Harvey-Mitchell Memorial Library Collection Development Policy

Purpose:

The Harvey-Mitchell Memorial Library provides materials and resources that meet the interest of the community and support lifelong learning. Harvey-Mitchell Memorial Library strives to inform, enlighten, and empower every person in our community. The Library and the Library Board of Trustees uphold the democratic right of all Americans to freely express their thoughts and ideas, both popular and unpopular. This policy is established by the Library Board of Trustees to inform the public of the principles upon which the library makes decisions regarding the maintenance and use of the collection.

Responsibility for Selection of Materials:

The ultimate responsibility for selection of library materials rests with the Library Director who operates within the framework of the policies determined by the Board of Library Trustees. The general public and all staff members are welcome to recommend materials for selection. Collection management is a system-wide approach, allowing for the most effective and efficient use of staff time and funds.

Circulation, patron purchase requests and holds levels are all closely monitored, triggering the purchase of new items and additional copies of high demand items. The Library recognizes that materials selected for the collection may be controversial. Selections will be made, not on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits of the work in relation to building the collection, and to serving the needs of library users in accordance with the library’s stated goals.

Points considered in the selection of materials:

1. Objectionable language and vivid descriptions of sex and violence when dealt with realistically within the context of the book, movie, or work of art will not be criteria for rejecting the book.

2. The responsibility for children's choices in reading material rests with the parents and legal guardians. Selection of library material will not be limited by the possibility that it may come into the possession of minors.

3. Material is judged on the basis of the work as a whole, not by a part taken out of context.

5. Due to limited budget and space, the Library cannot purchase all materials that are requested. Interlibrary loan may be used to obtain materials from other libraries in New Hampshire For the use of our patrons or when a request is outside the scope of the collection.

Withdraw of Materials for the Collection:

The Director shall use the Continuous Review Evaluation Weeding (CREW) method of weeding (determining which materials, if any, should be removed from the Library collection at any given time). Materials may be discarded if such materials do not meet stated goals and are in one or more of the following categories:

  • Materials in which there is no longer an interest
  • Materials that are more than 5 years old and have not circulated for three

consecutive years

  • Duplicate materials
  • Materials that are torn or are in irreparable condition
  • Materials not listed in the Standard Catalog Series
  • Books that may or may not be considered classics.

In choosing to weed any particular materials, the Library Director must take all of these

factors into consideration and must decide the status of each material on an individual

basis. The Director may consult with the State Library on questionable materials. All

discarded materials shall be sold, donated to appropriate institutions, or destroyed.

Gifts/Donation of Materials:

The Harvey-Mitchell Memorial Library welcomes gifts of books and other materials with the understanding that it will evaluate them in accordance with the same criteria applied to purchase materials. Those that do not conform to the general selection criteria are generally not added to the collection. These items are in turn placed in the Friends of the Library’s book sale room or returned to the donor. The Library Director makes the final decision about whether or not to add a gift/donation to the library collection.

Collection Review Procedure:

The Harvey-Mitchell Memorial Library selects materials based on the criteria specified within this policy. The Library does not advocate particular views or beliefs but attempts to provide free access of a wellbalanced collection of topics, age levels and opinions to all members of the community. The ALALibrary Bill of Rights and The Freedom to Read Statement have been endorsed by the Harvey-Mitchell Memorial Library Board of Trustees and are integral parts of the policy (see appendices for these documents)

Each individual has the freedom and responsibility for making choices about what to read. No labels will be assigned to materials beyond those indicating subject and intended age. Children’s materials shall be shelved in the Youth Room and the remaining materials will be shelved in the Adult section.

Should an Epping community member or Epping library card holder object to a particular item owned by the Harvey-Mitchell Memorial Library the challenger shall be offered the opportunity of completing a “Request for Reconsideration of a Library Resource” form (see below) to be submitted to the Library Director.

The request shall be reviewed by the Library Director and the material will be evaluated based on the complaint. The Library Director will issue a written decision to the challenger. The Library Board will be notified at the next public meeting. Persons still wishing to express concerns to the Board about materials in the collection will be heard during a regular meeting under the agenda item, “Public Input”, or at another time designated by the Board for public expression. In the event of an appeal, the decision of the Library Board of Trustees is final.