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Library Collection Management Policy

The Orcas Island Library District has a strong commitment to the development and maintenance of a vibrant, balanced collection of books, other materials, and electronic resources appropriate to its mission and its service values. Careful management of this collection involves both addition and withdrawal.

The Board of Trustees of the Orcas Island Public Library endorses the American Library Association (ALA) LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS and the ALA's FREEDOM TO READ STATEMENTS. Copies of these documents are available from the Library. The Board of Trustees also recognizes that within the Library's service area there are groups and individuals with widely separate and diverse interests, backgrounds, social values, cultural heritage, and needs. The Library collection is therefore inclusive rather than exclusive. Selection reflects diverse points of view in fields of interest based on knowledge of the region and the community served, existing collections in nearby libraries, interlibrary loan services, and other resources. Duplication of materials is minimal. Suggestions of material for purchase or gifts are welcome and will be considered by the Library Director and other staff as assigned.

The Board of Trustees believes that any person is free to accept or reject Library materials for personal use, and that censorship of Library materials for other users is not permissible. Access by minors to Library materials is the responsibility of parents and guardians. The use or availability of Library materials will not be curtailed except for the express purpose of protecting them from damage or theft. Whenever censorship is involved, Library materials shall be removed from the Library only by court order.

Materials are ultimately selected and deselected by the Library Director. Any materials so selected and deselected are considered to be chosen by the Board.

Materials which are no longer useful shall be culled from the collection according to accepted professional practices and disposed of in a manner determined by the Board of Trustees. This helps to ensure a vital collection of continuing value to the community we serve. Because this is not a library of historical record, materials that are not well used may be withdrawn, except for relatively few types of materials such as local history or classics of human expression.

The Library complies with RCW 39.33.070, "Disposal of obsolete or surplus reading materials." When the value of the discards as reading materials does not exceed one thousand dollars, in most cases the Library will transfer them to the Friends of Orcas Island Library. The Friends will then sell them in accordance with the Booksale Agreement between the Library and the Friends, which specifies all proceeds going to the benefit of the Library. At its discretion, the Library may dispose of the materials by its own public sale, or as promotional or incentive items, or by other lawful means.

Segregation and maintenance of permanent special collections representing a specific religious, political or sociological viewpoint are not permitted. A patron questioning material in the Library collection is free to ask the Library Director concerning such material. A patron wishing to file a formal complaint about a specific piece of Library material is then required to state his/her opinion in writing on the Citizen's Comment on Library Materials, which the Library Director will provide, along with a copy of these Library Materials Selection Policies, to the patron. After the form is filled out in full and returned to the Library Director, the patron will receive a response in writing as soon as is practical. The material under question will remain in the active collection until a final decision is made.

A copy of the "Citizen's Comment on Library Materials" form and the "Selection Criteria" description are attached to this Materials Selection Policy.

Citizen Comment Form pdf button

Adopted as Material Selection Policy: 12/11/87

Revised 6/1988, 7/1994, 2/1996

Reviewed 2/2000, 8/2006

Adopted as Collection Management Policy July 13, 2009

Orcas Island Library Materials Selection Criteria

General Criteria

These general criteria are taken into account for all materials selected for the Orcas Island Library District. Additional specific criteria are listed when appropriate for different types of materials. All items selected will meet several of the general or specific criteria.

  1. Current and anticipated needs and interests of the public.
  2. Accuracy of content.
  3. Timeliness of information.
  4. Author's, artist's or publisher's qualifications and/or reputation.
  5. Evaluations in review media.
  6. Contribution to diversity or breadth of collections.
  7. Presentation of unique or controversial points of view.
  8. Inclusion of title in standard bibliographies or indexes.
  9. Receipt of or nomination for major awards or prizes.
  10. Quality of production.

Adult Books

Adult Non-fiction

The Orcas Island Public Library provides current general interest, informational, and popular browsing non-fiction collections. Specific criteria in addition to the General Criteria listed above include:

  1. Subject coverage for the collection to be broad and inclusive.
  2. Thoroughness of coverage, including index, bibliography, illustrations, etc.
  3. Importance of the subject matter or point of view to the collection.

Adult Fiction

The Orcas Island Public Library provides general, current, and popular fiction titles as well as genre fiction. Standard, popular American authors as well as major foreign authors are represented. Specific criteria in addition to the General Criteria listed above include:

  1. Collection needs for a broad and multicultural representation of fiction.
  2. Literary merit.

Young Adult Books

Young Adult Non-fiction

The Orcas Island Public Library provides current general interest informational materials appropriate for the browsing and homework assistance needs of young adults ranging in age from 12-18 years (grades 6-12). The public library's collection may compliment the school library/curriculum development collection but is not a replacement or substitute for the school library's collection development responsibilities. Specific criteria in addition to General Criteria listed above include:

  1. Timeliness and accuracy of material.
  2. Presentation at a level and in a format that will appeal to young adults.
  3. Usefulness of material for assistance in homework assignments.
  4. Subject matter of interest to young adults.

Young Adult Fiction

The Orcas Island Public Library provides browsing collections, mainly in paperback, that include standard authors and titles as well as special interest genre titles. The public library's collection may compliment the school library/curriculum development collection but is not a replacement or substitute for the school library's collection development responsibilities. Specific criteria in addition to General Criteria listed above include:

  1. Reputation and popularity of author among young adults.
  2. Usefulness of material for homework assignments.
  3. Appeal of genre to young adults.

Children's Books

Children's Non-fiction

The children's non-fiction collection contains general informational works, browsing items, and subject oriented materials on topics of interest to children. Our children's collection will present more than one side of a question or point of view. Specific criteria in addition to General Criteria listed above include:

  1. Subject relevance and age appropriateness of material.
  2. Thoroughness of coverage and competence of writing style.
  3. Clarity in the organization of material.
  4. Quality of illustrations, maps, graphics, and photographs.
  5. Artistic merit of work.
  6. Usefulness of material for homework assignments.

Children's Fiction

The Orcas Island Public Library collection includes a variety of books from the most distinguished in children's literature to popular, new, and enticing titles that will attract readers of many tastes and abilities. Specific criteria in addition to General Criteria listed above include:

  1. Literary merit.
  2. Appropriate reading level and interest level.
  3. Multicultural emphasis.
  4. Appeal of author, genre, series to children.
  5. Usefulness of material for homework assignments.

Picture Books, Beginning Reader, and Board Books

These books, in which illustration is as important as text, serve to introduce children to the world of books. The Orcas Island Public Library collection includes a wide variety of titles for adults to read to children and for children to look at and use. This collection includes concept books, beginning reader books, wordless books, and board books and picture books. Specific criteria in addition to General Criteria listed above include:

  1. Relationship of illustration to text.
  2. Literary quality and artistic impression.
  3. Age appropriateness of art, text, topic.
  4. Appeal of author or illustration to children.

Reference Materials

The reference collection of the Orcas Island Public Library consists of materials which, because of method of use, rarity, or cost, are most appropriately used in the library. They provide timely and accurate information on a wide range of topics to serve the needs of a diverse public of all ages. Materials are acquired in book, non-book, or electronic format as appropriate and available. Specific criteria in addition to General Criteria listed above include:

  1. Currency and accuracy of material.
  2. Thoroughness of coverage, including index, bibliography, illustrations, etc.
  3. Importance of the subject matter or point of view to the collection.

DVDs and Videos

The Orcas Island Public Library collection provides popular movies and general informational videos for adults, young adults, children, and families. Specific criteria in addition to General Criteria listed above include:

  1. Participants' reputation and recognition (actors, directors, writers, production companies).
  2. Quality of production including descriptive cover and accompanying materials.
  3. Popularity and usefulness of subject, title or author.

Books on CD and Books on Tape

The Orcas Island Public Library collection provides books on cd and tape for adults, young adults, children, and families. Specific criteria in addition to General Criteria listed above include:

  1. Participants; reputation and recognition.
  2. Quality of production including descriptive cover and accompanying materials.
  3. Popularity and usefulness of subject, title or author.

Periodicals and Newspapers

Periodicals and newspapers provide a source of current information not often available in book or other format. The library offers a wide range of general interest periodicals for all ages. Both current and retrospective collections are maintained in efficient and cost-effective formats as available and as space allows. Specific criteria in addition to General Criteria listed above include:

  1. Indexing is available (Note: lack of indexing will not, however, exclude a title from the collection if it meets the needs of patrons.)
  2. Appropriate format.
  3. Availability of display shelving and storage space.

Gift Materials

Please refer to the Orcas Island Library District's Gift Policy. The library may accept gifts of materials with the understanding that the same standards of selection are applied to gifts as to materials acquired by purchase. The library reserves the right to evaluate and to dispose of gifts in accordance with the criteria applied to purchased materials.

Citizen Comment Form pdf button

Adopted 2/1996

Reviewed 2/2000, 8/2006