Policy Effective Date: 5/1/2018

The library seeks to provide access to a broad and balanced collection that reflects the ideal that public libraries have a professional responsibility to be inclusive, not exclusive, in selecting materials for the library collection. The library may provide access to materials even if such materials offend a library staff member or some members of the community. Selection and retention decisions are made to support the mission and vision of the library. This policy is intended to guide staff in managing the library’s resources to meet the needs and wants of the community. It shall not overrule or otherwise inhibit the professional judgement of trained library staff.

1. Selection
   1. The inclusion of any material in the library collection does not signify the endorsement or approval of said material by the library staff, administration, or the Board of Trustees. Because its ability to purchase and store materials is limited by both budgetary restrictions and physical space, the library has established criteria for the addition and retention of library materials. These criteria may be applied to all formats and include, but are not limited to:
      1. Relevance to the library’s vision, mission, goals, and to the community
      2. Educational significance
      3. Recommendations by professionals
      4. Availability of material to purchase from the library’s regularly used vendors
      5. Availability of material in the collections of libraries within the consortium
      6. Timeliness and importance for contemporary society
      7. Suitability of subject and method of presentation for intended audience
      8. Relationship to existing collection and other media in the same subject field
      9. Accuracy as reviewed by professional experts
      10. Representative expression of controversial or minority points of view
      11. Suitability of physical form to library use; the library refrains from purchasing most text books unless demand and physical formatting of material meets the needs of the general public
      12. Cost and availability of funds
   2. An item will not be added to or barred from the collection solely because of:
      1. An author’s race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or political/social views
      2. A work’s depictions or descriptions of violence or sexual activity
      3. A work’s controversial content
      4. An author or work’s endorsement or disapproval by any individual or community group
   3. Selecting librarians rely on many professional tools for selection including library and publisher journals, reviews, etc. as guides for inclusion of materials into the collection under the above guidelines.
2. Collection Maintenance
   1. The library strives to maintain a collection that is current, in good condition, well used, and which relates to the needs and interests of the community. Materials which are damaged, outdated, circulate less than similar materials in the collection, do not fit in available physical space, or are otherwise deemed to no longer meet the selection criteria by professional staff are subject to discard.
3. Gifts
   1. See 2.7.2 Gifts and Donations
   2. Acceptance of donated books or other materials does not imply materials will be added to the library collection. The library reserves the right to handle or dispose of donated materials in the best interest of the institution. Materials to be added to the collection must meet the library’s selection criteria.
4. Controversial Content
   1. The responsibility for monitoring a child’s reading, listening and viewing rests with the child’s parent or legal guardian. Selection of materials for the library is not restricted by the possibility that children may obtain materials that their parents or guardians consider inappropriate.
   2. Public libraries provide the vital opportunity to study various sides of an issue by obtaining materials containing opposing views on controversial topics, including those of an unorthodox and/or unpopular nature. Materials that meet the selection guidelines will not be removed from the collection nor will materials lacking these qualities be added because of pressure from groups or individuals.
   3. The library does not mark, label, or identify materials to show approval or disapproval of contents.
5. Request for Reconsideration
   1. Individuals may request reconsideration of a decision to select library material by submitting a written Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials form, available from any staff member.
   2. When a request for review is received, the administration will respond in writing and provide an explanation of the criteria used in selecting the item in question. Any appeal of this response will be referred to the library Board. The complainant will be informed in writing of the library’s Board of Trustees decision as soon as possible after the next Board meeting is held. The final responsibility for materials removal resides with the Board of Trustees. The title under consideration will remain in the collection throughout the process to support the freedom of other patrons to read, view, or listen.