Here is an annotated evaluation and revision of the materials selection policy currently in use by the McCracken County Public Library. This policy has been revised to better fit with the service response of the Library, the actual procedures of the current selectors, and the ALA guidelines for selection policy. The full policy document for the McCracken County Public Library can be downloaded at: https://www.mclib.net/docs/Policy-Full.pdf.
SERVICE RESPONSE (p. 5)
The library provides current, high-demand, high-interest resources in a variety of formats and methods to educate, entertain, and enrich our community.
MATERIALS SELECTION (p. 49)
The McCracken County Public* Library subscribes to the materials selection principles contained in the Library Bill of Rights adopted by the American Library Association in 1948 and amended in 1961, 1967, 1980 and 1996 (attached). [Delete the statement: "A keen awareness has developed concerning the necessity of careful evaluation and selection of materials."] (This statement seems reactionary. “A Keen awareness has developed” sounds as if there has been some controversy to prompt this policy, and we have always needed to take care in selecting materials.)
1. It is the function of the Library to provide materials for all ages, from preschool through maturity. As many subjects fields as possible are provided [Delete: "with the only limitation being those of of budget and of human understanding."] Add: within the limitations of budget and space available. (This statement was contradicted by statements under points 3 and 9 in the original. This edit brings this point into alignment with the rest of the policy.) [Add sentiment moved from exception to point 9 in original policy here:] It is the Library’s responsibility to provide materials which will enable patrons to form an opinion; therefore, the Library will provide materials representing several points of view.
2. The responsibility for selection of library materials is delegated to the Director and under his or her direction to those staff who are qualified by their education, training, and experience. **
3. Budgetary constraints dictate that the Library acquire only a limited number of the thousands of titles published each year; therefore, materials are carefully selected. Selection is based upon principle rather than personal opinion, reason rather than prejudice, and judgment rather than censorship.
4. Priorities for selection are: (a) materials to meet information needs, both expressed and anticipated, of patrons of all ages; (b) materials to meet the continuing education needs of out-of-school adults and for the enrichment of the formal education needs of children and young adults; (c) materials to meet the recreational needs of all ages.
5. [Added point- this changes the numbering from here forward] Popular titles may be obtained in multiple formats including but not limited to print, large-print, CD audio-book, eBook, and eAudio-book. Popular and high interest video titles will also be provided as available in DVD format and Blu-ray format. Music on CD, and video games for some game systems are also selected for circulation. Popular and high interest electronic resources will be made accessible through the Library's Website as available. Materials of local significance may be selected for the Local and Family History Collection in additional formats as they are available.
6. The aim in selecting adult materials is to make available books and other materials that will meet the educational, informational, cultural, and recreational interests and needs of the people of the county. To fulfill this aim, the Library endeavors to maintain a carefully selected collection of representative books and other materials of permanent value and of current interest. Materials are selected from many sources and are chosen with the following in mind: the interests of the community, the reading tastes of and education levels of the borrowers, the need for items in the Library, and the reviews found in professional reviewing media.
7. Children’s materials are selected to provide pleasurable reading for the sake of reading and to provide information in fields of knowledge which are of interest to children. Materials are carefully selected so that children of all ages and abilities are served and so that the collections will stimulate imagination, mental growth, and intellectual development. [Delete: "Children’s and young people’s titles, almost without exception, are also reviewed, read, or examined before purchase."] (This is not actually feasible. Materials are not generally on hand to be reviewed in their entirety before ordering, nor would staff have time to do this. Selectors rely on published reviews to select children’s materials.) Add: Materials are selected from many sources and are chosen with the following in mind: the interests of the community, the reading tastes of and education levels of the borrowers, the need for items in the Library, and the reviews found in professional reviewing media. (Added wording is taken from point 5 above about selecting adult materials, and matches the current practice of the children's materials selectors.)
8. Young adult materials are selected to help teenagers to realize self-actualization and to live useful, well-adjusted lives in the community and to help them know and understand the world at large. Add: Materials are selected from many sources and are chosen with the following in mind: the interests of the community, the reading tastes of and education levels of the borrowers, the need for items in the Library, and the reviews found in professional reviewing media. (Added wording is taken from point 5 above about selecting adult materials, and matches the current practice of the young adult materials selectors.)
9. Anyone is free to personally reject materials of which he or she does not approve; however, the choice of library materials for personal use is an individual matter. No one has the right to exercise censorship to restrict the freedom of use and/or access of others. Any request for reconsideration of an item in the collection must follow the procedure outlined in the Library’s policy, under Reconsideration of Library* Materials (p. 54).
10. [Deleted: "In general, books and other materials are," and added: "Materials may be"] (I decided on this edit to make this set of criteria possible grounds for exclusion instead of absolute grounds for exclusion, because many of these criteria are subjective. If a title is challenged on any of these grounds, but fits with the over all goal of providing a multitude of viewpoints and popular and high interest selections, we will still have grounds to keep the item in the collection) Materials may be excluded from the collections for one or more of the following reasons:
[Delete:"The work has an inadequate characterization, plot, literary style, or atmosphere;"] (not including works for "inadequate literary style" is too close to censorship for me. A wide diversity of genres and styles should be represented, including some that may be outside of the mainstream.)
The work has inaccurate information;
The work shows an obvious lack of integrity;
The work depicts sensationalism;
The work is produced to incite hatred and intolerance;
The work presents an individual or group in a prejudicial manner;
The work presents only one side of a controversial question, and it is written in a violent, sensational, inflammatory manner; or the title contains false or undocumented statements [Delete: However, it is the Library’s responsibility to provide materials which will enable patrons to form an opinion; therefore, the Library will provide materials representing several points of view.] (the exception part of this is covered by the edit at the top of point 10, the message contained here I have added to point 1 above.);
The title is written or produced by an unknown author, privately printed or fabricated, or issued by obscure publishers. Also, titles may be excluded if no review can be found in a national publication. An exception is made in the case of local materials and subjects on which no other material is available;
The work is of a professional nature such as law, medicine, or engineering; however, these works will be acquired only to the extent that they are useful to the layman;
The work is obscene or pornographic as defined by community standards of good taste and morality. Works which present an honest picture of some problem or aspect of life, however, will not be excluded because of coarse language or frankness; furthermore, all materials will be judged as a whole rather than on isolated passages;
The material is ephemeral in nature or generates little demand;
The work is available elsewhere, inappropriate in size, or too costly;
The title is a textbook and holds no interest for the general public;
The title is available only in non-standard library formats;
The work is out of date;
The work adds nothing new to a field already well covered in other works.
11. All library materials including gifts and other unsolicited materials will be evaluated according to this policy. Any items not added to the collection will be given to the Friends of the Library for inclusion in their annual book sales. [delete:"or sale room."] (there is no permanent sale room.)
12. [Delete the words;"In essence," as they were unnecessary] Each item considered for selection must be evaluated on its own merits. There is no single standard which can be applied. Some materials must be judged primarily in terms of their contribution to the continuing exploration of new ideas; their contribution to the continuing exploration of form in literature, art, and other artistic endeavors; or their value to humanity through the exploration of cultural or other differences. Other materials are selected to fulfill the informational, educational, and recreational needs of the community. Present and potential relevance of a work to the community should be considered, as well as its importance as a document of the times.
13. [Added] It is the Library’s responsibility to provide materials which will enable patrons to form an opinion; therefore, the Library will provide materials representing several points of view.
13. Deselecting of [Added "Deselecting of," and deleted: "Discarding or weeding,"] materials is often necessary for the best and most economical utilization of space in the Library. [Delete: "Weeding is selection in reverse."] Just as all materials which are added to the Library’s collections are expected to be useful for the people in the community which is served by the Library, so they should be withdrawn if they cease to serve that purpose. It enhances the reputation for reliability of the collection and assures the orderly growth of a quality collection. Guidelines for deselection [Changed "weeding" to "deselection."] are as follows:
Physically damaged works or worn out works will be candidates for deselection; [Changed from "weeding;"]
Titles containing obsolete information will be candidates for deselection (deselection was used here in this one instance in the original);
Duplicate titles which have waned in popularity may be deselected [changed from "eliminated."] Add: and be given to the Friends of the Library for inclusion in their annual book sales;
Titles which have not circulated for a period of time will be considered for deselection [Changed from "withdrawal."] Add: and may be given to the Friends of the Library for inclusion in their annual book sales. (Edited for clarity, and to eliminate jargon. The term "deselection," is self-explanatory in this situation, and make the most sense. Including the practice of sending deselected materials to the Friends of the library here makes sense since it was included when discussing donations in point 10/now 11 above.)
Adopted: January 15, 2013 Revised July 12, 2017
*Some words added for accuracy and small edits are shown in in bold text, such as the word "Public" in the full name of the library. Throughout the rest of the policy document the library is referred to as the "McCracken County Public Library," but in this section it is listed as the "McCracken County Library," and I believe that was an editing error. The current reference to the policy on "Reconsideration of Materials" in this section really refers to a section titled: "Reconsideration of Library Materials."
The noted deletions and additions I have made are intended to make this policy clearer, and easier to follow. I believe I have improved it. Please see notes throughout the text above in italics for specific explanations of changes. I have added a statement about material formats (now point 5). This policy was originally written with the ALA guidelines for selection policy in mind. I believe my edits have better aligned this policy to these guidelines and have eliminated some contradictions.
**The one major divergence from these ALA guidelines is the fact that the persons responsible for selection are not named by title. There are so many selectors in our library, that it would be tedious to list the titles accurately (some are titled "Managers," some are titled "Library Assistants," and some are titled "Librarians." I think that our unique approach to selection and our practice of having front-line staff do the selection adds to our level of customer service, so I am comfortable with this exception.