Mattapoisett Free Public Library

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Mattapoisett Free Public Library

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Materials Selection and Collection Maintenance  


I. Selection goal

To serve the entire community is the goal when selecting materials. To this end, the library selects materials on a wide variety of subjects, from various sources, expressing varying points of view, for all ages and abilities. Selection is based on authoritative reviewing media and on requests from the public. Permanent value, contemporary significance, and relevance to the existing collection are additional guidelines. In addition, the library will act as an agent for the community in securing needed information and materials from other libraries and sources via the SAILS automated network, sub-regional libraries, and interlibrary loan.

Adopted September 20, 1990

 

II. Selection responsibility

Ultimate responsibility for selection of library materials rests with the Library Director acting under the authority of the Board of Trustees and in agreement with the selection policy approved by the Board. Suggestions by library users, patterns in the use of the existing collection, and continuing study of community demographics are the background for selection. All staff contribute suggestions according to their specialties and interests.

Adopted September 20, 1990

III. Materials selection criteria

The library will build its collection to meet the informational, recreational, and educational needs of the community. The director and staff members select materials on the basis of reviews in professional or specialized subject publications, basic lists from standard selection guides, and reviews in periodicals and newspapers. Some materials are selected on the basis of personal examination and recommendation of library users.

Decisions about whether to acquire a given item is based on an assessment of the value of the item to the library and its readers, using the following criteria:

  • Contemporary usefulness
  • Authority and competence of presentation
  • Permanent value or historical record
  • Relevance to existing collection
  • Physical quality of format and binding
  • Presentation of all views of controversial issues
  • Balance of special group interest with general demand
  • Cost

The library endeavors to offer a collection that is well-developed and as balanced as possible.

IV. Adult Collection

Fiction

Fiction is selected on the basis of favorable reviews and the reading interests and needs of the community. Classics, works of notable authors, and noteworthy works are priorities. Best sellers, mysteries, science fiction, Western, suspense, historical, Gothic, romance and other genre-specific works are chosen to meet patron preferences.

Nonfiction

Nonfiction works are selected to represent subjects of special demand by the community, including educational, social, financial, and historical works, as well as subjects covering all major divisions of knowledge. Titles are selected to provide a range of viewpoints on issues.

Reference

The reference collection consists of works designed to be helpful to library users and staff members in finding brief answers as well as details for an extended search. The collection includes works not normally found in citizens’ homes, and the library deems these works to be of such value that they are designated as non-circulating—that is, they may be used only in the library. The library purchases new reference works to reflect changes in the subject.

Local History

Works whose subject matter concerns the community and surrounding communities are purchased for both the Fiction and Nonfiction collections.

Adopted December 1990

 

V. Collection Development for Children and Young Adults

The Children’s and Young Adult collections are carefully chosen for children of all ages and abilities, with the emphasis on materials which entertain, stimulate the imagination, develop reading ability, and enable children to learn about the world around them. Materials are purchased in print and non-print formats. Although the collections do contain materials of use in completing school assignments, they are not designed to provide school textbooks or other materials which support only the school curriculum.

The library maintains a small collection of materials specifically selected for young adults. These materials are intended to serve as a bridge to the adult collection. Novels and recreational-reading materials are selected because of their special appeal for this age group. In general, the young adult collection is a browsing collection.

Children and young adults are not limited to the special collections selected for them. The library encourages them to make use of the entire collection as their interests and capabilities dictate.

Adopted March 16, 1992

VI. Collection Maintenance

A systematic removal of materials no longer useful to the library is essential to retain the integrity of the collection. Weeding is the continuous examination and thorough analysis of library materials for the purpose of maintaining and strengthening the collection. The same criteria used in selecting material is used in weeding the collection. That is, the library will discard materials that are:

  • too worn for continued library use or for repair
  • outdated, particularly in rapidly changing fields
  • no longer in active use due to changing user interests
  • not practical to keep after a certain period of time (e.g., magazines, newspapers, and pamphlets).

Adopted October 21, 1993

VII. Gifts

The Mattapoisett Free Public Library welcomes gifts of books and other materials, with the understanding that they may be used or disposed of as the library sees fit. New titles acquired in this manner are subject to the basic criteria of selection. Replacements and duplicate copies are added to the collection as needed. The cost of processing and the availability of shelving space are also factors in determining whether a gift book or donated book is added to the collection.

The library does not provide monetary evaluations of gifts for tax purposes. Donor-prepared valuations will be signed at the discretion of the library director. Collections of materials will not normally be accepted with restrictions.

When the library receives a cash gift for the purchase of memorial, birthday or other gifts or collections, the selection will be made by the director or a library staff member in consultation with the donor.


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