Collection Development and Materials Selection Policy

I. Introduction

These are the policies and plans used for the development of the collections of the Whitefish Bay Public Library. They define the makeup of the collection, specify what types of library materials are included in the collection, and explain the basis for making collection management decisions. The policy has been developed to serve as a guide for the public about library service as it pertains to the collection, and to inform the public about the principles upon which selection decisions are made. It also provides direction in collection development and material selection for the library’s selectors. 

This policy does not replace the judgment of library professionals. The stated goals and objectives contained herein will assist them in their selection of available materials.

II. Collection Development Policies

The following statements and policies have been adopted by the Library and are used as guidelines for the development of the Library collections. The Library endorses the American Library Association’s "Library Bill of Rights," "Freedom to Read," "Freedom to View" and "Statement on Professional Ethics" presented in Appendix A.

III. Library Mission Statement

The mission of the Library is to provide the highest quality resources for information, recreation, and lifelong learning for Village residents of all ages.  

To accomplish this, we will:

•  Serve the community as a center of reliable information
• Maintain the best possible collection and organize it for easy access
• Provide access to material not owned by the Library
• Support the educational, civic, and cultural activities of individuals and groups
• Encourage children to read and to use the library
• Maintain a welcoming physical environment
• Hire and retain a staff with excellent professional qualifications and public service skills

IV. The Plan

A. Goals and Objectives

Except for certain areas of the collection as outlined in the following plan, the Library collection is not archival and is reviewed on an on-going basis to meet current needs.

The objectives of the Library are to collect, organize, and make easily available the materials housed within the Library. The library staff is guided by a sense of responsibility to the community in order to meet the above stated goals. Library staff members selecting library materials and resources are expected to keep the overall objectives in mind when applying their professional knowledge and experience in making selection decisions.

B. Responsibility

The professional staff of the Library is responsible for the selection of library materials and resources chosen to fulfill the above goals. Other staff members and the public may recommend materials for consideration. Final responsibility rests with the Director who operates within the framework of this policy as approved by the Library Board of Trustees. The Director delegates to professional staff members the authority to interpret the policy in day-to-day decisions regarding the development of the collection and the subsequent selection of library materials and resources.

C. Guidelines

• The selection of any material or resource does not constitute an endorsement.
• The Library recognizes that many materials and resources are controversial and could offend some patrons.
• Selection decisions are not made on the basis of approval or disapproval, but on the merits of the work, collection needs and interests of a diverse Whitefish Bay community.
• Selection decisions are not influenced by the possibility that material may be accessible to children. Responsibility for children's use of library materials and resources lies with their parents, legal guardians, or caretakers.
• The Library acknowledges a particular interest in local, county, and state history and government. The Library will add to its collection works produced by authors, printers, or publishers with Whitefish Bay connections that meet the purpose and objectives of this policy.
• The Library selects materials of varying complexity and format because it serves a public embracing a wide range of ages, educational backgrounds, interests, sensory preferences, and reading skills. When staff review and select materials for purchase, they consider the special needs of the community.

D. Criteria for Selection

The selectors must consider each type of material in terms of its own kind of excellence and the audience for whom it is intended. No single standard can apply to all acquisition decisions. Some material may be selected primarily for artistic merit, scholarship or value to humanity, while others may be chosen to satisfy the recreational and entertainment needs of the community.

Some library materials are subject to widespread and/or heavy local demand. These high-demand items may or may not meet the general and specific criteria contained in this policy. Selectors give serious consideration to the volume and nature of requests by members of the public. In addition, as the social and intellectual climate of the community changes, materials not originally recommended for purchase may become of interest. Such materials will be reevaluated as the need arises.

To build a collection of merit and significance, selectors acquire materials according to objective guidelines. They evaluate acquisitions, whether purchased or donated to the library, by examining reviews in one or more of the professional library review media and checking against the standards listed below.

The Library maintains a home page on the World Wide Web in order to meet the information needs of customers. The library home page is designed primarily to provide access to additional Internet resources.  A secondary function of the web page is to market the library to a range of customers beyond the immediate service area of the library. When possible, the library page will point to existing reliable sources that provide topical information. The library will not recreate resources that already exist on the Internet.  Professional librarians use the general criteria outlined in the Library Collection Development and Materials Selection Policy for selecting Internet sites to be included on the Library’s website.  A separate Internet Policy covers patrons’ use of the Internet.

The Library is a member of the Milwaukee Federated Library System (MCLFS) and, as such, provides materials and services to all residents of Milwaukee County.  The Whitefish Bay Public Library collections are part of the greater MCFLS catalog, which may affect decisions on selection of materials for inclusion in the local collection.

General criteria

1. Suitability of physical form for library use
2. Suitability of subject and style for the intended audience
3. Present and potential relevance to community needs
4. Appropriateness and effectiveness of the medium to the content
5. Insight into the human and social condition
6. Importance as a document of the times
7. Relation to the existing collection and to other material on the subject
8. Reputation and or significance of the author or illustrator
9. Skill, competence and purpose of the author or illustrator
10. Attention of critics, reviewers and the public

Specific criteria for the evaluation of works of information and opinion

1. Authority
2. Comprehensiveness and depth of treatment
3. Objectivity
4. Clarity, accuracy and logic of presentation
5. Representation of challenging ideas, although it may be an extreme or minority point of view.

Specific criteria for the evaluation of works of imagination

1. Representation of important movement, genre, trend or national culture
2. Vitality and originality
3. Artistic presentation and experimentation
4. Sustained interest
5. Effective characterization
6. Authenticity of historical or social setting

Indicators of Internet Site Quality

1. Ease of use

2. Clearly stated scope and content

3. Documented, accurate, and verifiable content

4. Clear and helpful headings and annotations

5. Stability and timeliness

6. Acceptable load speed

7. Graphics support content

8. Standard multimedia formats

 Specific criteria for selecting Internet sites

1. Preference given to nonprofit and noncommercial sites

2. Educational or informational links

3. Links provide accurate, current, and unique information

4. Library and unique library resource information provided

5. Balanced point of view provided whenever possible 

E. Formats, Collections, and Resources

The Library selects materials for the collection based on demographic trends of the service population.  The Library’s primary service population is that of Whitefish Bay, in addition to the greater Milwaukee County user community.  Collection development is concentrated in the following formats: books (excluding textbooks); government documents; periodicals; newspapers; CD-ROMs; audio, including cassette and compact discs; videocassettes; DVDs; pamphlets; and electronic resources. Other formats are considered for purchase.  Public access to the Internet is available.

F. Labels and Shelving

Library materials are not marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of the contents, and materials are not sequestered except for the purpose of protecting them from damage or theft.

G. Request for Reconsideration

The library will reconsider any material in its collection upon written request of a patron who is a Whitefish Bay resident and who fulfills the following steps:

1. The Library will take on the process of reconsideration one item at a time per patron.
2. The patron must have read/viewed/listened to the item in question in its entirety, absent extraordinary circumstances.
3. The patron will be given a copy of the Whitefish Bay Public Library Public Library Collection Development and Materials Selection Policy, which includes the Request for Reconsideration of Library Material form.
4. The patron may fill out the reconsideration form and/or request an appointment with the Director to discuss the matter.
5. If the patron wants to pursue the reconsideration, the completed reconsideration form must be submitted. The Library Director will review the item with staff that will make a recommendation to the Library Director within 6 weeks of receiving the initial request.
6. The Library Director will make a decision on whether or not the item should be retained and the patron will be informed of the decision within three weeks of receiving the staff recommendation.
7. The patron may appeal the Library Director's decision to the Library Board within two months after receiving the Library Director's reply.

H. Gifts

The Library accepts gifts of materials, but reserves the right to evaluate them in accordance with the criteria applied to selected materials.  Gifts that do not comply with the Library's objectives and policies may be refused.  Materials not added to the collection will be offered to the Friends of the Library.

Monetary gifts for materials are welcome in the form of bookplate donations. Donor suggestions for purchase of materials in designated areas of interest will be considered. Gifts of money or materials may be designated as memorials. The donor may impose no other conditions relating to any gift either before or after its acceptance.

I. Maintenance of Library Collection

The Library recognizes the need for continuous evaluation of its collections in response to the changing nature and needs of its community.  This collection maintenance is accomplished through the weeding, replacement, rebinding, repair, and duplication of its titles.  Maintenance of the collection requires the same study and attention as initial selection.

J. Withdrawals of Library Materials

Materials that no longer meet the stated objectives of the Library will be discarded according to accepted professional practices. The following will be considered when withdrawing materials: physical condition, dated information, availability, permanent value, and user demand. Materials withdrawn from the library collection may be offered to Friends of the Library book sales or may be disposed of by other means.

K. Replacements

Titles in any format withdrawn because of loss, damage, or wear are not automatically replaced. Replacement is considered in relation to adequate coverage in a specific subject area, availability of more current or better titles, according to this selection policy and demand for the title. Gifts, including memorial items, are subject to this same replacement policy.

V. Revision

The Library Board will review this policy every year.

Reviewed and approved by the Whitefish Bay Library Board of Trustees September 12, 2006.

 APPENDIX A

ALA Freedom to Read Statement: http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Our_Association/Offices/Intellectual_Freedom3/Statements_and_Policies/Freedom_to_Read_Statement/Freedom_to_Read_Statement.htm

 ALA Freedom to View Statement: http://www.ala.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Our_Association/Offices/Intellectual_Freedom3/Statements_and_Policies/Freedom_to_View_Statement/Freedom_to_View_Statement.htm

 ALA Statement on Professional Ethics: http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=History1&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8888