MATERIALS SELECTION POLICY

PHILOSOPHY

Our library exists to provide materials which communicate experience and ideas from one person to another. We strive to assemble, organize, preserve, and make easily and freely available to all people the print and non-print material that will assist in meeting their information, recreation and cultural needs.

In keeping with this philosophy, this library therefore adopts as official policy, the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights” and the “Freedom to Read” statement, which are available in the library.

ACCESS

The library ensures free access to its holdings for adults, who are free to select or reject for themselves any item in the collection. Individual or group prejudice about a particular item or type of material in the collection may not preclude its use by others.

Responsibility for a child’s reading must rest with the parent or guardian, not with the library. Children’s reading cannot be monitored in the library.

Access to some materials may be restricted because of their rarity, physical condition, or the likelihood of theft or mutilation.

RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibility for the selection of library materials is vested in the Library Director and, at his discretion, those members of the library staff who are qualified by reason of education and training.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

The library will exercise professional judgment in the selection of materials which must meet some of the following criteria:

• Appeal to the interests and needs of individuals in the community.
• Express vitality and originality of thought.
• Hold permanent value as source material or interpretation. 
• Hold contemporary significance.
• Represent artistic excellence.
• Provide entertaining presentation.
• Offer accuracy and objectivity. 
• Possess suitability or physical form appropriate to library use.
• Express the skill, competence and purpose of the author.

Textbooks are purchased only when the information also serves the general public or is unavailable in other forms.

Regarding the entertainment DVD (movie) collection, additional criteria considered are public demand as evidenced by patron borrowing patterns, available reviews and award nominations.

GIFTS AND MEMORIALS

Gifts may be accepted on a provisional basis and then subjected to the same evaluation and selection standards as purchased material. Gifts become the property of the library and will be handled and/or disposed of as the library sees fit. The library does not agree to maintain intact gifts of collections of materials.

Gifts in the form of funds are encouraged. Memorial donations are accepted and materials purchased with these funds will be plated with the name of the memorialized and the donor.

DISCARDING

With the exception of the Oregon Collection, the library’s collection is considered impermanent and transitory; materials will be discarded regularly when such materials no longer meet the library’s requirements. Damaged, unattractive, outdated or unused materials are subject to immediate evaluation or discard.

CONTROVERSY

The library, as one of its unique reasons for existence, provides the means to study the several sides of the issues by obtaining materials containing opposing views on controversial topics including those of an orthodox and/or unpopular nature. This standard does not necessarily imply numerical balance. Materials of the required quality, serving the purposes of the library and relating to an existing need or interest, will not be removed from the collection nor will materials lacking these qualities be added because of pressure by groups or individuals.

Procedures for handling patron complaints of library materials: Whenever a library patron objects to the presence of a particular item in the collection, the complaint will be given a fair hearing.

The following procedures will be used in handling complaints of this nature:

1. All complaints concerning library materials will be referred to the library director.
2. Should the patron wish to make a formal complaint, they will be provided with a “Request For Reconsideration of Library Materials form which is available in the library.
3. Upon receipt of a formal complaint, the library director will refer the complaint to the library board with a recommendation for disposition. The library board will review the material in its entirety for conformance with this Policy and render a decision.
4. Materials subject to complaint will not be removed from public access pending determination of the complaint.
5. The complainant will be informed in writing of the library board’s decision.

Adopted February 7, 1981 by The Library Board City of Oregon City Amended: May 10, 1985 Amended: December 17, 1998