Mission

ALA Bill of Rights

Long-range Plan

Materials Selection

Confidentiality

Non-discriminatory hiring

Donated materials

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Materials Selection Policy

Goals:

The Blackwater Regional Library is a public institution supported by local taxes, state and federal funds, and endowments. Its fundamental goal is the provision of free and easy access to recorded information within the limitations of space and budget.

In achieving this goal, physical materials and electronic resources are selected in accordance with the Blackwater Regional Library mission statement, which promises to “provide a variety of library resources… to improve the quality of life and meet the informational, educational, and cultural interests of the region.” Selection is guided by the following objectives:

Objectives:

Materials are selected to

• Encourage literacy, learning, and enrichment
  
• Raise an awareness and appreciation of cultural diversity
  
• Facilitate continuing education, both formal and informal
  
• Supply sources of information in all fields of knowledge
  
• Provide practical and vocational information that will improve occupational capabilities
  
• Impartially represent all points of view on all subjects
  
• Meet the basic information needs of the community
  
• Encourage the development of reading skills
  
• Encourage awareness of contemporary issues by providing materials on different or innovative cultures, experiences, and thinking
  
• Support the educational, civic, and cultural activities of groups and organizations
  
• Encourage intellectual, aesthetic, creative, emotional, and spiritual growth
  
• Promote the use of books and other library materials for recreation and enjoyment
  
• Encourage maximum use of the collection by the greatest number of persons
  
• Support the democratic process by providing materials for the education and enlightenment of the community
  

Responsibility for Collection:

The initial responsibility for materials selection lies with the professional staff of the library. All staff members and the general public may recommend materials for consideration. Selection of materials for the adult collection is not restricted by the possibility that children or adolescents may obtain materials their parents consider inappropriate. Per the Children’s Internet Protection Act and section 42.1-36.1 of the Code of Virginia, however, all public computers in the library branches have internet filters, which library staff will remove, upon request, for patrons over 17 years of age. The ultimate responsibility for materials selection, as for all library activities, rests with the Library Director.

Responsibility for the reading of children and adolescents rests with their parents or legal guardians. Library materials are not marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of the contents. No book or other item is sequestered, except for the purpose of protecting it from injury or theft.

Library Bill of Rights:

The Blackwater Regional Library honors the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association. Those parts relevant to materials selection are excerpted below:

I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves.

II. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

III. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

IV. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

Materials:

Our collection includes, but is not necessarily limited to, the following:

• Print materials such as books, large-print books, magazines, and newspapers
  
• Microforms
  
• Electronic materials such as audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs
  
• Electronic resources such as databases and websites, which will constitute a vital component of our reference collection

Other materials, including formats that are currently being developed or that may yet be developed, will be incorporated as finances, space, and relevance to the collection allow.

Selection Criteria:

Selection principles: To build collections of merit and significance, materials must be measured by objective guidelines. All acquisitions, whether purchased or donated, are considered in terms of the principles listed below. An item need not meet all of them to be acceptable. Materials are evaluated on the significance of the entire work, rather than on individual parts.

Furthermore, materials are selected in light of their place within the existing collection. New materials are added to enhance the existing materials in their subject area, and to improve the collection as a whole. Ultimately, materials are selected to satisfy the diverse interests of the region, with the understanding that not every material will appeal to every patron.

The following principles guide selection:

• Contemporary significance or permanent value
  
• Accuracy and authenticity
  
• Currency
  
• Reputation and/or authority of author, editor, or illustrator
  
• Literary, educational, informational, and/or recreational merit
  
• Relation to existing collection and to other materials on subject
  
• Price and availability
  
• Format and ease of use
  
• Scarcity of information in subject area
  
• Condition and durability
  
• Attention of critics, reviewers, media, and public
  
• Local interest or authorship

Selection Aids: The following standard selection aids are used:

• Booklist
  
• Library Journal
  
• New York Times Book Review
  
• School Library Journal
  
• Publishers’ Weekly
  
• Publishers’ catalogs
  
• Bibliographies prepared by various libraries and subject authorities

Patron Input: Patron requests for materials receive special consideration. If a patron request is deemed unsuitable for the collection, the material is temporarily obtained through Inter-Library Loan.

Materials Requiring Additional Criteria:

Children/Young People: In choosing books and related materials for children and adolescents, the same principles are applied as in the selection of adult materials. More thought, however, is given to age as a determining selection principle. Materials are considered in light of reading level, interest level, and/or treatment of subject with regard to the age of the intended audience.

Curriculum-related Materials: Although school and academic libraries in the region have primary responsibility for providing materials to their students, the Blackwater Regional Library will supply supplementary reading and reference materials. Textbooks may be purchased for the collection when they supply information in which they may be the best or only source of information on the subject. They are not duplicated to satisfy the demands of a specific school or academic course.

Gifts: A gift for the library collection may consist of materials or of funds for the purchase of materials. Funds may be given for acquiring materials recommended by the library staff or for the purchase of specific items suggested by the donor. When the library receives a cash gift for the purchase of materials, the selection will be made by the librarian in consultation with the donor. The library encourages gifts not earmarked for specific items, in order to permit the most flexible and cost-effective use of the donation for the enrichment of the collection.

Gift additions must meet the same selection criteria as purchased materials. In some cases, titles are received or purchased which could not have been acquired from library funds because of budget limitations. If gifts of marginal value are being offered, processing costs and use of shelf space are considered before the gift can be accepted.

Gifts are subject to the following limitations:

• The library retains unconditional ownership of the gift
  
• The library makes the final decision regarding its own use or other disposition of the gift
  
• The library reserves the right to decide the conditions of display, housing, and access to the materials

Local history: The library, through its local history collection, preserves books and source materials which document the history of its community and provide a record of current happenings therein. Local history material may be acquired even though it does not meet other selection criteria.

Microforms: Microforms are acquired to augment the periodicals and newspaper collections, to save space, and to provide specialized materials not otherwise available.

Newspapers: Newspapers are selected to meet reference and research needs, to provide current information, and to satisfy casual interest in current events.

Periodicals: Periodicals are purchased to

• Supplement the book collection
  
• Provide material not yet available in book form
  
• Provide recreational reading
  
• Aid in book selection
  
• Furnish professional reading for the staff

Periodicals selected are

• Those which are considered authoritative and objective
  
• Those indexed in the standard periodical indexes
  
• Those of local interest
  
• Those frequently in demand

Maintaining the Collection:

Duplication: Duplication of materials at each branch and throughout the system is governed by a combination of demand, historical value, and/or perceived need in the community.

Reference Collection: Each branch maintains a functional reference collection, with larger branches housing a wider range of reference materials. Electronic reference resources, such as databases, constitute a vital part of the reference collection, and are available at all branches.

Discarding: It is necessary to systematically withdraw materials that are no longer appropriate for an active, accurate collection. Library materials are discarded for one or more of the following reasons:

• Irreparable damage
  
• Obsolescence
  
• Insufficient use
  
• Space available for housing materials

Replacement: A replacement is an item purchased to take the place of an identical title previously held in the collection. It is the library’s policy not to automatically replace all materials withdrawn because of loss, damage, or wear. Need for replacement in each case is judged by two factors:

• Existence of adequate coverage on the subject, especially if more current material is available
  
• Demand for the specific title

Reconsideration: Once an item has been accepted as qualifying under the selection policies and rules, it will not be removed at the request of those who disagree with it unless it can be shown to be in violation of these policies and rules. Materials are neither included nor excluded because of political views, controversial content, frank language or images, or the race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, religion, or sexual orientation of the author or creator.

There is a formal procedure for the reconsideration of materials. (See Materials Reconsideration Procedure.) The Director is available to discuss the interpretation and application of these selection principles.