This policy serves as a guide for staff when selecting materials and offering services. Additionally, this policy educates the public about the process and principles of collection and service development in public libraries.
A. Introduction
The mission of the Mulvane Public Library is to provide a well-balanced collection of materials and services for patrons of all ages for personal enrichment, enjoyment, and educational needs. The Library is dedicated to promoting literacy and lifelong learning within the community.
The Mulvane Public Library is organized under the laws of Kansas and authorized under K.S.A. 12-1219 et seq.
“...to acquire by purchase, gift or exchange, books, magazines, papers, printed materials, slides, pictures, films, projection equipment, phonograph records and other materials and equipment deemed necessary by the board for the maintenance and extension of modern library services;”
The staff must select materials and offer services reflecting the totality of patrons’ needs in the community, rather than the employee’s particular view or interest. Materials and services should not be excluded because of race, sex, nationality, political, ethical, or religious views of the writer or artist. “Materials and services” may include programs, speakers, displays (readers’ advisory), online databases, office-related tasks (printing/copying/faxing), technology access, museum passes, as well as the physical collection.
The Collection and Services Development Policy is subject to constant change, and written guidelines cannot supplant the good judgement, professional knowledge, and experience of the staff.
B. Objective of Selection and Development
The Mulvane Public Library strives to meet the needs of our service level as outlined in the Public Library Standards for Kansas. Currently, the Mulvane Public Library is a Major Service Center I, which serves a population of 2,500-10,000. At this level, the Library provides broad subject coverage of popular and informational materials and services in a variety of formats for patrons of all ages. As needed, the Library supplements its materials and resources through the South Central Kansas Library System, the Kansas State Library, Interlibrary Loan System, and the Kanshare Library Consortium. The goals of the Mulvane Public Library’s collection and services are:
- Reflect the mission of the Mulvane Public Library
- Meet the informational and recreational needs of the community
- Address literacy issues within the community
- Supplement both formal and informal study
- Reflect a variety of opinions, both majority and minority
- Support economic, cultural, recreational, and civic activities in the community
- Enhance job-related knowledge and skills
- Increase knowledge and participation in the affairs of the community, state, country, and the world
- Raise awareness and visibility of the Library in the community
- Connect program attendees to the Library collection
- Expand the Library’s presence as both a cultural and a community center
C. Responsibility for Selection and Development
The Mulvane Public Library Board of Trustees delegates the selection of materials and the development of services to the Library Director. The general public may also recommend items for purchase and potential service needs, including program or display topics. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of the Director and staff, who operate within the framework of the policies and budget, to determine the scope of the Library’s offerings.
D. Selection and Development Criteria
Adheres to the Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read and View Statements (Appendix)
Individual merit of the material and/or service
Compliments existing materials and/or services, and is within budget
Contemporary significance or provides permanent value
Authority and reputation of the author, publisher, organization, business, and/or speaker
Format, level, and/or topic is suitable for intended audience
Meets the needs of the individual and the community- those which are expressed and those which are basic and universal, whether expressed or not
Accuracy and general quality of work
Price, format, and ease of use
Availability of material and/or service elsewhere in the community
Current or most up-to-date version or presentation
Provides multiple points of view on controversial or debatable subjects
Popular demand, award-winning, or best-selling material and/or service
Local interest
Materials or service is trending in other public libraries
Self-published items for the materials collection must be approved by the Library Director
E. Scope of the Collection and Services
1. Physical Collection
Fiction
The Library recognizes the importance of fiction and the need to satisfy differing tastes, purposes, interests, and reading levels. The Library chooses not only distinguished, well written novels, but also popular books in all categories of fiction- humor, satire, classics, mystery, adventure, romance, science fiction, western, fantasy, etc.
Non-Fiction
It is the goal of the Library to provide a non-fiction collection, which will be relevant to the needs, interests, and activities of the Mulvane community. All backgrounds, abilities, and levels of education identifiable will be taken into consideration as materials are selected.
Young Adult (Teen)
The Library’s teen collection specifically serves youth, ages 12-18 or grades 6-12. The age range, current literary trends, popularity, and local youth interest drive the purchasing for this collection. The goal of this collection is to keep teens reading and connected to the Library throughout their adolescent years.
Youth
The Mulvane Public Library hopes to instill in youth, ages 0-11, an enjoyment of reading for pleasure and information by selecting materials to meet their particular and potential needs, interests, and abilities. Books of interest to caregivers and parents may be included in this collection as well.
This collection has additional criteria for selection:
Materials may be chosen to compliment the local school district’s collection
Textbooks and curriculum materials will not be considered
Suitability of subject matter or story for the intended audience
Reference
The Library maintains a small collection of reference materials. The aim of the reference collection is to make general information available both at the physical library and online. The selection of reference materials is based upon subject coverage, timeliness, affordability, and usefulness.
Kansas/Genealogy
The Library strives to maintain a collection related to area history and genealogy. Materials (primarily books and microfilm) contribute to the knowledge of local, state, and regional history both past and present.
Note: Items that the Library is unable to keep and maintain are gifted to the Mulvane Historical Museum.
Activity Packs
The Library maintains a small collection of activity packs for loan. A portion of the activity packs are shelved in the youth area. These packs contain books and resources geared towards young children. Additional packs, called Community Explorers, are available at the information desk. These packs are geared towards all ages and often contain museum passes.
2. Digital Content
The Library’s digital collection continues to expand, but currently includes both online databases and downloadable materials (audio and ebook). These collections are primarily maintained through vendor subscriptions, the South Central Kansas Library System, and the State of Kansas Library. The selection of these materials varies based on statistics, reports, and patron demand.
3. Services
The Library offers a large assortment of services, including, but not limited to:
Printing, copying, and faxing
Readers’ advisory displays
Notary
Meeting spaces
Wifi and computer access
Microfilm reader
Test Proctoring
Homebound Delivery
Technology Assistance
Programs
F. Access to the Collection and Services
The Library’s collection and services are available to all members of the public. However, the loaning of the materials collection is restricted to library card holders.
The Library’s offerings are accessible to people of all ages, so parents/guardians must consider what is appropriate for their own family and be responsible for their minor’s access to the collection and services at the Mulvane Public Library.
For specific loaning rules, please review the Mulvane Public Library Circulation Policy.
G. Collection: Format of Materials
The format of library materials is constantly changing. The Library strives to meet the needs of the community by providing multiple formats that engage patrons with different literacy needs, abilities, and interests.
Print: Hardbacks, paperbacks, graphic novels, large print, magazines, and newspapers
Audio: Books on CD and audio devices
Video: DVDs
Digital: Online databases and downloadable content, including audio and eBooks
Equipment: Laptops and Readers
H. Collection: Interlibrary Loan of Materials
The Library cooperates with the State of Kansas Library and the regional library systems to provide Interlibrary Loan as an essential service to library patrons. The Library abides by the Interlibrary Loan in Kansas: Overview and Best Practices Policy and any policies passed by the Kansas ILL Circuit Council.
Interlibrary Loan is not a substitution for collection development. It is used to provide essential materials for unusual situations and to make available those materials that cannot be added to the collection because of space and budget.
Fees are not charged for Interlibrary Loan within Kansas as it is part of our cooperation agreement.
I. Collection: Weeding
The collection is systematically weeded to eliminate unnecessary items that are outdated or superseded materials, no longer of interest or in demand, duplicates, only available in a discontinued format, and/or worn or damaged from use and age. Weeding is a task that takes skill, care, time, and knowledge of the materials to be discarded. Criteria used to remove materials from the collection are the same as those used to select materials.
Weeded materials may be given to the Friends of the Library for their annual book sale, which funds additional services and materials for the Mulvane Public Library.
J. Collection: Preservation
The Mulvane Library is committed to providing physical and environmental care to the materials in the collection. Through dusting, proper shelving, cleaning, minor mending, and adequate storage, the Library helps protect the materials from damage and deterioration to the best of our ability.
The Library does not have the space or funds to act as an archival collection, so no substantial efforts will be made to retain or preserve rare or out-of-print materials. Local history items of value and/or in delicate condition will be given to the Mulvane Historical Society for care and preservation.
K. Services: Programs
Programs are an important part of the services a public library offers a community. Programs often expand the learning gained through the collection. With this in mind, Library programs will be developed with consideration for the principles of accessibility, equity and inclusiveness, and will further contribute to the Library's welcoming environment. Reasonable accommodations will be made to ensure that programs are accessible to all who wish to attend and participate.
The library philosophy of open access to information and ideas extends to programming. Library programs are free and open to the public (library card not required); however, registration may be required for planning purposes or when space is limited.
Like the materials collection, some programs may be developed for a particular audience, i.e. attendees should be within the appropriate age group such as children or teens, or may require an accompanying adult. All program participants must comply with the Library's Code of Conduct Policy. The Library reserves the right to set age limits or recommendations for programs. In determining appropriate age recommendations, staff will consider the suitability of the program's materials, format and program presenters, the relevancy and suitability of topic, messages and programming methods for the intended audience. Programs designed for specific audiences will be publicized as such. The responsibility for youth attendance at a Library program rest with their caregivers.
Library programs must have a special educational, informational or cultural value to the community. Programs of a purely commercial nature or those designed for the solicitation of business will not be offered by the library.
Programs that support or oppose any political candidate or ballot measure will not be approved or offered by the Library. However, educational programs, such as candidate forums that include invitations to all recognized candidates may be offered.
Programs will not be offered or approved that endorse or oppose a specific religion. Programs are planned to be inclusive of all cultures and of all religions and no religion. Library programs may address religious themes to educate or inform, but not to promote, observe or proselytize a particular religious conviction. Holiday programs may be offered for the entertainment of library patrons.
The Library may draw upon other community resources when developing programs and may actively partner with other community agencies, organizations, businesses, educational and cultural institutions or individuals to develop and present co-sponsored public programs.
Professional performers and presenters that reflect specialized or unique expertise may be hired for Library programs. Performers and presenters will not be excluded from consideration because of their origin, background or views, or because of possible controversy. The Library may conduct reference checks in advance of contracting with the performer or presenter to ensure quality standards.
Organizations or individuals collaborating with the Library on programs must coordinate marketing efforts with the Library's staff.
Assessments of the effectiveness of Library programs are based on attendance and audience satisfaction. Other evaluation criteria include attraction of new patrons to the Library, the promotion of Library goals, and program evaluation forms.
L. Procedure of Implementation
Selection Aids: It is not possible to personally review every item published or produced that becomes part of the Mulvane Public Library’s collection or services. However, staff members browse and review professional journals and resources, which aid materials selection and services development. The staff also shares and receives recommendations from other libraries, especially in regards to services, including programming.
Replacement Copies: A replacement is an item purchased to replace an identical title previously in the collection. The need for a replacement is judged by the number of copies available both in the Mulvane Public Library and the Kanshare Consortium, online and in other ILL lending libraries, if a copy is lost, missing or damaged, how many items are owned on the subject, the date of publication, if it is part of a series that continues to circulate, the title’s popularity, and the cost to replace the item.
Recommendations: The Library welcomes suggestions and recommendations from the community. However, all recommendations are evaluated by the Selection and Development Criteria listed above. If the material does not meet the criteria, the item may be available through Interlibrary Loan instead.
M. Censorship and Controversial Material
The Mulvane Public Library recognizes the diverse nature of its community and the varied backgrounds and needs of all citizens. It also recognizes that some materials and services may be considered controversial or offensive. Again, “materials and services” may include programs, speakers, displays (readers’ advisory), online databases, office-related tasks (printing/copying/faxing), technology access, museum passes, as well as the physical collection. However, it is not the Library’s responsibility to practice censorship, so no library materials or services will be excluded from the Library’s offerings due to race, sex, political, social, and/or religious views. Selection and development for this Library will not be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits of the material and services in relation to the building of the collection and to serving the interests of the patrons and community. All patrons are free to select or reject materials and services for themselves, but censorship cannot be exercised on others.
Selection and development is based on the criteria given through this policy and does not represent an endorsement by the Library of any theory, idea, or lifestyle. Processing, shelving, marketing, and/or displaying of the Library’s offerings in no way reflects the judgement of the materials and services. Additionally, labeling of materials is not required, but is used as a readers’ advisory tool for patrons.
With respect to the use of library materials and services by children, the decision as to what a minor may read, view, utilize, and/or attend is the responsibility of the parent or guardian. Selection and development will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials and services may inadvertently come into the possession of minors.
Individuals or groups objecting to any portion of the Library’s collection and services may initiate a formal review by filling out a Request for Reconsideration form. Upon receipt of the completed form, a review committee consisting of the Library Director, one Trustee, and one additional staff member will do the following:
Read, view, listen, and/or review to the material or service
Read available professional reviews as well as any customer feedback
Research how other libraries handle the material or service in question
Weigh value of material and service as a whole, and not on passages or portions pulled out-of-context
Review Collection and Services Development Policy for guidance
Prepare feedback for Trustees to review at their next regularly scheduled meeting
The final decision rests with the Library Board of Trustees. After the review is complete, the patron will be notified of the Trustees’ decision.
Once the Board has made a decision on a specific material or service this judgement will remain in place for 5 years. Any future requests for reconsideration within the 5 years on the same item or topic will not be reviewed by the Board. Instead, patrons will be notified of the Board’s decision currently in place, including the date when a request for formal review could be made again.
