RESOLUTION NO. 80-79

RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A MATERIALS SELECTION POLICY FOR THE FOREST GROVE CITY LIBRARY

WHEREAS, City Library has been established to serve the citizens of Forest Grove; and

WHEREAS, funds are regularly expended for materials to add to the City Library's collection; and

WHEREAS, a written policy for the selection of those materials is necessary to guide city library staff in their selection and to inform the city's citizens of the policy under which materials monies are expended.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF FOREST GROVE AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Purpose.  This policy is written to provide the basic framework within which library staff will select material for the library collection.  Ultimate responsibility for selection of library materials belongs to the Library Director, who administers the library program under the supervision of the City Manager.

Section 2. Function of the City Library.  The City Library is a center for information and recreation in the community.  The library staff attempts to serve all members of the community by selecting, maintaining and loaning books, magazines and other library materials and by answering requests for specific information by either using the library collections or requesting information or materials from other agencies.

Section 3. Goals of Collection Building.  In selecting materials for the library, the staff shall pursue the following goals:

• Diversity:  Are the wide range of interests and needs of community members being met by the library collection; does the collection reflect the reading abilities of the community; does the item in question fill an unmet need?
• Timeliness:  Is the item in question up-to-date if current information is important to the subject:
• Balance:  If the subject matter of the item in question is controversial, does it provide a responsible, authoritative expression of one of the sides of the controversy; if it were not purchased, would the collection tend to either ignore or represent just one viewpoint on an issue of public debate?
• Existing Collection:  Does the material add to the collection's ability to fill public need, as expressed in these goals, or is it unnecessarily redundant?
• Cooperative Agreements:  Do inter-library agreements make this kind of material readily available on loan from other libraries, or is it the kind of item our library should provide directly?
• Popular Demand:  Have there been patron requests for materials on this subject or for this particular title?
• Probably Use:  Will our patrons use this item?  How often?  Will multiple copies be necessary to meet demand?
• Format:  Will this item hold up to repeated use?  If it is in a medium that requires special equipment for use, do a significant number of library users own or have access to such equipment?
• Historical Preservation:  Does the material reflect the spirit, opinions, or events of the past?  Does it record details of local, national, or world history of value to today's library user?
• Quality:  Of the materials on the subject, is this one of the better written, authoritative titles?  Has it been favorably reviewed?
• Budget:  Does the purchase of the item deal with the factors above and fall within budgetary limitations?  Is there sufficient staff to prepare materials to loan, maintain, and circulate them?  What new staff demands will new media impose?

Section 4.  Selection Process.  The Reference Team uses the following criteria to create an annual Collection Development Statement:  budget, balance, circulation, trends, format and demographics.  Individual selectors base purchasing decisions on demand, availability, local community interest, county-wide collection, patron requests, cost of item, and interlibrary loan.

Section 5.  De-selection Process.  "Weeding" is the process of removing items from the collection when they no longer meet the Collection Building Goals due to age, format, condition and/or poor circulation.  Removal of an item may necessitate its replacement with something more current or in better physical condition.

Section 6.  Selection vs. Censorship.  The difference between selection and censorship is not just word-play--it defines the basic approach to collection development.

Selection takes all the goals above into account when considering the merits of a book or other written material.  Selection is positive in that, if a piece of material meetsd any of the goals, it is worth adding.  Censorship is negative in that the censor looks for some reason, however narrow, to reject a book.  The selector responds to the diversity of the community, seeks an inclusive collection, and favors liberty of thought.  The censor fears diversity and controversy, collects by exclusion and rejects liberty of thought.

It is the policy of the City Library that selection, not censorship, shall be the guiding principle in choosing materials for the library collection.

Section 7.  Request for Removal of Materials from the Library Collection.  Individuals or groups may request removal of an item from the library collection.  They may do so by talking to the Library Director or by filling out the attached form (Form I) and making an appointment with the Director to discuss their objections.

If the Director determines, after reviewing the material in question, that the material does not meet the letter or the spirit of the materials selection policy, he or she shall remove it from the collection and inform the complainant.  If the Director finds the material to be in keeping with the policy, it will be retained and the complainant informed, in writing, of the details of the Director's decision.

If the complainant wishes to pursue removal of the material, they shall meet with the Library Director and complete Form II (attached), which will be signed by the complainant, reproduced by the Director, and distributed to the Library Commission for action at their regularly scheduled meeting.

At this meeting, the Library Commission shall determine whether retention of the material would violate the letter and spirit of the materials selection policy.  The complainant is welcome to attend the public meeting.

If the commission votes to retain the material and the complainant wishes to pursue the request for removal, the City Council will ultimately decide whether the title is being retained in keeping with the letter and the spirit of the materials selection policy.

PRESENTED AND PASSED This 10th day of November, 1980.  I. M. Burnett, Recorder

APPROVED By the Mayor this 10th day of November, 1980.  James Geo. Hills, Mayor

FORM I

REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF A BOOK OR OTHER PIECE OF LIBRARY MATERIAL

DATE:

NAME OF COMPLAINANT:

ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE NUMBER:

AUTHOR OF ITEM:

TITLE:

PUBLISHER AND DATE OF PUBLICATION, IF KNOWN:

HAVE YOU READ THE FOREST GROVE LIBRARY'S MATERIALS SELECTION POLICY?

IF SO, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THE INCLUSION OF THIS ITEM IN THE LIBRARY'S COLLECTION VIOLATES THIS POLICY?

FORM II

Forest Grove City Library
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF AN ITEM
CONFERENCE REPORT

Date:

Author:
Title:
Publisher:

Request initiated by:
Address:
Telephone:

Complainant represents
Him/Herself  _______
Group or Organization  _______

1. Why do you object to this item?
2. To what specifically do you object?
3. What do you feel may be the result of reading/watching/listening to this item?
4. For what age group would you recommend this item?
5. Is there anything good about this item?
6. Did you read/watch/listen to the entire item? Yes____ No____  If not, which parts?
7. What do you believe to be the theme of this item?
8. Are you aware of the judgment of this item by professional critics?
9. What review of this item have you seen?
10. What would you like your library to do about this item?

Signature of complainant ____________________________________________