Purpose
The Collection Development Plan serves as a guide for the selection and retention of materials for the Wells County Public Library. The Collection Management Policy is designed to support the library’s mission statement.
Responsibility
Accessibility of Materials
Selection of Materials
- Materials are chosen to enhance the mission of the library and its chosen role in the community.
- Materials should offer opportunity and encouragement for
- Pursuing life-long education.
- Examining all sides of issues.
- Keeping abreast of new ideas.
- Becoming informed citizens of the community, the nation, and the world.
- Improving occupational performance.
- Using leisure time in the enjoyment and exploration of books and other library materials.
- Discovering and developing creative abilities.
- The library’s goal is to be an information and reference center rather than to establish a scholarly research center.
- The library is under no obligation to collect the complete works of any author, performer, or creator.
- Multiple copies of works may be obtained in order to fulfill requests within a reasonable time period.
Selection Criteria
Materials are selected in accordance with one or more of the following guidelines:
- Artistic, literary, historic, or scientific merit.
- Availability of shelf space.
- Authority and competence of author, artist, producer, editor, or director.
- Availability of material.
- Awareness of significant new trends in literature, technology, and formats.
- Clarity and accuracy of information and presentation.
- Patron requests or anticipated popular demand.
- Favorable reviews.
- Format and durability.
- Practical usefulness.
- Price, in relation to total budget.
- Relationship to existing materials in collection.
- Relative importance in comparison with other materials available on the subject.
- Textbooks: Textbooks are selected when they meet the selection criteria and assist the library in fulfilling its roles. The library is under no obligation to purchase textbooks for curriculum support.
- Electronic Information Resources: Determining the accuracy or authenticity of electronic information may present special problems. Some information accessed electronically may not meet a library’s selection or collection development policy. It is, therefore, left to each patron to determine what information is appropriate to their needs.
Selection Aids
The following are representative of the aids used for selection of materials
- Professional Journals: Baker & Taylor Forecast, Booklist, Horn Book, Kirkus, Library Journal, New York Times Review of Books, School Library Journal, Video Librarian.
- Other: In addition, the following works may be consulted: Children’s Core Collection, general periodicals, Public Library Core Collection Nonfiction, Recommended Reference Books for Small and Medium-sized Libraries and Media Centers, trade journals, other authoritative subject bibliographies.
Local Author Collection
To support, encourage, and foster access to local talent, Wells County Public Library will maintain a Local Author Collection. The mission of the Local Author Collection is to continually improve library service to the public by providing free access to books by local authors, enriching the community with books and music created by local authors and musicians, and promoting individual achievements in authorship. This collection features donated books and music from local authors and artists.
Because these materials might be independently published or published by a small press, they are not typically reviewed in sources used by selectors for our library. Therefore, the Wells County Public Library is not applying the same collection development policy for these materials. Furthermore, the Library is not accepting responsibility for the content of the materials appearing in this collection. The library reserves the right to accept or deny materials and does not accept materials that cannot be easily distributed to the public.
Items included in the Local Author Collection must meet the following guidelines:
- At least one copy of the material must be donated to WCPL.
- Donated materials become property of WCPL and subject to WCPL’s collection management policy.
- Material content must be consistent with the library standards.
- Donated items which do not circulate regularly may be withdrawn from the collection as space dictates.
- Regardless of genre, all items in this collection will be labeled as “LOCALAUTHOR” on the spine label and in the library’s ILS, and include the name of the author or musician/band.
To donate materials for this collection, please complete the “Local Author Submission Form” and include it with the donated item(s).
Gifts
Removal & Replacement of Materials
- Obsolete or outdated.
- Worn beyond use.
- Damaged.
- No longer circulating or used for reference purposes.
- One of many copies of a formerly popular title.
Reconsideration of Library Materials Procedure