345.11.1 Material Selection Criteria

Materials are selected in both print and non-print formats using the following criteria:
Reviews
Collection needs
Demand
Quality of information
Patron requests
Community interest
Literary merit
Cost of the material
Performers
Formats

345.11.2 Material Selection Responsibility

Responsibility for selection lies with the Library Director, who may share this responsibility with other members of the library staff.

Policy Adopted by the Library Board of Trustees on April 10, 2006.

345.12.1 Material Selection Criteria

1. Reviews—Because it is not possible to examine and evaluate all items available for selection, librarians rely on professional review sources to aid in the selection process. At least one favorable review is usually necessary for selection; however the selection decision may be based on other selection criteria listed.
2. Collection needs—Titles considered for selection are evaluated against the library’s current holding. Some well-reviewed materials may not be selected if the collection already has sufficient material in a certain area. Other materials, even those of somewhat marginal quality, may be selected in direct response to a collection need.
3. Demand—Fiction and non-fiction titles by authors known to be in demand by the library’s users are likely to be purchased even if the title did not receive favorable reviews. Non-fiction titles in high demand may not be selected due if there are questions about the accuracy of their information.
4. Quality of information—Librarians want materials containing factual information to be as accurate and up-to-date as possible. While the date of publication is not a factor in recreational reading, and in titles of literary merit and wide audience appeal, non-fiction titles even two years old may not be selected because they will not remain accurate long enough to justify their cost. In addition, the author's qualifications and previous publications are also important considerations.
5. Patron requests—Materials requested by patrons will be considered for selection if they are likely to be of interest to other patrons and satisfy the selection criteria listed.
6. Community interest—Materials about the local area or by local authors that are published by mainstream publishers are selected for purchase whenever possible.
7. Literary merit—Well written materials that have literary merit may be selected even when they are not in demand. 8. Cost of the material—Price decisions are made in relation to the value of the item to the collection, vendor discounts, and the available funds within the materials budget. More expensive materials that are not heavily discounted are purchased more sparingly than heavily discounted items. In addition, circulation materials that cost over $75 are generally avoided to protect patron who is required to pay the cost of lost items. 9. Performers—or audiovisual materials, the expertise of the performer (reader, conductor, actor, director, musician, etc) is a paramount consideration. 10. Formats—Selected materials must be of an appropriate format for library use. Selection decisions are based on the type and quality of the format/edition:

• Workbooks and books with perforated pages are generally avoided.
• Book club editions are usually of inferior quality and are generally not selected for purchase.
• Audio-visual materials should be tough enough to stand up to the heavy demands of library circulation.
• Trade, or hardcover, editions are the mainstay of the library collection.
• Text books published for classroom use (contains questions, annotations, etc) are generally not selected.
• Trade paperbacks, having better quality paper and binding than mass market editions, may be selected when hardcover editions are too expensive or unavailable.
• Mass market paperbacks, usually lower priced and of poorer quality than trade paperbacks, are rarely selected.
• Limited, or special editions signed by the author, or otherwise designed to attract collectors, are generally not of interest to the library.
• Library bound editions are of superior quality and last longer with heavy use. Suitable for children's books and classics.
• Abridged items, in which some part of the work has been deleted, are avoided for selection. An exception to this "rule" is abridged audiobooks. · Print-on-demand materials, generally a paperback edition that is printed and bound when someone needs a copy, or a self-published vanity title, are rarely selected.
• Academic titles are generally too specialized, too narrowly focused, or too academic for needs of the general audience that frequents a public library. Unless the content of the book is of local interest and generates significant local demand, the library does not purchase and add these titles to the collection.

345.12.2 Material Selection Responsibility
Under the supervision of the Library Director: the Children’s Librarian selects all materials for young patrons birth through 6th grade, teen fiction and audio fiction for grades 7 through 12, and adult fiction DVDs; the Adult Services Librarian selects all other materials.

Guidelines Effective April 10, 2006.