias, frankness of language, political expression, or moral implication. Selection will not be made based on anticipated approval or disapproval by any individual in the community, but rather on the evaluation of the visual recording’s critical merit, authenticity, honesty of presentation, topical interest, and use by the audience for whom it is intended. The primary aim of visual recording selection is to establish a balanced collection, which adequately represents various points of view on many subjects. 

 

Weeding 

 

To maintain an up-to-date collection, staff will continually reevaluate worn and obsolete materials. Systematic evaluation and weeding of the collection are required to keep the collection responsive to users’ needs, to ensure its vitality and usefulness to the community, and to make room for newer materials. Weeding (removing materials from the collection) is the responsibility of the professional employees of the library. Weeding both the purchased and donated material collection will be done continually to keep the materials collection relevant to the needs of the community. 

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Disposition Procedure 

 

Material withdrawn during the weeding process will be given to the community through satellite carts throughout Coos County in rural areas or will be otherwise disposed of. 

 

Censorship and Materials Selection 

 

The library board and administration are dedicated to the principles of intellectual freedom. They believe that the right to read is basic to the intellectual freedom of democracy. 

 

The function of material selection is to obtain the best print and non-print resources suited to the needs of the community with the funds available. It is not to be confused with censorship and selectors must be constantly alert not to allow their own preferences or prejudices, pressure by individuals or groups, or fear of such pressure to influence selection. Following the democratic principles under which it operates, the library is obligated to make all sides of a controversial question available, as much as possible. 

 

The decision to purchase materials should be guided by qualified reviews and based on the literary value and social importance of the material, the needs of the community, availability of other materials on the subject, and funds available. 

 

Materials that fall under Oregon State Legislature’s definition of obscenity, as stated in ORS 167.080, should be excluded. However, no item should be eliminated because of coarse language, violence, or frank discussion of sexual episodes when such episodes are pertinent to the plot or character delineation. 

 

The presence of material in the library does not indicate an endorsement of its contents by the library board, staff, or funding agencies. 

 

Request for (Re)consideration Procedure 

 

The ESO staff will gladly respond to any concern from users about library materials owned by ESO. If users are not satisfied with the response received from a staff member, they will be referred to the library administrator. Within 48 hours, a user may request a written response if the verbal exchange has not been satisfactory. The library administrator, or the person acting in his or her absence, will respond in writing within seven working days. If those informal procedures do not result in a satisfactory conclusion for the user, a formal written request for (re)consideration may be filed. 

 

This procedure will be followed: 

  1. The user will need to submit the Request for (Re)consideration form to the ESO Administrator. 

  2. Only one item at a time will be considered per patron. 

  3. The patron will need to read/view/listen to the material in question in its entirety before submitting the Request for (Re)consideration form. 

  4. The copy or copies of the challenged materials will remain available to the public until disposition is determined. 5

  5. The library administrator will consult with the selector and respond in writing to the patron within four weeks. 

  6. If the patron wishes to proceed further with their request, a committee of professional level staff will review the materials and make a recommendation. 

  7. The committee’s decision may be appealed to the library board within two months of the administrator’s letter. At which time they will review the material and make a final decision.

  8. Once the CLB has taken formal action on a Request for (Re)consideration no further complaints will be considered by the CLB on the same title. 

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