RAPIDES PARISH LIBRARY

MATERIALS SELECTION POLICY

 The purpose of this policy on materials selection for Rapides Parish Library is to guide in the selection of materials and to inform the public about the principles upon which selections are made, based on the Rapides Parish Library Mission Statement:

"It is the mission of the Rapides Parish Library to provide informational, cultural, educational and recreational materials to the people of Rapides Parish. The library will continue its emphasis on books and other print materials, while also expanding audiovisual media and electronic resources to meet patron needs. The Rapides Parish Library is a local center for continuing self-education and a backup resource for students at all levels. The library does not attempt to maintain a historical repository for all human knowledge, but rather an active collection, meeting current and foreseeable needs."

 GENERAL OBJECTIVES OF SELECTION

The Rapides Parish Library strives to ensure a free and equal opportunity to all residents of Rapides Parish, both children and adults, to secure reliable materials, information and professional guidance, which will enable them to enhance and broaden their cultural, educational, vocational and recreational lives, and thereby to contribute to the development and enrichment of the community. 

The Library supports the principles of the Freedom to Read Statement and Library Bill of Rights (see appendices) and provides within financial and spatial limitations, a large, responsive and stimulating collection of material to assist in the personal and social development of citizens irrespective of age, race, religion, national background, or economic, social or professional status.   All print materials are selected by this Library in accordance with these basic objectives.  The Library is committed to acquiring new media as they become available and prove to meet the needs of our community.

This collection, which is intended for the individual and the community, contains the works that reflect humanity's growing awareness of itself in this world.  Contemporary rapid social developments necessitate an increasing attention to the growing need of the public for current information, designed to help them cope effectively with their changing environment.  The Library recognizes the importance of providing recreational materials, and encourages such use of leisure time as will promote this awareness, personal development and social well being.

Selection is based on the particular needs and interests of the members of the community-- personal development, family living, economic competence, satisfactory social relationships, citizenship responsibilities, practical instructions in various skills, and the creative use of leisure time.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR MATERIALS SELECTION

This Library Board adopts as part of its policy the following paragraphs from the Library Bill of Rights:

 "I.  As a responsibility of library service, books and other library materials should be chosen for values of interest, information and enlightenment of all people of the community.  In no case should library materials be excluded because of the race or nationality or the social, political, or religious view of the authors. 

II.  Libraries should provide books and other materials presenting all points of view concerning the problems and issues of our times; no library materials should be proscribed or removed from libraries because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval." 

Final responsibility for selection of books and library materials is and shall be vested in the Director.  However, the Director may delegate to such members of the staff as are qualified by reason of training, the authority to interpret and guide the application of the policy in making day-to-day selections.  Unusual problems will be referred to the Director for resolution.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF SELECTION

The function of the Library is to supply materials which fill the potential or known needs of patrons.  The following basic standard criteria are considered in recommending books for purchase and establishing the overall value of a book.

1.  Patron interest

2.  Literary merit

3.  Authoritativeness:  Author's reputation and significance as a writer, or his knowledge of the subject

4.  Importance of subject matter to the collection

5.  Timeliness or permanence of the book

6.  Appearance of title in special bibliographies or indexes

7.  Existing subject matter in the collection

These criteria are meant to support the needs of the public by providing quality materials within the system, and in all its collections the Library makes a continuing effort to maintain standards of excellence in literary style and informative value.

The Library has as its first priority the development of a collection in the print format.

SELECTIONS BY LEVELS

Selection for adults

In its effort to meet the general objectives of selection, the Library recognizes that materials selected should cover the constellation of subjects relating to the needs of the total parish and that individual materials should provide as many diverse viewpoints and interests as possible within the Library's spatial and financial restrictions.  In implementing this responsibility the Library supports the Freedom to Read Statement and the Library Bill of Rights and considers the overall value of a book or other item to be the chief criterion for selection for adults.

The Library recognizes that many materials are controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons.  Serious works which present an honest picture of some problem or aspect of life will at times be controversial, but they will not be excluded because of visual format, coarse language or frankness.  The Library believes that individuals should have access to more than one point of view and that the individuals' personal taste will dictate what they choose to read.  It follows that free access to different points of view must be offered.

Selection for Teens

For the age group from thirteen through seventeen, it is also recognized that there is a body of literature that deals frankly and honestly with the situations confronting maturing young people and that provides positive, personal development skills for situations prevalent in contemporary society.  Nonfiction book selection focuses primarily on those social issues, such as career planning, substance abuse, etc., which face present day youth.

Selection for Children

The Library's objectives in providing materials for children are concurrent with those for adults, with emphasis on guiding the juvenile (pre-school though age 12) toward the enjoyment and appreciation of good literature and of reading per se.

Titles are purchased which offer information on a wide range of subjects.  Recreational reading is equally important and materials are purchased to help children in developing emotionally mature attitudes and responses.  Care is taken in the selection so that the transition from juvenile literature to teen literature is eased.  The Library believes that children also, deserve to read what they like.

Selection for Main Library and Branches

   The Library as a system

The Library responds to three groups of patrons:  each branch's immediate neighborhood, its community at large, and the Rapides Parish Library System.  Main Library and each branch play definite roles within the system in carrying out the objectives of the Library.

   Main Library

In addition to maintaining a general, well‑balanced collection, the staff must establish priorities for any necessary development of collections on the research or comprehensive level.

   Branches

In addition to maintaining a general, well‑balanced collection at a basic level, each branch manager must establish priorities for any necessary development of collections on any other level, reflecting its constituency.

   Louisiana and Local History

The Library has the responsibility of collecting, organizing, and making available extensive information about Alexandria, Rapides Parish and Louisiana.

The Library acknowledges a particular interest in local and state history.  Therefore, it will seek to acquire state and municipal public documents, and it will take a broad view of works by Louisiana authors as well as works relating to the State of Louisiana, whether or not such materials meet the standards of selection in other respects.  However, the Library is not under any obligation to add to its collections anything about Louisiana or produced by authors, printers, or publishers with Louisiana connections if it does not seem to be in the public interest to do so.

Motion Pictures

          The Library purchases and accepts as gifts videos and DVDs of motion pictures that fit within the overall materials selection guidelines.  The Library applies the ratings assigned by the Motion Picture Association of America to films.  Children through age 12 are permitted to check out films rated G or PG.  Those 13-17 years of age are also permitted to check out films rated PG 13.  Only adults, 18 years of age and older, may check out R rated films.

          When a film is unrated, the professional staff of the Library will assign a rating, using the same criteria as the MPAA.

  SCOPE OF THE COLLECTION

The Library recognizes its primary responsibility as serving the informational, recreational and educational needs of the total community.

The Library is obligated to provide reference and research materials for the direct answering of specific questions, and materials that can freely circulate on loan to the public for a specified period of time.  The reference collection contains books which are used as tools of condensed information.  Yet many books which are not reference books are treated as such because of their informational value.  The materials of the collection include books, periodicals, newspapers, vertical file materials (clippings, photocopies, pamphlets, etc.), videocassettes, audiocassettes, maps, microforms, electronic resources, kits, compact disks, and other materials which aid the Library in achieving the general objective.  The Library also recognizes the purposes and resources of other libraries in the community and shall not needlessly duplicate functions and materials.

The Library acquires textbooks and other curriculum‑related materials when such materials serve the general public.

GIFTS

Unconditional gifts, donations and contributions to the Library may be accepted by the Director on behalf of the Library Board of Control.  No gifts or donations conditionally made shall be accepted without the approval of the Library Board of Control and the Police Jury.

Generally collections of books will not be accepted with restrictions which necessitate special housing or which prevent integration of the gift into the general library collection.

The same standards of selection will govern the acceptance of gifts as govern purchase by the Library.  If material is useful but not needed in this Library's collection, it may be disposed of at the discretion of the Director.

MAINTAINING THE COLLECTION

Systematic examination of materials in terms of usefulness to the public as defined in this policy is necessary in order to maintain relevant resources.  Adjustments are based on level of public demand; physical condition of the item; other titles available on the same subject; use of the materials as determined by last date of loan or by number of loans in the last five years; currency of information; and availability of space.  Library staff members are to be thoroughly instructed with regard to the necessity and methods of collection weeding, transferring or further development.

CENSORSHIP

The selection of library books and materials is predicated on the library patrons' right to read, and similarly, their freedom from censorship by others.  Many books are controversial, and any given item may offend some persons.  Selections for this Library will not, however, be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits of the material in relation to the building of the collection and to serving the interests of the readers.

This library holds censorship to be a purely individual matter and declares that‑‑while all are free to reject for themselves books and other materials of which they do not approve‑‑they cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom of others.

With respect to the use of the library materials by children, the decision as to what minors may read is the responsibility of their parents or guardians.  Selection will not be inhibited by the possibility that books may come into the possession of minors.