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Materials Selection Policy
The authority and
responsibility for the selection of library materials are delegated to the
library director and, under his or her direction, to additional staff members
who are qualified for this activity. No employee may be disciplined or dismissed
for the selection (or weeding) of library materials when the selection (or
weeding) is made in good faith and in accordance with the written policy
required to be established pursuant to Illinois Library Law. Suggestions from
patrons are welcome and will be considered using the same criteria as all other
selections.
In accordance with the
recommendations of Serving Our Public: Standards for Illinois Public
Libraries, the Des Plaines Valley Public Library District will allocate not
less than 12% of its operating budget on materials for patrons every year. These
materials will be selected in a variety of formats including, but not limited
to, print, video, sound recording, and electronic media. Each type of material
must be considered in terms of its own excellence and the audience for whom it
is intended. No single standard can be applied in all cases. Some materials may
be judged primarily in terms of artistic merit, scholarship, or value to
humanity; others are selected to satisfy the informational, recreational, or
educational interests of the community.
Reviews in professionally
recognized periodicals are a primary source for materials selection. Standard
bibliographies, book lists by recognized authorities, including best seller
lists, and the advice of competent people in specific subject areas also will be
used.
According to the mission
statement of the Des Plaines Valley Public Library District, the service
responses chosen to best suit the needs of the community are 1) Current Topics
and Titles and 2) Lifelong Learning. In keeping with those stated service
responses, the library will endeavor to build collection strengths in both of
those areas.
The library keeps the
collection vital and useful by retaining or replacing essential materials, and
by removing, on a systematic and continuous basis, those works that are worn,
outdated, of little historical significance, or no longer in demand. Materials
which are removed from the library collection may or may not be made available
for public purchase at book sales. The library will use the most recognizable
standard for the weeding of library materials. The CREW Method: Expanded
Guidelines for Collection Evaluation and Weeding for Small and Medium-Sized
Pubic Libraries (published by the Texas State Library and Archives
Commission, Austin, Texas, 1995) will be used as the primary tool for weeding
library materials.
The Des Plaines Valley
Public Library District endeavors to build a collection representing varying
points of view. The choice of library materials by users is an individual
matter. Responsibility for the reading materials of children and adolescents
rests with their parents or legal guardians. While a person may reject
materials for himself or herself and for his or her children, he or she cannot
exercise censorship to restrict access to the materials by others. The library
supports intellectual freedom and has adopted the following statements as
policy: ALA Freedom to Read Statement, ALA Library Bill of Rights,
and the “Freedom to View” statement of the American Film and Video Association.
Requests for reconsideration may be
made only by registered patrons, and shall be made in writing and given to the
library director for a written response. Appeals are directed to the Board for
the final decision.
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