Wiggin Memorial Library
Collection
Development Policy
for the selection and maintenance of materials
A. Principles:
The Wiggin Memorial Library recognizes its responsibility to provide open access to the widest possible range of ideas and information for its library users. To that end:
1. The Library Board of Trustees endorses the Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read Statement and the various interpretations of these as set down by the American Library Association.
2. The Library Board of Trustees pledges to maintain the confidentiality of all who use the library, and to refuse any attempts by individuals or institutions to break that confidentiality.
3. The Library Board of Trustees believe that reading, listening and viewing are individual, private matters. To ensure that all are free to select or reject materials of their choice, the freedom of others to read or inquire cannot be restricted. Parents and guardians have the responsibility to guide and direct the reading, listening and viewing choices of their own minor children. The library does not stand “in loco parentis” (in the place of the parent).
B. The Selection Policy for library materials shall be as follows:
1. The library collection will be selected and maintained to provide materials for the interest, information and enlightenment of all people of Stratham. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background or views of those contributing to their creation. Due regard should be given for library user differences in reading ability, education and interest. Materials to satisfy highly specialized interests may be purchased within the restrictions of the budget. The library should actively seek to supplement its collection with materials from interlibrary loan when practical.
C. Selection Authority:
1. The selection of books and non-book materials remains under the final authority of the Library Board of Trustees. That authority is delegated to the Library Director who selects material on a regular basis, preferably adding new titles each month. The Director may authorize members of the staff who are qualified by reason of education and training to assist with selections. Such library acquisitions are deemed to have been selected by the Board.
2. Factors to be considered in adding materials to the library collection shall include:
a. Present collection composition
b. Collection development objectives
c. Interest
d. Demand
e. Timeliness
f. Audience
g. Diversity of viewpoint.
Reliable review media will be consulted in selecting materials for purchase, among them will be The New York Times Book Review, The Horn Book and Booklist. Recognized awards will be given weight in selection as a means of objectively determining the import of materials. Among those awards considered will be The Nobel Prize, The Pulitzer Prize, The American Book Award, The Caldecott Award, The Newbery Award and The Hornbook Award.
3. No materials will be excluded because of the race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, political or social view of the author. The library will favor no viewpoint.
4. The library encourages public suggestion of items and subjects to be considered for inclusion in the collection. Books and other materials will be accepted as gifts, subject to the approval of the Library Director with the condition that the library is free to make any disposition of such materials as the library chooses. Gift items may be marked with an appropriate bookplate.
5. Forms of expression that are unprotected by the First Amendment will not be included in the collection.
D. Book Withdrawal Policy:
The withdrawal of items from the library collection should be based on the following guidelines:
1. To remove physically damaged items
2. To eliminate items containing obsolete information
3. To remove duplicate copies of items which are no longer in demand, eliminating those most physically worn
4. To consider for withdrawal items which have not been circulated for several years
E. Disposition of Withdrawn Items:
The Library Director with assistance of the staff will make final decisions regarding disposition of items withdrawn from the collection. All items will be stamped, “Discard” over ownership marks. Such withdrawals may be sold at book sales held by the library or donated to other libraries or non-profit organizations.
F. Objection to Materials:
The Wiggin Memorial Library Board of Trustees recognizes the right of individuals in the community to question the presence or handling of materials in the library collection. Stratham residents wishing to express such concerns to the Board will be heard as follows:
1. The librarian or staff member involved will listen to the individual in a concerned manner, but will not attempt to defend the material
2. The individual is to be offered the “Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials” form and a copy of this policy. The form is to be filled out in full by the individual and returned to the Library Director. No objections will be considered by the library until this procedure is followed
3. The Library Director will submit the completed form with his/her opinion on the item(s) in question to the Library Board of Trustees who will review the item(s) to determine if the questioned material meets the criteria of this policy. A written reply will be sent to the concerned individual. Individual residents of Stratham who wish to express concerns to the Library Board about materials in question will be heard during a regular meeting of the Library Board of Trustees under the agenda item, “Guests”.
G. Access:
1. Processing and shelving of materials will in no way reflect a value judgment of the materials. There will be no labeling of any item or of its catalog records to indicate its point of view or bias. All materials except for documents and library staff reference tools will be shelved in their proper order on open shelves freely and easily accessible to all library users. All library users are free to select or reject for themselves any item in the collection. Individual or group prejudice about a particular item in the collection may not preclude its use by others.
2. Although juvenile materials are kept together to facilitate use, children are not limited to using the juvenile collection. The Library Board of Trustees reiterates that responsibility for a child’s reading must rest with the parent or guardian, not the library. Parents who would rather their children not have access to certain materials should so advise their children.
H. Related Documents:
1. Library Bill of Rights
2. Freedom to Read Statement
3. Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials form
4. Wiggin Memorial Library Collection Development Process outline
5. Wiggin Memorial Library Collection Evaluation Summary form
6. Wiggin Memorial Library Collection Development Plan form
Revised 2007
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