Peoria Public Library - Collections Policy
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Peoria Public Library - Collections Policy
Introduction
Purpose
The purpose of the Collection Development Policy is to provide guidance for Peoria Public Library’s professional librarians in collection management and maintenance of the collection, and to inform the public and stakeholders of the principles in which the library makes decisions regarding the materials selection.
Statement
The goal of the Peoria Public Library is to develop the library as an informational and cultural center for the community in order to promote and provide access to a wide range of quality library services and materials, in response to the expressed needs of the citizens of Peoria, Arizona.
Philosophy
The Peoria Public Library believes in a diverse and inclusive collection that inspires new ideas, assists with current concerns, and continues to inspire the love of reading, the enjoyment of leisure pursuits, and the development of literacy in all facets of technology and education. We strive to construct a comprehensive as possible collection in representing the different communities within Peoria that the libraries proudly serve.
The Peoria Public Library fully endorses the principles documented in the American Library Associations’ Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read and Freedom to View statements. These three documents are accessible online via the following links:
The Peoria Public Library upholds the right of the individual to secure information even though the content may be controversial, unorthodox, or unacceptable to others. Race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and political and/or social views are not criteria for the exclusion of materials. Materials available in the Library present a diverse and inclusive collection of viewpoints empowering our citizens to make the informed choices necessary in a democracy.
Legal Authority and Library Responsibility for Selection
- Engaging in open, continuous two-way communication with library patrons and recognizing that individuals have different ways of expressing their needs based on age, language, economic status, culture, or other characteristics.
- Interacting with patrons with understanding, respect, and responsiveness.
- Handling all requests equitably.
- Working in partnership with one another to understand and respond to community needs.
- Understanding and responding to rapidly changing demographics, as well as societal and technological changes.
- Recognizing that materials of varying complexities and formats are necessary to satisfy diverse needs of library users.
- Balancing individual needs and broader community needs in determining the best allocation of collection budget for acquiring or providing access to materials and information.
- Seeking continuous improvement through ongoing measurement.
- Reviewing the collection on a regular basis to identify areas of community interest that may need strengthening.
Materials Selection
Selection Methodology
Each collection is allocated a specific amount of the materials budget which may be spent to its limit, with the understanding that only items that are needed and truly enhance the circulation of a given collection are purchased. The selection criteria detailed below determines the librarian’s additions.
Selection Criteria
The following selection criteria guides a collection that is responsive to and meets the informational needs and popular interests of our patrons.
- Popular interest.
- Contemporary significance or permanent value.
- Currency of information or format.
- Representation of diverse points of view.
- Relationship to existing materials in collection.
- Readability or ability to sustain interest.
- Appropriateness of subject to the age and/or level of the intended audience.
- Reputation of the author, publisher, producer, illustrator, or artist.
- Creative, literary, or technical quality.
- Physical condition.
- Accuracy and authentication.
- Critical assessments in a variety of professional journals and attention in media.
- Circulation as monitored through the Library's ILS.
- Cost and availability.
- Relationship to materials in other area libraries.
- Local emphasis.
- Purchasing multiple copies of materials in response to user demand, as evidenced by the number of holds, anticipated popularity, and monitoring of the collection.
E-Resources/E-Libraries
Electronic materials play an important role in the Library’s collection. These materials include databases, eBooks, eAudiobooks, and downloadable and streaming media. In addition to standard criteria used in selecting other formats, special selection criteria for electronic materials include ease of use, uniqueness of content, technology requirements, vendor reputation and customer service, availability for remote access and cost.
The e-libraries, e-resources and websites linked to from the Peoria Public Library are for informational, educational and personal purposes only and inclusion does not imply endorsement by Peoria Public Library nor City of Peoria. The Peoria Public Library or City of Peoria accepts no responsibility for the content within selected e-libraries, e-resources or websites or any links in which they choose to link as outside publishers and vendors create the content of these eResources.
Collection Maintenance
Deselecting Library Materials
The Peoria Public Library System maintains an ongoing weeding (or de-selection) program in order to make a conscientious and organized effort to maintain a collection that continues to support the Library mission.
Librarians are responsible for both selecting and deselecting of assigned areas. The librarian’s team leader is ultimately responsible for insuring that selection and deselection occurs, and what the librarian selects and deselects.
As materials “age,” have damage, or are lost, the librarian determines replacement using the following guidelines:
- Item availability and condition.
- Historical value.
- Another item or format might better serve the purpose.
- Sufficient demand to warrant replacement.
- Updated, newer, or revised materials better replace a particular item.
- Multiple copies are circulating.
- Appropriateness for collection—secondary to community standards.
The Library staff evaluates its entire collection throughout the year so that there is a plan for deselecting every 12 months. All collections use the same guidelines prescribed here. There are no separate guidelines for Adult, Teen or Juvenile collections unless specifically stated.
The Library has tailored the CREW method of Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding to its collection evaluation process.
Materials Replacement
Replacement of deselected materials is not automatic. Library staff assesses the need for replacing damaged, deselected or lost materials.
The decision to replace materials involves the following criteria:
- Availability of copies within the library system.
- Popular interest.
- Adequacy of coverage in the subject area.
- Significance in subject area.
- Series completion.
- Circulation history and performance.
- Hold / request performance.
- Budgetary Allowance.
- Suitable patron purchased replacement item.
Reconsideration Policy
The Peoria Public Library believes that reading, listening to, and viewing library materials are individual, private matters.
While one is free to select or to reject materials for oneself, one cannot restrict the freedom of others to read, view, or inquire. Some library materials may be controversial and any given item may offend some person. Selections for the library will not, however, be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits of the materials in relation to the building of the collection and to serving the interests of the customer. Responsibility for materials chosen and borrowed by children and adolescents rests with their parents or legal guardians. Selection decisions are not influenced by the possibility that materials may be accessible to minors. Materials are not labeled to show approval or disapproval or to indicate certain philosophies.
The Peoria Public Library recognizes the right of individuals to question library materials in the library’s collection. A library customer questioning a title in the collection is encouraged to talk with designated members of the staff concerning such material. Procedures have been developed to ensure that complaints are handled in an attentive and consistent manner.
Please visit your local Peoria Public Library for more information regarding reconsiderations.
Americans With Disabilities Statement
The Library fully complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides accommodations on request for physical access, communication or other needs that ensure our services, activities and employment are available to people with disabilities.
Content Statement
The beliefs and opinions expressed within the Peoria Public Library and/or the literature, materials, programming and web-content accessed through the Library do not represent the viewpoint of the Peoria Public Library or the City of Peoria.