Huron Public Library
Material Selection Policy
The Huron Public Library exists to provide to the City and to Erie County free and public access to a variety of information and to encourage intellectual and cultural pursuits within this area. With continuous sensitivity to the changing needs of the community, the Library adapts its services to meet these needs.
The essential function to be served in the selection of materials is the realization of the fundamental goals and objectives of a public library. These goals and objectives include, but are not limited to the:
- Dissemination of information
- Expansion of knowledge
- Broadening of interests
- Advance of competency
- Enlightenment of the citizenry
- Effective utilization of leisure
- Development of skills
- Provision of multiple and diverse resources
- Understanding and appreciation of literature and the arts
- Provision of free access to ideas
- Personal well–being of the patrons
- Entertainment and diversions of the borrower
Principles Of Selection
Selection is based on the merits of a work in relation to the needs, interests and demands of the community. Huron Public Library supports and is supported by the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read, and Freedom to View Statements which affirm that free and convenient access to ideas, information, and the creative experience is of vital importance to every citizen today. The selection of library materials is predicated on the library patron's right to read and his/her freedom from censorship by others.
The Library cooperates as fully as possible with other libraries and with community agencies, groups, and organizations whose purposes and activities are related to library objectives. Expanding techniques of interlibrary loan on a county, state and federal level will be utilized to improve service to Huron Public Library patrons.
Selection Criteria
To build relevant and useful collections, materials must be measured by objective guidelines. All materials whether purchased or donated are considered in terms of the standards listed below. An item need not meet all of the criteria in order to be acceptable.
- Contemporary significance or permanent value
- Accuracy
- Reputation and/or authority of author, editor, or illustrator
- Literary merit
- Relation to existing collection and to other materials on the Subject
- Price and availability
- Format and ease of use
- Scarcity of information in subject area
- Availability of material in other area libraries
- Attention of critics, reviewers, media and public
Multiple copies of heavily requested titles will be purchased to meet community needs.
Nonfiction
Nonfiction will be collected at the Introductory and Basic levels as defined below:
- Introductory: The fundamentals of a subject, which provide the main theories and referrals to other sources.
- Basic: Overview of a subject, adequate to meet general demand.
- Extended: Expanded collection with sufficient depth to allow for independent study and practical applications.
- Comprehensive: Major source material and a broad range of specialized monographs necessary to sustain in–depth study.
The nonfiction collection emphasizes timely, accurate, and useful informational materials to support individual, business, government, and community interests. It also emphasizes materials that are current and high–demand. Materials are available for all ages and reading levels and in a variety of formats.
Materials are selected to represent a continuum of opinions and viewpoints when available.
Titles with continued value and those of current, accepted authority are part of the Library collection. Textbooks are included when they are the only source available on a subject, when useful to those doing independent study, or when they give an overview of a subject, but are not added in support of a specific curriculum. As a new field emerges, the Library attempts to respond with timely additions.
While most non–fiction materials are selected for their utility, others are acquired for their capacity to enrich and entertain.
When choices exist, selection is based on readability, clarity, and appeal. Requests from library users are given high priority.
Fiction
The collection focuses on twentieth and twenty–first century literature including classic and standard titles. There is no single standard for inclusion in the fiction collection. Each work is evaluated in comparison with other fiction works or authors of similar type.
Because of the large volume of fiction published, it is possible to purchase only a representative selection with emphasis on major authors and the most popular examples of a genre. Patron requests for materials of this type influence the addition of multiple copies.
An effort is made to insure access to the titles on required reading lists issued by the Huron City School System.
The Periodical & Newspapers Collection
Periodicals are serials that are issued at stated intervals, generally more frequently than annually, and which contain separate articles, stories, and other writings. Periodicals are an important source of new ideas and topics before such information is available in book form. In addition they provide recreational, how–to, and consumer information.
Periodicals represent an ongoing commitment in terms of subscription cost and storage.
Single subscriptions of a title are maintained with the exception of Consumer Reports – one subscription circulates; one does not.
The periodical and newspaper collection is reviewed annually for additions and deletions.
The Large Print Collection
The Huron Public Library seeks to develop a small core collection of large print titles, the majority of which are fiction titles.
Reference Collection
Reference materials are for use in the library. They provide quick, concise, and up–to–date information and index other material in the collection. Inclusion in the Reference Collection is determined by factors such as cost, complexity, format, authoritativeness, frequency of use, and indexing.
Reference works include such standards as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, directories, bibliographies, etc., as well as more specialized materials which directly support the various informational needs of library users. When demand dictates and cost permits, additional copies are purchased for lending.
Materials in CD–ROM format will be selected based on:
- Demand for information contained on product.
- Ease of use, including instructions for end users.
- Cost efficiency.
- Space consideration.
The Local History Collection
The Huron Public Library collects local history materials and houses them in the Vertical File, the Reference, the Nonfiction or Huron Archives collections. The Library acquires materials, in all formats, dealing with Huron, Ohio. Examples:
- City documents, reports published by the City of Huron.
- Newspapers and other serial publications in hard copy and microform.
The materials in the Vertical File, Reference and Huron Archives Collections may only be used within the Library.
Nonprint Materials
Sound Recordings: The Huron Public Library's Collection includes music recordings and spoken word recordings on audiocassette and compact discs. Spoken word recordings (e.g., recorded novels, plays, how–to's, etc.) are selected to parallel most areas of the general collection. Efforts are made to select on a variety of topics and to appeal to a range of interests.
Music recordings in the Adult Collection are limited to time–enduring titles. Quality of recording and suitability of the subject for aural interpretation are among the selection criteria for spoken word recordings.
Packaging may also affect selection decisions, particularly for multi–part sets. Necessary purchases are made, however, regardless of how the material is packaged.
The Library selects for the Adult's and the Children's Collections.
Videocassettes: Videocassette materials are selected in VHS format. They are acquired by purchase and gifts. The Library makes a concerted effort to purchase a wide variety of video materials to meet the needs of a broad cross–section of users. The aim is to acquire time–enduring titles, and selections are made in these areas:
Non–Theatrical––General interest non–fiction and short fiction works produced for the education and home video markets including items such as documentaries, how–to, self paced learning and instructions, sports, health, etc. Feature––Full–length fiction dramatizations including classic, family, and children's features.
Compact Discs: Compact discs of an educational nature are selected for use in the library on the Children's computer.
Electronic resources: The library staff and Board of Trustees recognize the changing nature of the Internet and provide access to Internet resources within this understanding. The library staff select electronic resources, some of which may change in format or content after selection.
When selection involves the provision of access to a remote resource, such as an Internet–accessible database or a World Wide Web site, it is possible that the content of said resource may not conform to the Library's selection criteria at any given time. The library staff will review the content of such resources on a regular basis to assess their continued value in terms of interest, information and enlightenment of all people of the community.
Responsibility For Selection
The implementation of material selection is a matter of professional staff responsibility as assigned by the Director and carried out under his/her supervision and direction.
In selecting materials for acquisition, the professional staff shall not be subjected to nor respond to influences of censorship or impulsion from any sources, official or private. The professional staff, in acquiring materials, bears the responsibility for achieving the fundamental goals and objectives of the Library and in maintaining a reasonable perspective among these goals and objectives.
Materials shall not be systematically excluded from, or included in, the library's collection in the advocacy of any point of view or persuasion. Acquisition, as used in this statement of policy, includes with its ambit, materials which are offered to the library as gifts, as well as those which are designated for purchase.
Maintaining The Collection
Systematic withdrawal of materials no longer useful is necessary in order to maintain an active, accurate and relevant collection. Library materials are discarded for one or more of the following reasons:
- Poor physical condition
- Superfluous because of duplicate titles or because demand no longer exists
- Obsolete, superseded edition, no longer accurate.
If suitable, discarded materials will be given to the Friends of the Library to sell with income to benefit the Library. Reference materials will be offered to local schools.
Patron Input
Patrons may recommend materials for purchase or may question materials in the collection. The "Request for Reconsideration" form (see Exhibit III), is available from library staff.
