Mission Statement
The mission of the Aurora Public Library District is to enhance the quality of life for the citizens in the community by providing easily accessible materials, services, and programs which promote life-long learning and which meet the educational, informational, recreational and personal needs of individuals of all ages in the community.
Definition
The phrase “Library materials” as it occurs in this policy includes, but is not limited to, books, periodicals, software, microforms, audio, video, CD-ROM and online sources.
Collection Development Goal
To provide and make accessible a balanced collection of retrospective and contemporary material in various media that are responsive to a broad range of community interests and needs.
Intellectual Freedom
Selections are made on the merit of the work as it relates to the Library’s goals and objectives as set in the mission statement and serves the expressed or anticipated needs and interest of the community. The Library recognizes that many materials are controversial and that any given item may offend some users. Selections will not be made on the basis of any assumed approval or disapproval. An attempt will be made to represent differing viewpoints, values, philosophies, cultures, and religions whenever possible, within the range of materials published. Material which is biased or which represents only one point of view may be selected to provide necessary alternative to other material. Material should not be removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. Inclusion of questionable language, visual content, or attitudes in materials is not in itself reason to exclude it from the collection.
Library material will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of the contents, and no item will be sequestered except for the express purpose of protecting it from damage or theft.
The Library Board of Trustees has adopted the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights”, “The Freedom to Read”, and “The Freedom to View” statements. These statements are included in the Board Bylaws and here as appendices to this policy and interpreted to include all Library material regardless of format.
Responsibilities for the use of the Library’s collection by children age eighteen and under, rest with their parents and legal guardians. The Board of Trustees of the Library believes that parents (or legal guardians) are the only ones with the right and responsibility to restrict the access of their own children to Library resources. The Library does not stand in loco parentis, under federal and state civil rights and anti-discrimination laws; it is illegal for a Library to prohibit access to minors.
In order to ensure effective communication between the Library and the community concerning the range of ideas and information in the Library collection, the Library maintains a materials evaluation procedure. The “Citizen’s Comment of Library Material” form is included in this document.
Objectives of Selection
The Library’s primary objectives are to acquire, organize and make available print and non-print materials of interest to Library constituents, including works of contemporary significance and works of enduring value. The Library also recognizes an immediate duty to offer materials for enlightenment and recreation, even though such materials may not have enduring interest or value. The collection is not archival. It is reviewed and revised on an on-going basis to meet contemporary needs.
Considering space and budget limitations, the Library selects materials to provide a balanced collection. The Library collection includes both works of current interest and those of lasting value. Materials are selected in accordance with standards appropriate to the subject matter and to the needs of the community.
The Library, however, does not feel obligated to have materials in order to answer every question. In some cases, the material needed is very obscure or specialized; the patron may then be best served by referral to another institution or individual, or through the interlibrary loan program.
Responsibility for Selection
Final responsibility for materials selection lies with the Library Director, operating within the framework of this selection policy as adopted by the Board of Trustees. It is at the discretion of the Director who in turn delegates selection responsibility and the authority to interpret and guide the application of policy in day-to-day selection decisions to Library staff. Unusual problems are referred to the Director for resolution.
Selection Criteria
All acquisitions, whether purchased or donated, will be selected in accordance with one or more of the following standards and criteria:
- Critical reviews and information in professionals selection aids
- Effectiveness of style, format, and content for intended audience
- Need for variety and balance of viewpoints and subjects within the collection
- Relation to existing collection and other materials on the subject
- Reputation and significance of author, publisher, director, composer and/or artist
- Patron interest
- Cost
- Contemporary significance or permanent value
Format
The Library recognizes that many materials are controversial and that any give item may offend some patrons. The choice of Library materials by users is an individual matter. A person may reject certain items for himself/herself or for his/her family, but he/she does not have the right to restrict access to these materials by others. Selection will not be made on the basis of any anticipated approval or disapproval, but on the merits of the work as it relates to the criteria listed. Materials are evaluated as a whole and not on the basis of a particular passage or passages.
The Library cannot limit its selection to materials suitable for children and adolescents, but must consider its adult audience; therefore, some materials may be deemed by parents as inappropriate for their children. Since parents’ feelings differ and children of the same age differ greatly in levels of maturity, the Library will not act as judge of what materials a child is mature enough to borrow. This responsibility must remain with the parent.
Textbooks are primarily the responsibility of the schools and are added to the collection only to supply information not available in other materials.
New formats will be considered for the collection when, by industry reports, national survey results, evidence from local requests, and a significant portion of the community has the necessary technology to make use of the format. Availability of items in the format, the cost per item, and the Library’s ability to acquire and handle the items will also be factors in determining when a new format will be collected. Similar consideration will influence the decision to delete a format from the Library’s collection.
Selection Tools
Tools used in selection include professional journals, trade journals, subject bibliographies, frequent reference requests, publishers’ promotional materials and representatives, and reviews from reputable sources. The Library will use approval plans and standing orders to purchase materials in selected genres and formats. Purchase suggestions from patrons are welcome and provide librarians with useful information about interests or needs that may not be adequately met by the collection. Patron suggestions will be governed by this Collection Development Policy in making additions to or deleting items from the collection.
Multiple Copies
While the Library does not have the budget to buy multiple copies of every title it owns, it does buy multiple copies of titles having high patron demand. When there are several reserves on a specific title, additional copies may be purchased. In subject areas where the interest is in the subject more than in a particular title, the Library prefers to buy a copy of several different titles instead of buying numerous copies of one title.
If at any time, the Library sponsors a large project, such as a special program, which requires the heavy duplication of materials, special funds may be appropriated or a sum may be set aside from the regular budget for this purpose.
Local History and Indiana Collection
This collection contains material on the history, description, and development of Aurora, Dearborn County, its residents, and to an extent, the state of Indiana. Many of these materials are available only within the Library with duplicate copies occasionally acquired to be made available for loan. Some background histories of the surrounding area are also included in the collection when available. The contents of the Local History collection remain exempt from rules of weeding.
Family History
The Library will acquire genealogical material related to Dearborn County. The Library attempts to include indexes to births, deaths, marriages, wills and land records, and when possible, indexes and compilations of the records for surrounding counties. Donations of family histories are accepted if any of the ancestors or descendants had or have ties with Dearborn County.
The Library purchases at least basic and current genealogical research guides and state historical society guides for states that had significant migrations to Indiana and that became destinations for groups leaving southern Indiana, and for the predominant countries of origin of the immigrants when available.
The Library purchases census microfilm for Dearborn County, as it becomes available. The Library accepts census indexes for areas surrounding Dearborn County.
Gift Materials
Materials donated to the Library are subject to the following guidelines: The Library retains the unconditional ownership of the gift. The Library makes the final decision on its use or other disposition of the gift. The Library reserves the right to decide the conditions of display, housing, and access to the materials.
Many donations consist of boxes or bags of materials, which are accepted on behalf of Friends of the Aurora Public Library District for book sale purposes. Staff who selects items desirable for the collection inspects these gifts. Donors may be given a receipt for such gifts, but the Library does not give appraisals of value. Gifts are not returned to the donor.
Authors, publishers, legislators and businesses frequently donate individual titles. These gifts are subject to the same selection criteria as materials purchased and are not returned if rejected for the collection.
Memorials
Memorial materials may be purchased with donor funds. An appropriate bookplate will be included in each gift identifying the donor and purpose of the donation.
Patron Requests
The Library encourages and at all times welcomes customer suggestions, comments, and ideas about the collection and its development. Purchase suggestions from patrons are welcome and provide librarians with useful information about interests or needs that may not be adequately met by the collection. Patron suggestions will be evaluated in terms of this Collection Development Policy in making additions to or deleting items from the collection. While every item patrons request may not be purchased, substantial effort will be made to acquire requested items through Interlibrary Loan.
Comment Request
Members of the community concerned with specific materials in the collection should discuss the material with the staff member and/or the Library Director. If a satisfactory resolution is not reached, the patron may complete a “Citizen’s Comment of Library Material” form.
Upon receipt of the completed form, the Library Director will ask Library staff for background information as to the criteria used in ordering the material in question, its relevance to the collection, and reasons for having the material in the collection.
The Library Director will, at the earliest possible date, study the information provided by the Library staff and respond, in writing, to the person who initiated the request for reconsideration.
If the person or persons initiating the request is not satisfied with the Library Director’s decision, he or she may make a written appeal to the decision to the Library Board of Trustees. Any person wishing to make such a written appeal should notify the Library Director of his or her intent, so that the subject can be placed on the agenda of the next Library board meeting.
Collection Maintenance
The Library strives to maintain a collection that meets the needs of the community. In doing so, a systematic weeding of the Library’s materials will improve the efficiency and vitality of the Library’s resources. Materials are withdrawn from the collection through weeding by staff or because of loss or physical damage. Materials that have been lost or damaged may be replaced using the same criteria as for selection. Weeding helps Library staff evaluate the collection by identifying areas or titles where additional materials are needed, older editions that need to be updated, and subjects, titles, or authors that are no longer of interest to the community. If Library staff is uncertain about a title to be withdrawn, standard bibliographic tools, and if necessary, subject experts, will be consulted to determine if the title has historical or literary value.