Library Materials Selection Policy

(Revised by Staff Council January 2006)

1. STATEMENT OF POLICY

In accordance with its mission, the Library assumes the responsibility for providing materials for its community for these reasons:

1. To provide materials for recreation, education and information that will enrich and support the varied interests, abilities, and maturity levels of the children, youth, and adults for whom they are selected.
2. To provide materials for children, youth, and adults that will stimulate growth in literary appreciation, in aesthetic values, in ethical standards, and in factual knowledge.
3. To provide a background of information which will enable children, youth and adults, as citizens, to make intelligent choices.
4. To provide materials in the areas of opposing viewpoints and controversy, representing all sides of these areas, that as citizens we may develop logical, critical thinking, and evaluation.
5. To provide materials which are representative of the many religious, ethnic, and cultural groups and their contribution to our American heritage.
6. As the largest library in the area, the Library assumes the responsibility for collecting in depth in certain subject areas as specified in collection development statements. These areas may be subject to modification.

2. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OR WITHDRAWAL OF LIBRARY MATERIALS

Librarians apply their judgment and experience is selecting materials according to the criteria listed below. Selection is an inclusive process, in which librarians seek materials providing a broad range of viewpoints and subject matter. Because an item is selected does not mean an item is endorsed or promoted by the librarian. All criteria do not apply to each item, but each item, regardless of format, should be evaluated in terms of the criteria listed below. Selection, duplication, replacement and withdrawal of library materials shall be influenced by:

• The Library's mission: The Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, an essential provider of shared information and a core community service, promotes reading, lifelong learning, and economic vitality through its resources, services and programs to the residents of Vanderburgh County.
• Anticipated or demonstrated popular demand
• Customer requests
• Current and historical significance
• The attention of critics and reviews
• Diversity in the collection, including representation of a minority point of view and relevance to the experiences and contributions of diverse populations
• Available space
• Available budget
• Value of the resource in relation to its cost
• Usefulness and appeal
• Appropriateness of format, content, and style (including size & binding)
• Reputation, popularity, or significance of the author, publisher, performer, producer, or the material itself
• Relation to other material in the collection
• Availability through Interlibrary Loan, the Internet, or in other area libraries
• Accessibility online
• Currency and accuracy of the material
• Anticipated long-term use
• Professional judgment

3. STATEMENT ABOUT THE REQUEST FOR THE WITHDRAWAL OF A SPECIFIC TITLE IN THE LIBRARY COLLECTION

1. Once a title has been accepted as qualifying under the selection policies and rules of the Library, 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.
2. The request for withdrawal of a specific title will be forwarded to the initial selector, who is to review the selection and report to the Associate Director for Public Services within ten (10) working days. The selector may enlist the help of other staff in reviewing the title. (see Complaints About Library Materials, A-11 in this manual)

4. GIFT MATERIALS

The Library welcomes all donations of gift materials as long as they are timely and in good physical condition. The Library accepts all gift materials without condition as to their retention or treatment. The Library will utilize all gift materials as it sees appropriate.

5. REPLACEMENT OF MATERIALS

Damaged, lost or weeded materials should be reviewed to see if they can be replaced by the same title (if it continues to be of value), or by a later edition of the same title, or by better titles on the same subject.

6. WEEDING OF MATERIALS

The Library collections should be kept current by weeding all materials that no longer meet the selection criteria listed above.