[Approved 12-3-2007]
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.
A.
The provision of popular materials and services is considered the
top priority of the library. Patrons constantly seek materials in
a variety of formats, including books, magazines, newspapers, audiovisual,
electronic, and other media formats. With the availability of libraries
in the public schools and Mount Holyoke College, the public library's
obligation to support formal learning and curricula is reduced. In
addition to materials and regular library services, programs such
as children's storytime sessions and special events, the summer
reading program, adult discussion groups and other programs sponsored
by the library strive to meet the needs and interests of the library's
users.
B.
It is the library's goal to furnish a comfortable and safe facility
with adequate space to house both materials and services. The library
also strives to provide an adequate number of trained staff to assist
patrons in using the library to their full potential and to contribute
to the development of library collections and services. The library
accomplishes these goals through:
(1)
Purchasing appropriate materials with available funds.
(2)
Participating in the Central/Western Massachusetts Automated Resource
Sharing System (C/WMARS) network centrally serving multi-type libraries
in western and central Massachusetts.
(3)
Supplementing the collection by borrowing materials for patrons through
interlibrary loan coordinated by the Western Massachusetts Regional
Library System (WMRLS).
(4)
Using the Regional Reference Service provided by WMRLS to answer
questions that are beyond the library's capacities.
(5)
Participating in resource sharing efforts with area libraries.
(6)
Offering programs and special events on a variety of topics to encourage
reading, recreational, and learning pursuits.
(7)
Applying for grants to augment collections and services for which
there is high demand or demonstrated need.
A.
Acknowledging the library's priorities described above, it is
the goal of the library to provide a collection that meets the demand
for current and popular materials while providing a balance of older,
still relevant, items. Through collection development, that includes
both acquiring and discarding materials, the library strives to maintain
a collection of materials that is current, authoritative, well used,
in good physical condition, and available in a variety of media formats.
The library does not collect textbooks, scholarly books and periodicals,
or other resources that are deemed more appropriate for the school,
academic, or special library. Because the library participates in
resource sharing regionally, statewide, and nationally through entities
such as WMRLS and C/WMARS, it does not attempt to purchase all items
requested by patrons. Infrequently requested and specialized items
that are beyond the scope of the collection are instead borrowed through
interlibrary loan, or patrons are referred to other libraries that
own the material.
B.
The adult collection includes books, magazines, movies, music, electronic
resources, and other appropriate materials. The collection serves
older teens, adults, and senior citizens. Books include fiction and
nonfiction in hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats. The library
maintains a collection of popular magazines and newspapers and retains
limited back issues for most titles. The audiovisual collection includes
movies, music, and other popular media formats.
C.
The youth collection includes books, magazines, movies, music, electronic
resources, and other appropriate materials. The collection serves
children from infants through the early teen years. Books include
picture books, beginning readers, juvenile fiction and nonfiction,
chapter books, and graphic novels in hardcover and paperback formats.
The youth department also maintains a collection of age-appropriate
magazine titles.
D.
Children are encouraged to responsibly use the adult collection when
appropriate and vice versa.
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.
A.
The library subscribes to the principles of freedom of expression
as stated in the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution,
specifically in regard to the right to publish and read diverse opinions.
As a public institution the library is committed to the principles
of intellectual freedom and is cognizant of its obligation to provide
as wide a spectrum of materials as possible. Furthermore, the library
endorses the Freedom to Read, Freedom to View, and the Library Bill
of Rights and their interpretations issued by the American Library
Association. Included in these statements is the commitment to honor
the rights of the individual to use the library regardless of age,
race, religion, national origin, or social and political views.
B.
Librarians are responsible to direct patrons toward appropriate materials,
but will not restrict the use of the collection based upon the age
of the user. The library takes the position that the risk of not providing
access to information and ideas is greater than the risk of providing
it. Therefore, the library staff will not act as in loco parentis.
C.
Responsibility for the materials children borrow, or library computers
used, rests entirely at the discretion of parents and guardians.
D.
The library reserves the right to control the use of rare and/or
fragile items in the collection, such as local history materials,
to the extent required to preserve them from harm.
A.
The Library Director and delegated staff are responsible for the
selection of library materials. Staff members make recommendations
based on their experience and knowledge of library services, their
familiarity with the community's needs, and their knowledge of
the existing collection.
B.
Materials are judged on the basis of the work as a whole, not on
a part taken out of context. By using the following criteria for acquisitions,
gifts, and withdrawals, the library strives to strengthen its collection
through a fair and balanced selection process:
(1)
Popular interest and demand.
(2)
Critical reviews; professional journals; publishers' catalogs.
(3)
Reputation, popularity, or significance of author.
(4)
Accurate coverage of contemporary or historical topics, issues, and
personalities.
(5)
Currency of information.
(6)
Relation to existing collection; the balance of opinions, including
minority views.
(7)
Artistic expression, originality, imagination, and presentation.
(8)
Ability to reach the intended audience in a comprehensible manner.
(9)
Cost, including maintenance, in relation to demand.
(10)
Permanent value as a standard work.
(11)
Quality of manufacture, durability, and condition.
(12)
Technical merit and ease of use.
(13)
Availability through other resources, including interlibrary
loan and the internet.
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.
A.
In order to maintain a collection that is current, in good condition,
well used, relevant to community interests and reliable, materials
are withdrawn on a systematic and continuing basis.
B.
Materials are discarded when they are judged to be dated or obsolete,
inaccurate, seldom used, in poor condition, or otherwise no longer
appropriate for the collection. The availability of shelf space is
also, unfortunately, a major consideration. Titles withdrawn due to
loss, damage, or theft are not automatically replaced. The criteria
used in selection also apply to the process of weeding. Materials
withdrawn from the library will be disposed of in a manner consistent
with their quality and condition. Some materials may be sold for the
benefit of the library. Materials judged to be too dated, inaccurate,
or unattractive will be discarded.
C.
Back issues of periodicals are kept for a specified period of time
and then recycled. The period of storage time for each periodical
is determined by the continued need for the title to be available
in the library. Space limitations may preclude some periodicals from
being kept for extended periods of time.
A.
Community involvement is a key principle in the development of the
library's collection. Patron suggestions for new acquisitions
are always welcome, as "popular demand" is an integral part of the
selection criteria. Many materials not owned by the library can be
obtained on loan from other institutions. Suggestions for the purchase
of new materials should be in writing, or a computer printout, and
include as much publishing information as possible. The suggestion
should also include the patron's name and contact information.
The selection criteria listed above will be applied to the request.
B.
Patrons may also voice their concerns over the inclusion of specific
materials within the collection. The Board of Library Trustees believes
that censorship is a purely individual matter and declares that while
anyone is free to reject material of which one does not approve, one
cannot exercise this right to restrict the freedom of others. The
Trustees and Library Director will remove no materials from the library
except under a formal reconsideration request. Any library patron
in good standing may request the reconsideration of materials owned
by the library. The steps for a formal request are as follows:
(1)
The customer will fill out and sign a "Request for Reconsideration"
(appended) or submit an equivalent written and signed statement.
(2)
The document will be forwarded to the Library Director, who will
attach his/her comments and forward this information to the Library
Trustees for discussion at their next regularly scheduled meeting.
(3)
The Trustees and Library Director will discuss the issue in depth
regarding use of the material within the library and make a formal
recommendation.
(4)
The patron who submitted the statement will receive a written response
within 21 days of the Board's decision.
