Materials Selection

LIBRARY OBJECTIVES

Tilton Library endeavors through its collections, programs and services to help meet the informational, cultural, and recreational needs of Deerfield residents.  A top priority of the Library is to provide popular materials to library patrons who are composed primarily of working and retired adults, students, and preschoolers.  A secondary role is to provide support for the educational endeavors of children from preschool through high school by offering a carefully selected collection of books and skilled personal guidance.

The Library provides services to all, within the context of the above objectives, regardless of race, creed, color, occupation or financial position.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR MATERIALS SELECTION

Ultimate responsibility for the materials selection policy lies with the Board of Trustees.  The Board of Trustees delegates to the Director the selection of library materials and the development of the collection.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The objective of selection is to collect those books and other Library materials that will inform, entertain and contribute to the enrichment of the mind and spirit.  Selection decisions are made on the basis of staff judgment and expertise, patron requests and by evaluating reviews in library reviewing journals and other library selection tools.  Materials are evaluated on the significance of the entire work rather than individual parts.  The following principles will guide selection:

• current usefulness or permanent value

• authority and accuracy

• importance as a record of the times

• relation to the existing collection

• relative importance in comparison to other works on the subject

• high standards of quality in content, format and binding

• price, availability and demand

• availability of materials in other libraries within the consortium

The Library will review decisions regarding specific materials upon written request.  A form for this purpose is available at the circulation desk.

MATERIALS SELECTION FOR CHILDREN

The principles stated above in the adult materials selection criteria are applicable to the selection of materials for children.  The Library cooperates with the school libraries so that the services of the two agencies may complement each other.  The major function of the school library is to provide curriculum related materials.  Tilton Library seeks to provide a more comprehensive collection.  The children’s collection is carefully selected for children of all ages, with emphasis on materials which stimulate imagination, entertain, develop reading ability and that provide sound information and understanding of the world they live in.

USE OF LIBRARY MATERIALS

The collection of Tilton Library is available to all community residents and registered borrowers during regular Library hours.  Library materials are not marked to show approval or disapproval of the contents, and no book or other item is sequestered except for the purpose of protecting it from injury or theft.  The use of rare or scholarly items of value is controlled to the extent required to protect them from harm.

Responsibility for the use of materials by children and young adults rests with their parents or legal guardians.  The selection of materials for the adult collection and access to it is not restricted by the fact that children may obtain materials their parents consider objectionable.

SCOPE OF THE COLLECTION

The Library recognizes that it is impossible for a small library to provide a balanced and comprehensive collection that is strong enough to meet all community needs.  As a member of C/WMARS, an automated resource sharing network, and WMRLS, a state supported regional library system, Tilton Library supplements its resources with materials borrowed from other libraries through these larger entities.

Textbooks are not ordinarily purchased by the Library unless material in another form is not conveniently available.

The Library acknowledges a particular interest in works of local authors and for this reason will endeavor to collect materials by authors from Deerfield and neighboring towns. 

GIFTS

The Library welcomes gifts of books and other materials with the understanding that it will evaluate them in accordance with the criteria applied to purchased materials.  The Library cannot appraise gift materials for tax purposes.  The Library will, upon request, provide receipts which indicate the number and condition of items received.  When the Library receives a cash gift for the purchase of memorial books or collections, the selection will be made by the Library.  The name of the donor or person memorialized will be designated on a special bookplate.

COLLECTION MAINTENANCE

In order to maintain a collection which is current, reliable, in good condition, well used, and which relates to the needs and interests of the residents of Deerfield, materials are withdrawn on a systematic and continuing basis.  Materials are discarded when they are judged to be dated, inaccurate, seldom used, in poor condition or otherwise no longer appropriate.  The criteria used in selection also apply to the process of withdrawing material from the collection.  Replacement materials will be considered using the same criteria for the selection of new materials.

Materials withdrawn from Tilton Library will be disposed of in a manner consistent with their quality and condition.  Materials no longer useful to the Library may be given to other libraries or sold for the benefit of the Library.  Materials removed because of dated content or poor condition will be discarded. 

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM

Tilton Library endorses the principles of the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement adopted by the American Library Association which are appended.

REVISION STATEMENT

This statement of policy will be revised as times and circumstances require.

ADDENDA

1.  Library Bill of Rights – adopted June 18, 1948, amended February 2, 1967, and June 23, 1980 by the American Library Association (ALA) Council

2.  Freedom to Read Statement – adopted June 25, 1953; revised January 28, 1972, January 16, 1991, by the ALA Council and the AAP Freedom to Read Committee

3. Request for Reconsideration Form

Approved Board of Trustees October 4, 2006, revised November 5, 2008 and December 3, 2008