GUIDING PRINCIPLES AND INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM [Table of contents]
To provide a resource where free people can examine many points of view and make informed decisions is one of the essential purposes of the public library in America. The Alachua County Library District subscribes fully to the principles of the American Library Association's "LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS” and "FREEDOM TO READ" statements and accompanying interpretations (see Appendix 1 Library Bill of Rights Policy); and recognizes its responsibility to provide diverse materials within service level guidelines and limitations of space, budget, and availability. ACLD does not promulgate particular beliefs or views, nor is the selection of any given item equivalent to endorsement of the viewpoint of the author or producer.
The collection is designed to serve the needs and interests of the community as a whole. Selections are made on the merits of the work in building balanced collections. ACLD recognizes that many materials are controversial but the selections cannot be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval. Nor can the selection process be inhibited by the fact that children and young adults have access to the entire collection. Parents or guardians who wish to limit or restrict the use of library materials by their own children should personally oversee their selections.
ACLD welcomes expression of opinion by patrons but does not attempt to please all patrons by purchasing items or eliminating items purchased after due deliberation under this policy. Whenever censorship is involved, no book and/or library material will be removed from ACLD except by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction, unless the reconsideration process has been completed and the recommendation is to remove the material. The library will reconsider any material upon written request. (See Patron Comment on Library Materials form in Appendix 2).
The Alachua County Library District has a long history of providing materials in various formats to citizens with disabilities. ACLD will build on this tradition in order to comply with all pertinent provisions of the Americans With Disabilities Act.
MATERIALS SELECTION PROCESS [Table of contents]
Selection is a judgmental and interpretive process, involving: general knowledge of the subject and its important literature; familiarity with the materials in the collection and needs of the community; reviews; publishers' advertising. Patrons and staff members are encouraged to submit recommendations.
These criteria are considered in materials selection whether the item is purchased or donated:
Popular interest
Contemporary significance or permanent value
Currency of information
Accuracy
Local emphasis
Readability or ability to sustain interest
Treatment of subject to age of intended audience
Reputation of author, performer/composer, publisher, producer or illustrator
Creative, literary or technical quality
Critical assessments in a variety of review sources
Format and ease of use
Circulation as monitored through the automated system
Cost and availability
Relation to existing materials in collection
Relationship to materials in other area libraries
As part of ACLD’s goal to be responsive to patron demand and community needs, methods of patron-driven acquisitions and demand-driven acquisitions of materials are continuously being investigated, and will be used in situations where the methods are efficient, effective, and provide material of use to the community in needed formats, whether digital or physical.
More:
https://www.aclib.us/collection-development-policy#purpose
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