Your essay should address these questions: Is the NHFPL a good example of a public library selection policy? Why?
Read the NHFPL collection development policy (link goes to the policy) and analyze it in relationship to the NHLA policy guidelines above and the ALA Toolkit.
Describe how the policy matches or doesn’t match the elements listed. Be careful and thorough. Your essay should address these questions: Is the NHFPL a good example of a public library selection policy? Why?
Elements of a Material Selection Policy
A. Goals of the library (mission statement, philosophy of access to materials)
B. Purpose of the Material Selection Policy
C. Community profile
Library’s service area, including projected growth
Types of people in the community
Educational background of the community
Special factors which might influence the selection of materials
D. Intellectual freedom statements
Library Bill of Rights
Free Access to Libraries
Statement on Labeling
Freedom to Read Statement
First Amendment to the Constitution
E. Library’s role in cooperation, e.g., coordinated buying agreements, interlibrary loan
F. Organization of the selection process
Qualifications of selectors
Authority for selection decisions (ultimate and delegated)
Legal responsibility for selection
G. Some possible selection criteria
Present and potential relevance to community needs
Relevance of subject, format, and reading level for the intended audience
Importance as a document of the times
Literary and artistic merit
Accuracy of content
Appropriateness and effectiveness of medium to content
Format is appropriate to library use and is not easily damaged
Reputation and/or significance of author, publisher or producer
Author or producer is already represented in the collection
Author or illustrator is local
Positive reviews by critics, staff members and/or professional journals
Coverage in local or popular media
Popularity with library patrons
Continuation of a series
Balances existing materials in the collection
Enhances a specific collection in the library
Insufficient materials available on the subject
Not available from other lending sources
Within limits of budget for materials
Winners of recognized awards
H. Formats (types of materials to be included in the collection)
Print: Books, newspapers, periodicals, paperbacks, vertical file, government documents, maps
Non-Print: films/filmstrips, videocassettes, records, cassettes, compact disks, microforms, art prints, educational games and toys, realia
Electronic: CD-ROM programs and databases, computer software, online services, the Internet, other wide area networks
I. Special collections
Local history
Genealogy
Large print
Foreign language
J. Limits of the collection (areas in which the library will not be purchasing)
Monetary limitations
Formats
Abridgments
Space limitations
K. Gift and memorial policy
Materials
Personal property and money (see NH RSA 202-A:4-c,d)
L. Preservation policy, including binding, microforming, restoration, housing, and storage
M. Replacement and duplicates policies
N. Withdrawing and discarding policies
O. Challenges to materials
Procedure for handling complaints
Reconsideration of materials forms
P. ReAssessment of the materials selection policy
How often
By whom
Q. Approval by governing body
