Introduction to the Marshall Public Library Collection Development Policy
The Marshall Public Library provides recreational reading and information about popular cultural and social trends; general information and answers to questions; supplementary curriculum support for K-12 students; support for personal growth and development through lifelong learning; and training and instruction in finding, evaluating, and using information effectively.Although the tax base is the city of Pocatello, the library serves all of Bannock County without fees through a reciprocal services agreement with Portneuf District Library and South Bannock District Library. Marshall Public Library also shares resources with other Idaho libraries participating in a statewide reciprocal borrowing agreement (RBI), and with libraries nationwide through Interlibrary Loan. According to 1995 estimates, the population of Pocatello is 51,000 and Bannock County totals 73,000. Pocatello is the home of Idaho State University and has a varied economic base.
- To provide full and impartial access to library services and materials for all persons regardless of need, age, sex, ethnic origin, or religion
- To assemble, preserve, and administer a varied collection of books and other related materials
- To seek to identify and respond to community needs for library materials and services
- To encourage continuing education by promoting the use of all available library resources
- To ensure continued cooperation with other libraries
- To support the "Library Bill of Rights" and "Freedom to Read" statement
The library's collection development policy provides guidelines and direction to the Library Director and staff as they select materials. The Director has full authority to use her or his judgment in interpreting this Collection Development Policy.
The Board of Library Trustees has adopted the ALA "Library Bill of Rights" with its official "interpretations" and the "Freedom to Read" statement, and affirms the support of the Marshall Public Library for these basic policies.
The library staff relies upon several sources for assistance in selecting library materials, including book reviews, publishers' catalogs and flyers, professional journals, printed bibliographies, recommendations of other professionals and library patrons, and personal knowledge and expertise. Reviews in professionally recognized periodicals are a primary source for materials selection. Standard bibliographies, book lists by recognized authorities, and the advice of competent people in specific subject areas may also be used.Factors which determine the value of materials to the collection include:
- Demand
Requests and recommendations from patrons are a significant part of the selection process, because they indicate public interest, community relevance, and timeliness of topic.
- Value
Each type of material must be considered in terms of its own excellence, as no single standard can be applied in all cases. Some materials may be judged primarily in terms of artistic merit, scholarship, or value to humanity; others are selected to satisfy the informational, recreational, or educational interests of the community.
Materials acquired should meet high standards of quality in content, expression, creativity, imagination, and format. Emphasis is placed on authoritativeness, factual accuracy, effective expression, and significance of subject.
Other factors influencing the value of materials selected are the current or historical significance of author or subject; current collection objectives, and existing subject coverage.
- Balance
1. Audience for Material: Libraries should acquire materials to service the diverse needs of the community, including children, the elderly, and the physically challenged.
2. Diversity of Viewpoint: Individual items, which in and of themselves may be controversial or offensive to some patrons or staff, may be selected if their inclusion will contribute to the range of viewpoints in the collection as a whole and the effectiveness of the community library's ability to serve the people of Pocatello and Bannock County.
- Format
The nature of the medium and the technical quality of production are additional factors to be considered in selecting audio, video, electronic, and other non-print formats.
- Regional interest
Materials specifically related to Idaho and the Northwest are especially important to the collection.
- Alternate Access
1. The library avoids needless duplication of costly or specialized materials which may be easily accessed electronically or at Idaho State University Library.
2. Materials may be borrowed through interlibrary loan instead of being added to the collection if the material does not meet the selection criteria established in this policy.
- Out of Print Materials
Rare or out of print material will not be purchased unless it is of significant value to the development of the collection.
- Language
The library maintains a small collection of Spanish language books and a few items, primarily for language students, in French, German, and Braille. The majority of the collection is in English.
- Textbooks
Textbooks will be evaluated and added on a limited basis.
- Cost
Cost is always a consideration in selection.
2. In support of our mission, the Marshall Public Library provides on-line computing, networking, and information resources to patrons and staff.
The library provides its users with access to sources of information in an atmosphere that encourages information sharing and access to a rich collection of services. It subscribes to and supports the Library Bill of Rights and its interpretations, including "Access to Electronic Information Services and Resources: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights."
Selection policies which serve to govern the library's purchase of materials are not applicable to material accessed electronically; however, electronic resources are not exempt from routine Collection Maintenance. The library does not endorse the viewpoints or vouch for the accuracy of information provided, including information obtained through the internet.
As with all library materials, it remains the responsibility of the patron (or the parent or guardian) to determine what electronic material is appropriate.
A practical, useful collection will be maintained through a continual process of discard and addition. Materials are withdrawn based upon their being outdated, no longer of interest or in demand, unnecessary duplicates or multiple copies, worn, or mutilated. Weeding should be done with the same care, thought, criteria, and judgment as selection.The library may consider electronic means of "withdrawing" web pages which have been accessed in the library, but are determined to be inconsistent with the library's mission and this collection development policy.
The library will acquire multiple copies of materials when additional copies are necessary to meet collection development goals.
2. The library solicits and welcomes donations of funds and grants from the Friends of the Marshall Public Library and a variety of other sources.
3. The Pocatello Public Library Endowment Fund, an Agency Fund of the Idaho Community Foundation, has been established to provide a perennial source of funds for the purchase of library materials.
Although most donations of books and other materials are received by the Friends of the Marshall Public Library, the Marshall Public Library is grateful for unconditional gifts, and its collections have been enriched by contributions from individuals and private collections. In accepting a gift, the library makes the following stipulations:1. The library reserves the right to decide whether a gift should be added to its collection. The following types of gift materials will not be added to the collection:
2. The library reserves the right to sell, give to other libraries or otherwise dispose of gift materials that are not added to the library collection.
a. Publications excluded by the collection development policy
b. Out-of-date materials not of historical value
c. A duplicate of an item already in the library
d. Material in poor physical condition
3. When materials are added to the collection, no restrictions on the library's use of gift materials may be made by the donor. The gift materials will become an integral part of the library collection. Gift items may not be reclaimed.
4. Receipts for materials donated to the library will be provided, but placing a value on the material is the responsibility of the donor.
5. Exceptions to this gift policy may be approved by the Library Director.
The Library Board considers all materials selected under this policy to be constitutionally protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution and the Idaho State Constitution. If a patron claims that a particular item is not constitutionally protected, the burden of proof rests with that patron.If a court having jurisdiction over Marshall Public Library decides that any material in the collection is unprotected by these constitutions, such material will be removed immediately. Material under court consideration will remain available to patrons until a court ruling is made.
The Library will give serious consideration to each patron's opinion. Material being questioned will remain available to patrons until a decision is made.
is a purely individual matter and declares that while anyone is free to reject for himself/herself books and/or library material of which he/she does not approve, the individual cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom of others to read, view, or hear. Parents have the responsibility to guide and direct the reading/viewing/ listening of their own minor children. The library does not stand in loco parentis (in loco parentis: in place of a parent; charged with a parent's right, duties and responsibilities)
If that patron wishes to express his or her opinion in writing, the following procedures should be followed:1. Patrons will receive a copy of this "Collection Development Policy" and a "Patron's Opinion" form, with explanation and guidance by a knowledgeable staff member, usually a supervisor or the Director.
2. If the patron wishes to continue the process, s/he may state his/her opinion in writing on the "Patron's Opinion of Library Material" form. The Patron Opinion form will be sent to the Director who will refer it to a staff committee for review; the Director will appoint this committee as needed, but at least annually.
3. Internal review may be initiated by sending a request to the Director with a written explanation of what action is recommended and why. The Director will initiate a review process.
4. The committee will give the Director a recommendation based on the judgment of the members of the committee as to whether the material was appropriately selected and made accessible under this policy. Because of the need to meet individual as well as group preferences, the number of forms or petitions received will not be a factor in reaching a recommendation. The Director will make the decision and reply to the individual in writing as soon as practical. The Library Board will be informed at the next public meeting.
5. Persons still wishing to express concerns to the Board about materials in the collection may be heard during a regular meeting at a time designated by the Board for public expression.
The Collection Development Policy of the Marshall Public Library will be reviewed not less frequently than every two years by a staff committee composed of the Library Director and Department Heads. Revisions will be referred to the Board of Trustees for final approval.Marshall Public Library Collection Development Policy
- Approved January 21, 1992
- Revised February 15, 1994
- Revised March 19, 1996
- Revised July 16, 1996
- Revised February 18, 1998
- Revised January 18,2000
07/18/06