Administrative Policy #10.12 - Library Collection Development
Purpose
To define collection development principles that support the Library’s mission and core values. to provides direction for the growth and development of collections and to communicate these guiding principles to library staff and the public.
Scope
Applies to materials selected for inclusion in the Library's collection.
Procedure
General Principles of Collection Development
a. Selection of materials does not constitute or imply agreement with or approval of the content, viewpoint, implications, or presentation of the materials.
b. Individual items which in and of themselves may be controversial or offensive to some, may appropriately be selected if their inclusion in the collection will contribute to the overall value of the collection to the community served.
c. The Library believes that reading, listening, viewing or other uses of library materials are individual, private matters. While anyone is free to select or reject materials, the freedom of others to read or inquire cannot be restricted. The Library does not stand "in loco parentis." Parents and guardians have the responsibility to guide and direct the reading, listening, viewing, and other choices of their own minor child(ren).
Selection Authority and Criteria
a. Selection of Library materials is vested in the Director of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library. The Director may authorize members of the staff who are qualified by education and/or training to assist with selection.
b. Factors to be considered in adding specific materials to the Library collection will include but are not limited to:
- present collection composition,
- collection development objectives,
- public demand, interest, or need,
- relation to existing collection,
- timeliness of information,
- intended audience,
- significance of subject,
- diversity of viewpoint,
- an original or alternative point of view,
- physical condition of the material,
- local emphasis,
- effective expression,
- significance of creator,
- availability through contracted vendors and other local libraries, and
- budget and space limitations.
No materials will be excluded because of the identity, actions or views of the author or creator.
c. The public may suggest the acquisition of items and subjects to be considered for inclusion in the Library collection. Suggestion forms will be available at all service points and on the Library's website.
Concerns and Complaints Regarding Materials
a. An individual questioning material in the Library collection may ask the Library staff about such materials. The individual will be directed to a designated staff member who will discuss the matter with the individual and give them a copy of this document.
b. An individual who still questions Library materials may state their opinion in writing on a form provided by the Library. Only reconsideration requests from individuals who live, work, go to school, or own property in the Library district will be reviewed. Anonymous requests will not be considered.
c. After the Director receives the completed form, the reconsideration request and the material in question will be reviewed by the Selection Review Committee. The Review Committee, designated annually by the Director, determines if the material meets the criteria of this document.
d. The decision will be forwarded to the individual in writing as soon as practical. Materials that are being questioned will remain in circulation while undergoing the review process.
e. The Library considers all materials selected in alignment with this document to be constitutionally protected under the First Amendment unless the materials are determined unprotected by judicial action. Material under court consideration will remain in the active collection and not be considered for removal until the judicial determination is made and all appeals completed.
f. If the material has been previously reconsidered, it will not be reconsidered again unless the more recent request is based on substantially different reasons than previous requests.
g. Individuals wishing to request a review of the reconsideration process to ensure the material was properly reviewed by the Library Director and Selection Review Committee may express their concerns to the Library Advisory Board. They may do this via a written statement to the Board or may speak during a regularly scheduled Library Advisory Board meeting under the agenda item "Community Comments."
h. The Library Advisory Board, as advisors to library staff, after hearing a individual’s complaint, will determine if the material has been reviewed in accordance with this document and that appropriate Library procedures have been followed. This decision is considered final.
Access to Collection
a. The library collection will be organized and maintained to facilitate access. The Library will not label, sequester, or alter materials because of controversy surrounding the material.
Discarding Library Materials
a. Discarding materials from the collection is an important part of maintaining the Library collection. The discard practices of the Library will include the same consideration factors as the selection policy and are not intended to sanction removal of Library materials based upon any controversy.
Goals
The Library collection, consisting of various formats, will be selected and maintained to provide materials to assist each individual to acquire or to adapt the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in self-government, to become more productive, to achieve economic success, and to enhance humanity and the enjoyment of life according to the full exercise of free choice.
The Library collection will be an excellent and diverse source of information. In pursuit of excellence, the Library collection will include as wide a selection as possible and subjects will be covered in sufficient depth to meet anticipated and expressed needs. Diversity is pursued by attempting to meet the needs of all ages, backgrounds, and educational levels, by providing alternative perspectives on popular, unpopular or unorthodox materials, and by broadly reflecting various racial, ethnic and social groups on all issues of general concern.
The Corvallis-Benton County Public Library recognizes that American democracy functions only if the full range of human thought and ideas are accessible to the people and if proponents of various points of view are free to fully and openly make their cases, however popular or unpopular they may be, before the individual and collective judgment of their fellow citizens.
This principle is guaranteed in the First Amendment of the Constitution, which protects the free expression of ideas. The Library’s collection, protected by the First Amendment and the Oregon Constitution, is a marketplace of ideas contained in varied and divergent materials.
The collection of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library is designed to fulfill this ideal. Forms of expression that are unprotected by the First Amendment will not be included in the collection.
Guidelines
The Corvallis-Benton County Public Library is guided by the following American Library Association statements on access to information:
- The Library Bill of Rights
- Freedom to Read Statement
- Freedom to View Statement
- American Library Association: Selection and Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for Public, School & Academic Libraries
- Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights: Access to Digital Resources and Services
- Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights: Challenged Resources
- Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights: Diverse Collections
- Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights: Evaluating Library Collections
- Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights: Expurgation of Library Materials
- Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights: Restricted Access to Library Materials
Forms of expression that are unprotected by the First Amendment: The Supreme Court has recognized limited categories of speech that the government may regulate because of their content. The Court generally identifies these categories as obscenity, defamation, fraud, incitement, fighting words, true threats, speech integral to criminal conduct, and child pornography.
Definitions
Collection/s: The entirety of materials and resources of all types available for use (whether circulating or library-use only) by the general public.
in loco parentis: in place of a parent
Review/Update
The Library Director will prepare this Administrative Procedure for review as needed for City Manager approval.
Last reviewed: 01-2024
