The South Hadley Public Library exists to provide total library
service for the entire community through the development and effective
use of a collection of books and other materials specifically selected
to satisfy the informational, recreational, educational, and cultural
needs of library users.
The Library Board of Trustees retains the final authority concerning
the library's selection policy. The Board delegates the charge
of administering the policy to the Library Director. The Director,
in turn, may delegate the duty for selection, weeding, and maintenance
to specific staff members based on their areas of responsibility,
expertise, and interest. However, the decisions these staff members
make concerning the collection will be subject to review by the Library
Director, who must answer to the Trustees for collection development.
All donated materials are reviewed as part of the selection
process, using the same above criteria as other acquisitions. Gift
materials become the unrestricted property of the library and may
be added to the collection, sold in a book sale, or discarded where
appropriate. The library provides gift receipts but does not appraise
or give value to materials for tax purposes.