LIBRARY MATERIALS POLICY
PURPOSE:
It is the function of the
North Judson-Wayne Township Public Library as a public agency to provide
materials and information, both print and non-print, for all ages to meet the
informational, educational, emotional, artistic and social needs of our
community. Since financial and spatial limitations generally prevent equal
emphasis on all aspects of these objectives, the Library recognizes that its
MAJOR concern must be a positive contribution toward the removal of ignorance,
intolerance and indifference. The Library is committed to complete access of
all materials to patrons who are in good standing with the Library. It is the
responsibility of individuals to decide what they will or will not find
appropriate for their needs. In terms of access to materials by minor children,
it is the parents’ moral and legal responsibility to monitor this activity. The
Library will endeavor to obtain through inter-library loan services materials
excluded due to financial or spatial limitations.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Board of Trustees sets the policies of the Library with
the librarian / director responsible for selection of materials and
information. Henceforth, the term Library refers to the policies of the Board
of Trustees and the administration and implementation of these policies by the
staff. Recommendations and requests from the community are welcomed and
encouraged BUT final selection will be the duty of the Library. The Board of
Trustees and the Library also support the "Library Bill of Rights" as
adopted and amended June 27, 1967 by The American Library Association and as
stated by John F. Kennedy and Dwight D. Eisenhower and the American Library Association
Intellectual Freedom Statements.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
Every Library, no matter how large or small, must select
from an overwhelming mass of materials and information. The basic test for
selection of an item is whether it is of proven or potential interest to the
people served. Secondary considerations include availability and cost of the
item, the amount of similar materials already in the collection, and the extent
to which the material may be available elsewhere in the community. In addition,
the physical makeup of the materials is considered. These decisions are all
professional in nature. Because of the varying demands upon the collection, any
selection should be inclusive rather than exclusive. The Library should provide
materials that, although possibly argumentative, represent many points of view.
Items are not excluded from the Library because of the race or nationality or
the social, political or religious view of the author. Items are not excluded
from the Library because they may contain language and illustrations offensive
to some persons, if they meet the test of having redeeming social value as
stated by the United States Supreme Court. The Library does not purchase nor
provide hard core pornography.
The Library does not place material on "closed shelves" to protect
the public from the content of the material. Other than reference materials,
the only items on limited access are those which themselves need protection
because of rarity, cost, susceptibility to loss or damage, fragility or format
unsuited to heavy use, or for special projects or community concerns, such as co-operation
with the local schools in providing materials for student assignments.
The classification and grouping of materials within the Library are
professional decisions to be made by the Library staff. Classification and
grouping include but are not limited to, classifying individual books,
arranging displays, identifying reader interest categories, organizing subject
collection, and providing materials of interest to adults, young adults, and
children in designated rooms or areas.
A continuing systematic re-evaluation program of the materials will be carried
out to maintain the quality of the collection. Items may be discarded from the
Library if they are surplus to the needs of the collection or physically so
worn as to be unusable or if the content proves to be no longer relevant or
valid in light of newer information or if space becomes a problem and the
materials have not been used for an extended period of time. The method of
discarding is up to the Library.
GIFTS:
Gifts of materials or funds to enrich the Library collection are
welcome. The selection policy set forth here is applied to all materials
received. The right is reserved to accept or refuse conditions placed upon
gifts of materials or funds. Accepted gifts will be acknowledged and marked as
such, with the exception of current paperback fiction.
Adopted 1/13/98
Reviewed 6/12/2001
Reviewed 4/13/2004
Revised 6/12/2007