Mission, Vision, and Purpose
The mission of Soundside Public Library is to serve all readers, learners, and community members by providing access to vibrant spaces, a range of resources, up-to-date information, and materials that support literacy, engagement, and education.
We envision modern and welcoming spaces with engaged staff and abundant resources that offer all residents and visitors access to literacy, learning, and lifelong success.
Our purpose is to support the needs of readers, learners, and community members through access to information resources, materials, technology, and programming in alignment with the goals of our County Library System and our Library Board of Trustees.
The purpose of the Collection Development Policy is to provide guidelines for aquiring a library collection that will increase literacies, access to information, and patron engagement. Ultimately, our goal is serve the community with our collection by supporting the informational needs and interests of our users.
Intellectual Freedom Statement
Soundside Public Library fully supports and upholds intellectual freedom. Part of this commitment is providing access to materials that present all points of view on both historical issues and current issues. This policy is supported by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and the American Library Association's Bill of Rights. Each library user has the freedom to read materials or refrain from reading materials, and the library supports these rights.
Scope of the Collection
We collect materials in a variety of formats to support diverse community needs. Our collection covers all fields of knowledge and includes printed books, large-print material, and digital materials. We strive to provide in-demand materials, and must do so in accordance with space available and budget allowance. We also provide access to specialized materials for patrons through the NC Cardinal consortium, and patrons are encouraged to utilize this for materials not housed in our local collection.
Our goal is twofold: 1)to provide accurate and authoritative information on current and historical issues, and 2)meet the recreational and informational needs of our community. We are a diverse community and the library seeks to curate an inclusive collection to meet community needs. Local coastal culture informs community interest, and we strive to incorporate this sense of community in our collection.
We do not house course textbooks in our collection. Curriculum materials should be furnished by school and college libraries. However, Soundside Public Library supplements students of all ages in all learning situations with relevant programming and collections items.
Selection Guidelines
We use professional reviews, standard bibliographies, catalogs from publishers, booklists from recognized authorities, and subject area experts to select materials for purchase. Some of these sources include Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, and Library Journal. Requests for materials from patrons are welcomed and will be considered as additions to the collection by staff and, ultimately, the Library Director.
Collections decisions are made by our professional staff and based on both data and community analysis. Data can include collection statistics, professional merit, patron demand, local significance, diversity of perspective, reviews, and community interest or input. Ultimately, the Library Director is responsible for selection of materials. The County Manager and Board of Commissioners charge the Library Director with following the policies and guidelines stated in the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement.
Soundside Public Library accepts gifts and donations of materials. We retain the authority to accept or reject these gifts in accordance with our mission, vision and purpose. All associated decisions will be ultimately made by the Library Director and the Library Board of Trustees.
We collect self-published books that contain specialized local content and are aligned with our mission, vision, and purpose. A review copy is requested for consideration and will be evaluated for collection by our staff.
Collection Maintenance
Collection maintenance ensures that the library provides the community with up-to-date and relevant materials. We remove materials regularly and systematically that are worn and damaged, obsolete, or no longer in demand. Library staff is tasked with assessing the changing needs of the community and assessing the collection. Collection data, physical space, and availability at other branches also help to inform the deselection process. Withdrawn materials in good condition are sold through our Friends of the Soundside Public Library Annual Sale.
Reconsideration Policy
Some materials in our collection are controversial and any given item may offend some patrons. Our collections are not organized or shelved in a way that reflects value judgement. Materials will not be sequestered. All materials are freely accessible to all members of the public. Individuals are free to reject or accept any item in the collection. Reading responsibility for children rests with the parent or guardian, not the library. Books may inadvertently come into the possession of children, and selection of materials will not be altered by this possibility.
In the event that a patron objects to an item being part of the collection, a formal complaint may be placed into writing and submitted to the library. This form, the "Request for Reconsideration of Library Material", is available through the library website and in print in the physical library location. The Library Director will review the request and decide whether the item conforms to policy and mission. A letter of response will be provided to the individual that submitted the complaint. If dissatisfied with the decision, the individual may present a final appeal to the Library Board of Trustees in writing and present their complaint at the regular meeting of the Board.
Reconsideration Request Form
Name of Patron: ________________________________________
Date: _________________
Address: _______________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ( )____-________
Email: _______________________________________________
Title of Item: _______________________________________________________________
Author (if available): ____________________________________
Type of Material (ie. book, DVD, etc): ______________
Have you read, listened to, or viewed the entire item? (Please circle one) Yes or No
Why are you requesting reconsideration of this item?
What action are you requesting by the library in regard to this item?
What suggestions do you have for keeping the item in the collection?
Signature of Patron: _____________________________________
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