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I. Mission of the Library and of Collection Development
Mission Statement
Connect people with information resources and services by anticipating and responding to changing community needs.
Purpose of the Collection within the Context of the Mission
The library acts to fulfill its mission by selecting, acquiring, organizing, preserving, maintaining and providing access to a collection of materials (both print and nonprint) and electronic resources that address and anticipate the interests and needs of the members of a growing and diverse community.
II. Purpose of the Collection Development Policy
Guide staff in making decision about the selection, management, and preservation of library materials.
Inform the public of the principles that govern collection development at the Carver County Library.
Constitute a public declaration of the library's commitment to the principles of free access to ideas and information, and to provide collections that reflect a variety of viewpoints.
III. General Principles of Collection Development
Collection development at Carver County Library is founded on the principles of intellectual freedom, equal access for all, and the preservation of the documentary record of culture. The library provides a collection that balances viewpoints across a broad spectrum of opinion and subject interests and skills. Using selection practices that are flexible and responsive to the changing needs of the community, the library guides and maintains collections for the general public while recognizing the needs of special population groups.
Intellectual Freedom
Decisions to select or retain an item are based on the merits of each work or information source as it relates to the goals and coverage of the collection. The library considers the value of each item in its entirety and within the context of the collection, not on specific passages or section in the item itself. Materials are not marked, labeled, or sequestered to show approval, disapproval, or judgment as to suitability of content for particular audiences. Materials are not excluded, removed, proscribed or suppressed because of their creators' origin, background, or views, or because they represent a particular aspect of life, frankness of expression, or controversial subject matter. Inclusion of an item does not constitute endorsement of its content by the Library Board. Selection of materials for adults is not constrained by possible exposure to children or young adults. Responsibility for children's use of library collections rests with their parents, guardians, or caregivers. Only they have the right to define what material or information is consistent with their personal and family beliefs; only they can apply those values for themselves and their children.
Access
The library makes its collections available to all. However, not all library materials can be made immediately accessible at all locations within the Carver County Library System. Selectors decide how many copies to buy and where to locate them by considering anticipated demand, the interests of local library users, physical space limitations, and available budgets. Libraries with larger or specialized collections act as resource libraries for other branches.
Carver County Library is committed to the expeditious delivery of materials and information to its users. Efforts will be made to provide access to materials and information beyond the immediate premises of a library branch or beyond the holdings of its collection, by means of requests placed through the online catalog, interlibrary loans, photocopying and faxing service, online searching, provision of licensed electronic resources, and access to the Internet. In all these efforts, Carver County Library will operate within the provisions of the United States copyright law.
The advent and expansion of electronic and Internet information resources poses challenges for the future of library collections and the information needs of the public. Many materials once available in print are now also being produced in electronic format. Some are now available solely through the Internet or proprietary database products. Providing access to electronic resources is an integral part of the library's collections development efforts.
IV. Responsibility for Collection Development
Collection development is a process guided through all its stages by the expertise and judgment of librarians. Ultimate responsibility for the direction, purpose, and scope of collection development rests with the Carver County Library Board. The Library Director is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the policy, and delegates this professional responsibility to the managers of the various branches and departments.
V. Collection Management
Selection Sources
Sources for selection decisions include, among others: user requests or recommendations, publisher or vendor catalogs, advertisements, published reviews.
Selection Criteria
Librarians use their subject knowledge and expertise in combination with the standards listed below to select and evaluate collection items. Gifts and purchases are selected using the same criteria, listed below (not in priority order). An item need not meet all criteria to be selected.
General Criteria
Suitability of format or physical form for library use.
Cost relative to the value the item contributes to the collection.
Space required relative to the value the item contributes to the collection.
The extent to which the item supplements, expands on, or supports the existing collection, rather than duplicates it.
Relevance to observed and anticipated community needs and desires.
Reputation and qualifications of the author, creator, and publisher of the work.
Local significance of the author or creator of the work.
Content Criteria
Comprehensiveness of treatment, including breadth and depth.
Skill and purpose of author or creator.
Consideration of the work as a whole, rather than a specific passage or passages.
Evaluation of the currency and accuracy of the information contained, to the extent that it is possible.
Representation of diverse points of view.
Representation of important movements, subjects, genres, or trends of local, regional, or national significance.
Long-term or historical significance or interest.
Relevance of the information to immediate local requirements.
Electronic Format Criteria
Ease of use of the product.
Accessibility to multiple users.
Enhancement of the print equivalent in terms of speed, flexibility, combinations of search terms, or general utility.
Reduction of space requirement over print products.
Reduction in number of copies of a print source when purchased for multiple branches.
Gifts
The library gratefully accepts gifts of money and materials under the circumstances outlined below.
Funds
The Library accepts monetary gifts intended for the purchase of library materials when donors' intentions for the gifts and library's collection objectives are consistent.
Materials
The library accepts donations of materials that are in good condition if deemed valuable to the collections. The library reserves the right to make final disposition of all gifts received. Gifts may be added to the collection or rejected at the discretion of the library.
Gift materials not added to the collection are not returned to the donor.
Retention
Condition, content, inherent value, and use are the primary criteria used to determine the continued retention of materials in the collection. Many materials do not withstand the test of time and repeated handling. Similarly, many fields of knowledge are drastically altered by new discoveries and changes in culture. As demand declines, the library selectively removes multiple copies, making exceptions for areas of special importance to the overall collection. The library also removes worn, damaged, and obsolete materials that cannot be repaired and are not longer usable. An item that is damaged or lost is replaced if it is deemed still useful and still available for purchase.
Evaluation Criteria
Evaluation techniques are used to measure collection usefulness in terms of scope and depth, as well as strengths and weaknesses. Among the measures and evaluation techniques used by the library staff are:
Age and condition of items in the collection
Comparison of the collection with accepted core collections lists
Frequency of requests placed through the online catalog and interlibrary loan
Circulation
In-house use of materials
User surveys
Relevance to observed and anticipated community needs and desires
Long-term or historical significance or interest
Request for Reconsideration
Individuals may request reconsideration of a selection decision or classification of library material by submitting a written Request for Reconsideration using established library procedures and guidelines. The Library Director responds in writing to the individual's request. The Carver County Library Board, upon request, hears appeals of the Director's written response. Appeals must be presented in writing to the Library Board at least ten days in advance of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Board. Decision on appeals are based on careful review of the objection, the Carver County Library Collection Development Policy, the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights, and the ALA guidelines on intellectual freedom. The final decision on appeals rest with the Carver County Library Board.
ADDENDA
American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights
The Freedom to Read Policy Statement
The Freedom to View Policy Statement
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