The purpose of the Taylor County Public Library is to provide all individuals of the community with carefully selected books and other materials to aid the individual in the pursuit of education, information, research, pleasure, and the creative use of leisure time.
The Collection Management Policy is used by the library staff in the selection of materials and also serves to acquaint the general public with the principles of selection.
The Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement have been endorsed by Taylor County Public Library and are a basis for this policy.
Selection:
Materials are selected based on reviews in professional journals or actual examination and evaluation of materials. The purchasing decision is based on:
- Individual merit of each item
- The item’s merit as it fits into the greater literary canon
- Popular appeal and demand
- Suitability of material for patrons
- Existing library holdings; the library will make every effort to present all sides of controversial issues.
- Budget
- Format
- Reviews
Textbooks:
- The Library does not buy textbooks used by the local schools, colleges, or universities, as it is the responsibility of the libraries of those institutions to provide copies of these course materials to their students.
De-selection or Weeding:
- Materials that no longer meet the needs of the community and no longer support the library’s collection will be withdrawn and disposed of in accordance with this Collection Management Policy. Doing so improves the quality of the collection and is proven to increase circulation by removing worn, outdated items.
Weeding Process:
The weeding procedure for the Taylor County Public Library Collection:
- Identify items that are candidates for weeding. CREW method: Continuous Review, Evaluation and Weeding.
- Identify items that are of value to the collection, recognizing older titles that are still important to the library collection.
- Identify items that might be valuable. Internet resources such as Bibliofind and Alibris are to be used to determine the potential value of an older book.
- After items are identified for removal, they are removed from the catalog program and the library tabs and markings are removed. Depending on the condition, materials will be given away for free, discarded, or placed in a library used book sale.
Censorship
The selection of library books and materials is predicated on the library patron's right to read, and similarly, the patron’s freedom from censorship by others. Many books are controversial, and any given item may offend some persons. Selections for this Library will not, however, be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits of the material in relation to the building of the collection and to serving the interests of the readers. This Library holds censorship to be a purely individual matter and declares that -- while all patrons are free to reject for themselves books and other materials of which they do not approve -- they cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom of others.
With respect to the use and circulation of library materials by children, the decision as to what a minor may read is the responsibility of the child’s parent or guardian. Selection will not be inhibited by the possibility that books may inadvertently come into the possession of minors.
Reconsideration of Material Request by Patron
Any patron who seriously requests reconsideration of materials will be given a "Request for Reconsideration of Library materials" form to complete.
The completed Reconsideration form will be submitted to the Director, who will evaluate the original reasons for the purchase and the book in question. The objections will be considered both in terms of the library's materials selection statement and the opinion of the various reviewing sources used in materials selection. The Director will communicate his/her decision in writing to the complainant.
If the complainant still feels that his objections have not be considered adequately, the matter will be placed before the Board of Trustees. The Director will provide each Board member with copies of the complaint, the Director's response, pertinent book reviews, and copies of the book being reconsidered (if enough can be borrowed). Each Board member shall notify the Director when he/she has finished reading the book and at the Board meeting after everyone is finished, the issue shall be put to a vote. Each Board member shall vote to retain or remove the book. Any member who is unable to attend that meeting, shall communicate his/her vote to the Chairman of the Board prior to that meeting. A simple majority will prevail. The Secretary of the Board will notify the complainant of the Board’s decision.