Collection Development Policy
View the Collection Development policy for the Citrus County Library System. Adopted by Citrus County BOCC on 7/26/2022.
Policy 12
Collection Development
Introduction
The purpose of this Policy is to provide information to the public about the principles that direct the selection and management of all public library resources, acquired, and shared by libraries within the system. The library makes available a broad and relevant collection of materials in a variety of formats for information, education, and recreation.
The library affirms the public’s right of free access to a diverse and balanced spectrum of reading, listening and viewing materials in a variety of current and emerging formats. In keeping with the professional standards and best practices of all public libraries, the Citrus County Library System has adopted the following supporting documents from the American Library Association’s (ALA) guidelines for public access to library resources:
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- Libraries: An American Value Links to External Site, opens in new tab.
- Library Bill of Rights Links to External Site, opens in new tab. and Interpretations Links to External Site, opens in new tab.
- Freedom to Read Statement Links to External Site, opens in new tab.
- Freedom to View Statement Links to External Site, opens in new tab.
- Code of Ethics Links to External Site, opens in new tab.
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Philosophy
The library collection, taken as a whole, will be a diverse source of information, representing as many viewpoints as possible. The library, as a tax-supported institution, does not support any particular viewpoint.
The library recognizes that some items may be considered controversial and that any given item may offend patrons. Selections are not made on the basis of any anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits of the work in building a balanced collection and serving the interests or needs of the library patrons. Materials dealing with controversial views, language, or images are judged as entire works, not on isolated passages or sections.
Parents and legal guardians have the right and responsibility to guide and direct the reading, listening, and viewing choices of their own minor children, and only their children. Parents or guardians who wish to limit or restrict the use of library materials by their own children should personally oversee their selections.
Responsibility
The Citrus County Library Governing Board annually approves the library’s budget, as developed by the Library Director with recommendations from the Citrus County Special Library District Advisory Board (LAB). The annual budget allocates resources to ensure that the collection meets the needs of the community. Priorities are set to purchase materials and resources that support the library’s mission, strategic goals, and key initiatives.
The ultimate responsibility for the growth and maintenance of the Library’s collection rests with the Library Director
General Selection Criteria
The following general criteria are indicative of, but are not exhaustive of, the matters considered in material selection:
- Popular interest
- Contemporary significant or permanent value
- Currency of information
- Accuracy
- Local emphasis or relevance to the community
- Readability or ability to sustain interest
- Treatment of subject for the intended audience
- Reputation and qualifications of author, performer/composer, publisher, producer, or illustrator
- Creative, literary, or technical quality
- Reviews in professional literature
- Attention of the public, critics, or recognition of material by other general interest media outlets
- Format and its ease of use
- Use of similar works as monitored through the integrated library system (ILS)
- Cost and availability
- Relation to existing materials in the collection
Patrons may also recommend materials for the library using the purchase suggestion feature in their account on the library’s catalog website; though there is no guarantee these suggestions will be purchased.
Materials may be removed from circulation due to age, cost, accessibility, limited demand, poor suitability of format for use by public, or lack of documentation. Materials not found in the collection may be available through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
Collection Evaluation
Library collections are constantly changing. Maintenance of the collection through constant evaluation and assessment by library staff ensures its usefulness and relevancy to the community. The library adheres to professional collection review and weeding practices including the use of:
- Statistical reports
- CREW Method (Continuous, Review, Evaluation, and Weeding) to identify items for consideration for retention or withdrawal.
- MUSTIE Method – includes six undesirable factors that increase the likelihood of withdrawal:
M = Misleading (and/or factually inaccurate)
U = Ugly (worn and beyond mending)
S = Superseded (by a new edition or a material with better coverage of the subject)
T = Trivial (no longer of discernable literary or scientific merit)
I = Irrelevant (to the needs and interest of the community)
E = Elsewhere (found expeditiously through another resource, other format, or ILL) - Shelf space
- Sustainability of format
- Number of copies in the collection
- Circulation statistics
- Poor condition due to missing pages, markings, water, or mildew damage
Replacements
The library does not automatically replace materials withdrawn or lost from the collection. Need for replacement is considered in relation to several factors including: the number of remaining copies of the title in the system; existence of newer or better material on a subject; budget constraints; and availability (out of print materials are rarely replaced).
Donation of Materials
The library does not necessarily accept all donations but does accepts donations in reasonable physical condition that support and further the mission, goals and objectives of the library. Upon request, library staff will supply a donation receipt for income tax records to the donor, who may fill it out if desired. Library staff does not make recommendations, estimates, or appraisals on the value of donated materials.
Donated materials become property of the library upon receipt and will be considered for addition to the collection in accordance with the selection and assessment criteria described in this Policy. Donated items will not be accepted on the condition that they are returned to the original owners if they are not added to the collection. Materials not included in the collection will be transferred, discarded, or recycled following established procedures for disposition. Materials may be given to approved recipient organizations including, but not limited to designated Friends of the Library groups, which may be sold to benefit the library.
Policy 12 – Issued: 4/01/1996, Revised: 5/23/2022, BOCC Adopted: 7/26/2022
Collection Development
Introduction
The purpose of this Policy is to provide information to the public about the principles that direct the selection and management of all public library resources, acquired, and shared by libraries within the system. The library makes available a broad and relevant collection of materials in a variety of formats for information, education, and recreation.
The library affirms the public’s right of free access to a diverse and balanced spectrum of reading, listening and viewing materials in a variety of current and emerging formats. In keeping with the professional standards and best practices of all public libraries, the Citrus County Library System has adopted the following supporting documents from the American Library Association’s (ALA) guidelines for public access to library resources:
- Libraries: An American Value
- Library Bill of Rights and Interpretations
- Freedom to Read Statement
- Freedom to View Statement
- Code of Ethics
Philosophy
The library collection, taken as a whole, will be a diverse source of information, representing as many viewpoints as possible. The library, as a tax-supported institution, does not support any particular viewpoint.
The library recognizes that some items may be considered controversial and that any given item may offend patrons. Selections are not made on the basis of any anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits of the work in building a balanced collection and serving the interests or needs of the library patrons. Materials dealing with controversial views, language, or images are judged as entire works, not on isolated passages or sections.
Parents and legal guardians have the right and responsibility to guide and direct the reading, listening, and viewing choices of their own minor children, and only their children. Parents or guardians who wish to limit or restrict the use of library materials by their own children should personally oversee their selections.
Responsibility
The Citrus County Library Governing Board annually approves the library’s budget, as developed by the Library Director with recommendations from the Citrus County Special Library District Advisory Board (LAB). The annual budget allocates resources to ensure that the collection meets the needs of the community. Priorities are set to purchase materials and resources that support the library’s mission, strategic goals, and key initiatives.
The ultimate responsibility for the growth and maintenance of the Library’s collection rests with the Library Director
General Selection Criteria
The following general criteria are indicative of, but are not exhaustive of, the matters considered in material selection:
- Popular interest
- Contemporary significant or permanent value
- Currency of information
- Accuracy
- Local emphasis or relevance to the community
- Readability or ability to sustain interest
- Treatment of subject for the intended audience
- Reputation and qualifications of author, performer/composer, publisher, producer, or illustrator
- Creative, literary, or technical quality
- Reviews in professional literature
- Attention of the public, critics, or recognition of material by other general interest media outlets
- Format and its ease of use
- Use of similar works as monitored through the integrated library system (ILS)
- Cost and availability
- Relation to existing materials in the collection
Patrons may also recommend materials for the library using the purchase suggestion feature in their account on the library’s catalog website; though there is no guarantee these suggestions will be purchased.
Materials may be removed from circulation due to age, cost, accessibility, limited demand, poor suitability of format for use by public, or lack of documentation. Materials not found in the collection may be available through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
Collection Evaluation
Library collections are constantly changing. Maintenance of the collection through constant evaluation and assessment by library staff ensures its usefulness and relevancy to the community. The library adheres to professional collection review and weeding practices including the use of:
- Statistical reports
- CREW Method (Continuous, Review, Evaluation, and Weeding) to identify items for consideration for retention or withdrawal.
- MUSTIE Method – includes six undesirable factors that increase the likelihood of withdrawal:
M = Misleading (and/or factually inaccurate)
U = Ugly (worn and beyond mending)
S = Superseded (by a new edition or a material with better coverage of the subject)
T = Trivial (no longer of discernable literary or scientific merit)
I = Irrelevant (to the needs and interest of the community)
E = Elsewhere (found expeditiously through another resource, other format, or ILL) - Shelf space
- Sustainability of format
- Number of copies in the collection
- Circulation statistics
- Poor condition due to missing pages, markings, water, or mildew damage
Replacements
The library does not automatically replace materials withdrawn or lost from the collection. Need for replacement is considered in relation to several factors including: the number of remaining copies of the title in the system; existence of newer or better material on a subject; budget constraints; and availability (out of print materials are rarely replaced).
Donation of Materials
The library does not necessarily accept all donations but does accepts donations in reasonable physical condition that support and further the mission, goals and objectives of the library. Upon request, library staff will supply a donation receipt for income tax records to the donor, who may fill it out if desired. Library staff does not make recommendations, estimates, or appraisals on the value of donated materials.
Donated materials become property of the library upon receipt and will be considered for addition to the collection in accordance with the selection and assessment criteria described in this Policy. Donated items will not be accepted on the condition that they are returned to the original owners if they are not added to the collection. Materials not included in the collection will be transferred, discarded, or recycled following established procedures for disposition. Materials may be given to approved recipient organizations including, but not limited to designated Friends of the Library groups, which may be sold to benefit the library.
Policy 12 – Issued: 4/01/1996, Revised: 5/23/2022, BOCC Adopted: 7/26/2022