Collection Development Policy

Materials Selection Guidelines

	MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Bloomfield Township Public Library is to make information and resources accessible for residents to meet their intellectual, educational, cultural and recreational needs. The Library's mission will be fulfilled through the roles of Popular Materials Library, Reference, and Children's Door to Learning and the additional function of Community Activities Center. GOALS OF MATERIAL SELECTION & COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT Bloomfield Township Public Library is a community service institution which collects, accesses and organizes books and other print, non-print, visual, audio, CD-ROM or online material so that it is easily accessible to all of its users. Material is acquired and maintained by the library to provide for the educational, informational, cultural, civic and recreational needs of the community it serves. Materials are selected to provide for the needs and interests, both immediate and future of Bloomfield Township residents. Recognizing the impossibility of one library's collection fulfilling the needs and desires of all its users, consideration is given to the accessibility of other library resources along with support for cooperative efforts to develop and show these resources. In selecting materials for the library, the professional staff consults a wide range of reviewing media, negative or positive. Considerations depend also on the availability of material and the availability of funds. The staff endeavors to exercise professional judgement and bases its decision for purchase or rejection on several criteria characteristics. The professional staff of the library recognizes that the responsibility for the selection of these books requires a sensitivity to the community and unbiased critical evaluation. RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION Under policies determined by the Library Board, the Library Director has the responsibility for overseeing this collection of materials. Actual selection is performed by members of the professional staff under the guidance of the Director and Deputy Director. SELECTION CRITERIA Judicious use of revenue and attainment of the library's mission require that those persons charged with selection of materials for the Bloomfield Township Public Library weigh several variables in making selections. Factors affecting the choice of materials include availability of space, client demand, relevance of the materials to the Strategic Plan and restrictions of budget. Listed below are the selection criteria for Bloomfield Township Public Library. Public need, both current and future. Relation of work to existing collections. Need for collection depth, breadth and variety. Serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. Local or regional interest and significance. Accuracy of information. (The information is current, correct, and as far as possible, free from unfounded or irrational bias. Opposing viewpoints are represented in the total collection, if not always in individual works.). Historical value. Authority and reputations of author(s), composer(s), director(s) and publisher(s). Favorable review by individuals with expertise in the subject. Recognition as award-winning or "classic" work. Quality of production. Appropriateness for the intended audience. Inclusion of work in indexes, bibliographies and mediagraphies. Price. Availability of material elsewhere in Bloomfield Township community. Special features (such as plates, indexes, bibliographies, etc.). Facility of use. Popular demand. Uniqueness of data included in an electronic database or enhancement of access to data because of format. These selection criteria apply to all materials, regardless of format or intended age level. To fully serve the varied education, cultural, recreational and informational needs and demands of the library's diverse public, the library includes the acquisition of a wide range of non-print materials. The selection of non-print materials is based ultimately on the same principles as those applied to the selection of print materials. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS Gifts Donations of materials and funds to purchase materials will be accepted with the understanding that the library reserves the right of determining if, and in what manner, the donated items should be used. Gifts of materials and items donated become the property of the Library, and are accepted with the understanding that they are subject to the same selection criteria as are applied to purchased materials. Items not considered desirable for our collection may be passed on to another institution or library, or the Friends of the Library for their sale(s). Acknowledgement of gifts for tax records may be provided, but appraisal of the value of donated items is not made. Maintenance of the Collection The collection will be periodically examined for the purpose of eliminating obsolete or unneeded materials, and for binding or repair of materials, in order to maintain a balanced, attractive and useful collection which meets the needs of the community. Request for Reconsideration of Material If a complaint is received about library materials, a complaint for entitled Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials is given to the patron to complete. When the form is completed it will be given to the appropriate Department Head for review and the patron will receive a written response. All complaints are considered seriously and will be addressed through a formal review process. See Appendix 12, Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials. SUPPORTING PHILOSOPHY One of the many responsibilities of a public library is to help ensure that constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and the press are enjoyed by all. Collection development at Bloomfield Township Public Library recognizes diversity of viewpoint in the community and the nation. Bloomfield Township Public Library subscribes to the principles express in the following documents of the American Library Association: Library Bill of Rights The Freedom to Read Statement Diversity in Collection Development: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights Free Access to libraries for Minors: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights Statement on Labeling: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights Expurgation of Library Materials: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights Evaluating Library Collections: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights Challenged Materials : An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights Restricted Access to Library Materials: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights Freedom to View Statement Adopted by the Bloomfield Township Public Library Board of Trustees September 1993.


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