Spokane County Library District’s Board
of Trustees recognizes that within the District
there are individuals and groups with diverse
interests, backgrounds, and needs, and the library
was created to serve all of the people within
the District’s service area. The Board,
therefore, declares as a matter of policy that:
- The Collection Development Policy is based
on and reflects the District’s mission,
goals, and values as stated in the current Strategic
Plan.
- Library materials, in a variety of formats, including licensed electronic resources and online databases, shall be selected and retained on the basis of their value for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all the people of the community in conformance with the District's mission.
Some of the factors which will be considered in adding to or removing materials from the library collection shall include: present collection composition, collection development objectives, interest, demand, timeliness, audience, significance of subject, diversity of viewpoint, effective expression, and limitation of budget and facilities.
No library materials that meet the District's selection criteria shall be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of the author or those contributing to its creation. Not all materials will be suitable for all members of the community.
The District shall be responsive to public suggestion of titles and subjects to be included in the library collection. Gifts of materials may be accepted with the understanding that the same standards of selection are applied to gifts as to materials acquired by purchase, and that any gifts may be discarded at the District's discretion.
The District is not a library of historical record. To ensure a vital collection of continuing value to the community, except in the area of local history, materials that are not well used may be withdrawn.
The library collection shall be organized and maintained to facilitate access. There shall be no prejudicial labeling, sequestering, or alteration of materials.
- Selection is vested in the District's director, and under his or her direction, in members of the staff who are qualified by reason of education and training. Library materials selected in accordance with this policy shall be held to be selected by the Board.
- The Board believes that reading, listening
to, and viewing library materials are individual,
private matters. While one is free to select
or to reject materials for oneself, one cannot
restrict the freedom of others to read, view,
or inquire. Parents have the primary responsibility
to guide and direct the reading and viewing
of their own minor children. The District does
not stand "in loco parentis*."
The Board of Trustees recognizes the right of individuals to question materials in the District collection. A library customer questioning material in the collection is encouraged to talk with designated members of the staff concerning such material. To formally state his/her opinion and receive a written response, a customer may submit the form provided for that purpose. Material that has been questioned will remain in the active collection until the District has made a determination of its status.
- The Board of trustees adopts and declares
that it will adhere to and support:
- This policy shall relate only to materials specifically selected by the District. Customer access to information available publicly on the Internet shall be governed by a separate policy.
*In place of a parent
Adopted by the Spokane County
Library District Board of trustees: June 14, 1986
Revised: June 20, 2006
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• Access to Library Services
• Children's
Safety in Libraries
• Collection
Development
•
Confidentiality of Customer Information
•
Customer Use of Internet Resources
•
Distribution of Community-Interest Informational Materials
• Eligibility
for Library Use
•
Facility Use for Political Purposes
•
Public Bulletin Boards Display and Exhibit Areas
• Rules of Customer
Conduct
• Volunteer Program
• Youth Safety on
the Web
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