J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library

Collection

7.1 Collection Development Policy

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1. Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the Collection Development Policy is the growth and maintenance of an outstanding, well-balanced collection of the best and most useful materials available to meet the needs of the community within the limits imposed by funds and space. A comprehensive range of interests, tastes, viewpoints, values, and levels of ability will be represented. This policy will guide the library staff and inform the public of the principles upon which selections are made.

2. Library Mission & Collection Development

The J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library of the County of Appomattox provides public library services to groups and to individuals of all ages in the community. Books and other materials shall be chosen for the purposes of education, information, interest, and recreation. The Collection Development Policy is to provide resources that enable the Library to fulfill its roles as:

  1. Popular Materials Library - Supplying fiction, nonfiction, films, tapes, and other material in popular demand for leisure time and personal enlightenment
  2. Reference Library - Providing timely, accurate information and reference services and employing a highly qualified staff who provide the link between library materials
  3. Education Support and Independent Learning Center - Supporting the educational goals of all citizens of Appomattox County by providing the resources which correspond to their diverse needs
  4. Preschool and School-Age Children’s Library - Encouraging young children to develop a love of reading, learning, and libraries by providing materials and programs for children, as well as for their parents and caregivers.

3. Description of Community Served

Appomattox County is an active and growing rural community of 13,000 residents. The J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library serves Appomattox County residents of all ages as well as individuals who work and vacation in Appomattox.

4. Responsibility for Selection

The responsibility for selection lies with the Library Director of the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library. The general public and staff members may also recommend materials for consideration.

5. Criteria for Selection

  1. Present and potential relevance to community needs
  2. Relevance of subject, format, and reading level for the intended audience
  3. Reputation and significance of author, publisher, or producer
  4. Quality and accuracy of work
  5. Balances existing materials in the collection
  6. Enhances a specific collection
  7. Insufficient materials available on the subject
  8. Not available from other lending sources
  9. Popularity with library patrons
  10. Within limits of budget for materials

6. Selections Sources

  1. Selection Aids

It is not possible to read or view personally the large number of books and audiovisual materials published annually. Reviews found in professional library and general periodicals and in standard bibliographies are used to determine the degree to which a particular title meets the selection criteria. Selection aids currently in use include Library Journal, Booklist, and the New York Times Bestseller lists.

  1. Recommendations

Recommendations for materials to add to the collection are always welcome and are considered according to the adopted selection criteria and needs of the Library.

7. Materials Selection

Suitable library materials include books, periodicals, and other printed matter, works of art, audio, video, and digital media, reference aids that facilitate patron access to these materials, and programs that encourage and enhance patron utilization and enjoyment of the Library. Subject to budgetary and space constraints, materials chosen will be of sufficient variety and scope to serve all residents and age groups of the County. Patron suggestions will be solicited and welcomed.

  1. Formats
    1. Print - Includes books, newspapers, periodicals, paperbacks, vertical file, government documents, maps
    2. Non-print - Includes videocassettes, audiocassettes, compact discs, microforms, educational games, and toys.
    3. Electronic - Includes computer software, online services, Internet, cd-rom programs, and databases.
  2. Special Collections

    1. Audiovisual

      The Libary attempts to supplement rather than duplicate the selections available at local video stores. The video collection includes travel, documentaries, instructional, juvenile, and feature film videos.

      The audio cassette collection includes fiction, self-help, and instructional tapes. Unabridged versions of fiction titles are preferred.

      Microforms are acquired to augment the newspaper, periodical, and reference collections, to save space, to provide specialized materials not otherwise available, and to make the most cost effective use of library resources.

    2. Juvenile

      The children’s collection aims to instill children an enjoyment of reading for pleasure and information by selecting materials to meet their particular and potential needs, interests, and abilities from infancy through age 12. A collection of fiction is separately organized for young adults of approximately 13 to 18 years of age. The specific aims of this collection are to recognize the needs and interests of young adults and to provide books in concert with their needs and interests of young adults and to provide books in concert with their needs and interests on a recreational level. The Library provides nonfiction for this age group within the general collection.

      Selections for inclusion in the children’s and young adult collections are made based on the following additional criteria:

      1. Usefulness and appeal for age group
      2. Quality of illustrations and graphics
      3. Appropriateness of format, content, and style
      4. Suitability of subject matter or story for the intended users.
      5. School Curriculum Support

      The Library staff does not serve in loco parentis. Decisions concerning children’s use of specific library materials and/or electronic resources are the responsibility of their own parents or guardians

    3. Large Print

      Popular fiction titles and selected nonfiction titles are purchased in large print format for patrons with diminished visual capabilities.

    4. Local History and Genealogy

      The Library strives to attain a fair degree of comprehensiveness in printed materials related to Appomattox history. Materials are collected which contribute to a body of knowledge of Appomattox’s social, cultural, religious, economic, and political life. Kinds of material collected include: books, newspapers, pamphlets, periodicals, public documents, maps, atlases, diaries, correspondence, business and organizational records, photographs, calendars, scrapbooks, family histories, school annuals, cemetary records, and other primary research materials. Non-print items such as furniture, personal possessions, art objects, household objects, and natural history specimens are not collected.

    5. Periodicals Retention

      The most recent issue of each periodical, including magazines and newspapers, are kept on display in their respective locations. Newspapers cannot be checked out. Magazines, with the exception of the newest issue, can be checked out. When replaced by a newer issue, periodicals are kept in a secondary location for a period of time before being discarded:

      • Magazines - 1 year

      • Newspapers - 1 month

8. Weeding

  1. The collection is systematically weeded to eliminate unnecessary items such as outdated or superceded materials, items no longer of interest or demand, duplicates and worn or damaged materials.

  2. Criteria used to remove materials from the collection are the same as those used to select materials (i.e., items which no longer meet the selection criteria are removed). Additional guidelines are outlined in the book “Evaluating and Weeding in Small and Medium Sized Public Libraries: the CREW Method”, by Joseph Segal.

9. Intellectual Freedom

The J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library recognizes the pluralistic nature of its community and varied backgrounds and needs of all citizens. It also recognizes that many library materials are controversial and may offend some patrons. However, it is not the library’s responsibility to practice censorship. No library materials will be excluded from the collection because of the race, nationality, sex, political, social, or religious views of the author. Censorship is purely an individual matter and while anyone is free to reject for him- or herself materials of which he or she does not approve, censorship cannot be exercised to restrict the freedom of use and/or access to others.

In its selection of books and other materials, the J. Robert. Jamerson Memorial Library subscribes fully to the principles adopted by the American Library Association in its Library Bill of Rights and endorses its stand that freedom to read is essential to our democracy. It is the function and the duty of the public library to provide means, whenever possible, through which all persons may have free access to thinking on all sides of all issues. Copies of the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read Statement, and the Freedom to View Statement are attached to this document.

Selection is based on the criteria given throughout this policy document and does not represent an endorsement by the library of any theory, idea, or lifestyle. Processing and shelving of materials in no way reflects a value judgment of the materials. There will be no labeling of items or of cataloging records to indicated a point of view or bias.

The responsibility for the reading of children rests with parents and legal guardians. Selection of materials for the adult collection is not restricted by the possibility that children may obtain materials their parents consider inappropriate.

Individuals or groups objecting to any portion of the library’s collection may initiate a formal request for reexamination by filling out a Request for Reconsideration of Library Material. The final decision for retention or removal rests with the Library Director and the Library Board of Trustees.

10. Reconsideration of Materials

  1. If a patron objects to the Library’s ownership of a particular item or items, the patron will be offered the opportunity to complete a “Request for Reconsideration of Library Material” form.

  2. The item(s) in question will be reviewed by the Library Director, and a recommendation will be formulated. The challenger will be notified in writing of hte recommendation within fourteen (14) days, and a copy will be sent to the Library Board of Trustees.

  3. If the challenger is not satisfied with the recommendation, written appeal must be made to the Library Board of Trustees within thirty (30) days. The appeal will be added to the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Library Board of Trustees.

  4. A final determination will be made in writing to the challenger within thirty (30) days of the Library Board Trustees meeting.

  5. The challenged material will remain in the collection until a determination is made.

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