COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT

The Advisory Board and The Library of Graham have adopted the following Collection Development Policy to guide the library director and to inform the public about the principles upon which library collections are developed and maintained.

In keeping with its mission, The Library of Graham acquires and makes available materials that inform, educate, entertain, and enrich individuals within our community. Since no library can possibly acquire all print and non-print materials, every library must employ a policy of selectivity in acquisitions. The library provides within its financial limitations, a general collection of reliable materials embracing broad areas of knowledge. Included are works of enduring value and timely materials on current issues. Within the framework of these broad objectives, selection is based on community demographics and evidence of areas of interest.

Other community resources are taken into consideration when developing collections. Through interlibrary loan, libraries may obtain materials from other sources. Additional information may be obtained through electronic access and the internet. New formats will be considered for the collection when a significant portion of the community population has the necessary technology to make use of the format.

Impartial and judicious selection will be exercised in all materials acquisition practices. Allocation of the materials budget and the number of items purchased for each area of the collection will be determined by indicators of use, the average cost per item, and objectives for development of the collection as determined by the library director.

The library supports the individual’s right to access ideas and information representing all points of view. To this end, the library welcomes and solicits patron suggestions, comments, and ideas about the collection and its development.

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES

• To provide materials that meet patrons’ interests and needs in a timely manner.
• To provide materials and programming to preschool and grade school children to encourage and promote continued use of the library.
• To provide a broadly based and diverse collection that can support the roles of the library as a popular materials center, a reference center, and an independent learning center.
• To strive to provide a balance of viewpoints on all subjects in its collection.
• To purchase current materials, proportionate to levels of demand and use, taking care to anticipate and respond to indications of significant new needs.
• To practice ongoing collection management, using output measure, reports from the library management system, and other data for continuous collections evaluation. Worn, obsolete, and dated materials will be weeded from the collection on a regular basis.
• To keep abreast of technological changes which affect the development of the collection.
• To be aware of the resources available in surrounding libraries and to avoid duplication of resources while ensuring wide coverage of subjects.
• To continue participation in cooperative programs concerning collection development of shared resources as a member of the North Texas Regional Library System.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION

Ultimate responsibility for materials selection rest with the library director who operates withing the framework of policies determined by them and the Library Advisory Board. The library director will select materials for purchase, weed the collection, see that materials are in good physical condition and spend the materials allocation budget in a timely and organized manner.

CONSIDERATIONS IN SELECTION

Selection is a discerning and interpretative process, involving a general knowledge of the subject and recognition of the needs of the community. Materials are evaluated based on the content and style of the work, not by selected portions or passages. The library strives to collect and make available differing points of view.

Among standard criteria applied are: literary merit, enduring value, accuracy, authoritativeness, social significance, and importance of the subject matter to the collection. Cost, scarcity of material on the subject, ease of use, availability elsewhere, and popular demand. Quality and suitability of format are also considered. At all times, the library director should strive to select materials that will build a well-rounded collection that includes varying viewpoints and opinions which will meet supplementary study needs.

A work will not be excluded from the library’s collection solely because it represents a particular aspect of life, because of frankness of expression, or because it is controversial.

SELECTION TOOLS

Tools used in selection include professional journals, trade journals, subject bibliographies, publisher’s promotional materials, and reviews from reputable sources.

ACCESS

No item will be sequestered, except for the purpose of protecting it from damage or theft. There will be no labeling of any item to indicate its point of view or bias. The library assures free access to its holdings for all patrons, who are free to select or reject for themselves any item in the collection. Individual or group prejudice about a particular item or type of material in the collection may not preclude its use by others. Children are not limited to the children’s collection, although that collection is kept separate from other library collections to facilitate use. Responsibility for a child’s reading must rely solely upon the parent or guardian, not with the library.

WEEDING OF MATERIALS

Titles are withdrawn from the library’s collection through systematic weeding by the library director or because of loss or physical damage. Materials that have been lost or damaged may be replaced using the same criteria as for selection. Other factors, which the library director may consider when deciding on replacements are the availability of new materials on the subject, the importance of the work in its field, its listing in standard bibliographies, and its cost.

RECONSIDERATION OF MATERIALS

The library director should be contacted when a request for reconsideration is made by a patron as to the followed procedure.

GIFTS

The Library of Graham is grateful for the thoughtfulness of many contributors whose gifts have enriched the library’s collection. These gifts serve as a bond between the library, its patrons, and the community.

CASH GIFTS

Donations of cash directly support the library. Your financial donations are tax exempt. Gifts of money are the management responsibility of the library director and the City of Graham’s financial office. Donors may request designation of the gift for adult materials, youth materials, or materials in other languages. The library director reserves the right to apply financial gifts to needs best suited for the collection.

MEMORIAL GIFTS

Funds for the purchase of memorials are accepted with the responsibility for selection resting with the library director following consultation with the donor on appropriate subjects. The immediate family is notified promptly of any memorial gift and acknowledgment is made to the donor.

DONATIONS OF BOOKS AND AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS

In accepting a gift of materials, the library reserves the privilege of deciding whether items donated should be added to its collection. Gift materials must meet the same collection development guidelines used by the library director in the purchase of new materials.

DONATION OF ART OBJECTS AND OTHER ITEMS

The library has been fortunate in receiving pieces of fine art and equipment from donors. Although such gifts are usually welcomed and valued, final decision on their acceptance rests with the library director and advisors.

LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION AND PHOTOGRAPHS

The library of Graham will attempt to identify, collect, and preserve copies of all books and other published materials related to the history of our community for enduring historical value. The library will also cooperate with the Young County Museum of History and Culture for preservation, digitization, and creating on-line sharing of visual databases.