Collection Development Policy

Avondale Public Library’s collection development policy represents the basic guidelines upon which the library’s collection is built. The purpose of this policy is to guide librarians in the selection of materials of contemporary significance, permanent value, and to inform the public about the principles upon which selections are made. Its primary objective is to ensure the library can provide the Avondale community with relevant materials in sufficient supply to make the library a dependable resource for most people most of the time. 

 GOALS

1. To select and purchase materials, within our financial ability, which will achieve a balance between materials of contemporary interest, permanent value, and which will reflect differing points of view.
2. To serve the community as a center of timely, accurate, and useful information.
3. To provide an environment where citizens may encounter all types of ideas that are the basis of a free society.
4. To select and provide easy access to materials, which will help meet the educational, informational, and recreational needs of all the people served by the library.
5. In as much as the community is constantly changing, the library will continue to study the characteristics of its users. Librarians will select materials suitable in form, subject content, and style to meet the present and future needs of the community.

To meet these goals, the Avondale Public Library is guided by the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement and the Library Bill of Rights.

 CRITERIA FOR GENERAL SELECTION

Certain factors influence the selection of library materials.  All acquisitions, whether purchased or donated, will be judged in terms of the following standards:

- Popularity and patron interest

- The author’s reputation and significance as a writer

- The importance of subject matter to the collection

- Timeliness or permanence of the book

- Authoritativeness

- Inclusion in standard bibliographies or indexes

- Price

- Suitability of physical form for library use, as well as type and legibility

- Favorable reviews from multiple sources

 MATERIALS SELECTION FOR CHILDREN

Materials for children are selected specifically for different ages, interests and development levels. Books, magazines, electronic resources and audiovisual materials should be made available to give children immediate reading pleasure; satisfy their curiosity and desire for information on all subjects; and encourage a love of reading through this satisfaction and enjoyment as well as a feeling of security in the knowledge that there are sources to which they can go for information and pleasure. Selection is made by the same standards which apply to adult materials with these additional criteria applied:

- Suitability of content and vocabulary to age level

- Quality of visual art

- Contribution to an appreciation of reading

Well-written books of imaginative fiction and those which authentically portray a period, incident or way of life are selected despite the occasional use of an unacceptable word or illustration, provided the total impact of the book meets other basic criteria.

 Parents or legal guardians have the responsibility of selecting any materials that their children may borrow. The library does not act in loco parentis. 

 MATERIALS SELECTION FOR YOUNG ADULTS

Young adult literature is chosen according to the criteria above. However, recognizing the unique requirements of this age group, additional criteria to be considered are as follows: 

- Inclusion of a wide range of subjects to meet the recreational reading interests of young adults

- Recognition that 12 to 18-year old's have many reading levels

- Selection of materials which encourage continued reading, and which broaden the experiences of young adults

- Portrayal of people of all ages honestly

- Recognition of special characteristics of the teenage years: awareness of self, uncertainty and idealism often covered by aggression; need for a “hero” image and the close relationship with a peer group coupled with the need to conform to that group; breaking away from the family unit; uncertainty about the future while beginning to evaluate his or her own set of beliefs; sudden changes of interests, ideas, values and attitudes; and a desire to accept responsibility while striving for adult maturity.

 WHEN LIBRARY MATERIAL IS CHALLENGED

The choice of library materials by users is an individual matter. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for the materials their children borrow. While a person may reject materials for themselves or for their children, they cannot exercise censorship to restrict access to the materials by others. Citizens wishing reconsideration of library materials must complete the “Avondale Public Library Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources” in its entirety and follow instructions therein. A copy of the complaint form will be mailed to American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee. 

 REPLACEMENT OF MATERIALS

The library will not automatically replace all materials withdrawn because of loss, damage, or wear.  Decisions will be based on the following considerations:

• Demand for the specific title
• Number of copies held
• Availability of newer and better materials on the subject
• Available funding

 DE-SELECTION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS

The Avondale Public Library recognizes the need to continuously evaluate its collections in response to the changing nature and needs of its community through the weeding (i.e., removal from the collection or de-selection), replacement, and duplication of its titles. Weeding is a necessary function of selection because it systematically eliminates outdated materials, titles which are no longer of interest or in demand, unnecessary duplicates, and worn or mutilated copies. Materials which are removed from the library’s collection will be sold to our approved vendors, sold in library book sales, donated to local organizations, given away at community events, thrown away or recycled.

 GIFTS

Gifts and donations made to the library will be integrated into the collection following the same criteria used for selection. Any donations not used in the collection will be sold to our approved vendors, sold in library book sales, donated to local organizations, given away at community events, thrown away or recycled.

 LOCAL AUTHORS            

Donated copies of books written by local authors are accepted at the library; however inclusion within the library collection will be determined by library staff following general selection criteria. Local books will not be considered for purchase unless they are available through our vendor.

 NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Avondale Public Library will acquire various resource materials in various formats as these formats become available, as dictated through demand, availability and price.