Collection Development Policy
Libraries of Foster
PURPOSE
The Collection Development Policy offers guidance to Library staff in the selection and retention
of materials for the Libraries of Foster (LOF) and serves to inform the public of the library’s
principles for selection and collection maintenance.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
The LOF observes the American Library Association policies regarding freedom of access,
including the Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read, Freedom to view, and related statements
contained in the Intellectual Freedom manual. It upholds the principles of intellectual freedom,
the citizen’s right to information, the right to confidentiality of users’ records and opposes
censorship.
COLLECTION OBJECTIVES
The LOF provides a contemporary, relevant collection of resources in a wide range of formats to
meet the informational, educational and recreational needs of the community. The LOF strives
to meet these needs within the limitations of space, staffing, and budget. The OLOF endeavors
to make use of new technologies and formats to offer library users the greatest access to
information and ideas.
The library strives to build a diverse collection that reflects our community and contains content
by and about a wide array of people and cultures to authentically represent a variety of ideas,
information, stories, and experiences.
The library recognizes that there are ideas, opinions, viewpoints, beliefs, and philosophies which
are subject to discussion and debate and that any community will be made up of citizens with
divergent viewpoints. The library endeavors to provide access to diverse points of view within
the limits of financial resources and physical space. Inclusion in the library’s collection is not an
endorsement of a particular point of view or belief.
RESPONSIBILITY OF SELECTION
The ultimate responsibility for materials selection rests with the Library Director, who operates
within the framework of policies determined by the Library Board of Trustees. The Library
Director delegates the responsibility for materials selection to the library staff.
CRITERIA FOR MATERIALS SELECTION
Materials will be selected based on positive reviews in professional journals or actual
examination and evaluation of materials. Popular demand, such as bestsellers, school
bibliographies, or local interests, may also be used as the criterion for selection of materials.
Certain objective criteria are used to build a diversified collection that supports the library’s
mission. Each item must meet such of the following criteria as apply to its inclusion.
Relevance to community interests and needs
Timeliness or permanence of the material
Availability of the material in the Ocean State Libraries (OSL) consortium
Authority and competence of the author, composer, filmmaker, etc.
Relative importance in comparison with other works on the subject.
Price and availability
Favorable reviews in professionally recognized publications
COLLECTION MAINTANANCE
Collection maintenance or “weeding” is part of the continuous evaluation of the library
collection by the library staff. To maintain a collection that is up to date, reliable, in good
condition, and relates to the needs and interests of the patrons of the LOF, materials are reviewed
on an ongoing basis. Materials are withdrawn when they are deemed to be outdated, inaccurate,
seldom used or in poor condition.
The library does not automatically replace items that are withdrawn from circulation due to loss,
damage, or wear. Decisions will be made based on the following criteria:
Demand for the specific material
Number of copies held at the library and in the OSL consortium
Availability of more up-to-date materials on the subject
Funding
GIFTS AND DONATIONS
Please refer to GIFTS AND DONATIONS POLICY.
The same criterial governing the selection of purchased materials will also apply to non-
monetary gifts.
The library shall not be responsible for the appraisal of gifts for income tax or any other
purposes.
RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS
Please refer to the REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION policy. Patrons who request the
reconsideration of Library materials will be asked to put their request in writing by completing
and signing the form within the Request for consideration policy.
The Library Director will review the work in question and based on the Material selection
criteria, make a decision about the disposition of the work. The Library Director shall inform the
patron of the decision. The patron will be given an opportunity to discuss the work further if
they wish. If they are dissatisfied with the resolution, the patron may request that I be brought
before the Board of Trustees, who will follow the same procedure.
The material shall remain on the shelf until a decision is made. An item can only be
reconsidered once in a 12-month period.
Materials that no longer meet the needs of the community and no longer support the library’s
collection will be withdrawn and disposed of in accordance with the library’s “Deselection of
Materials” policy.
Approved: 10/25/2024