Materials Selection Policy
Created in December 2021. Edited in May 2022. Adopted by the Board of Trustees in July 2022.
Statement of Purpose
The Board of Trustees and the Library Director of Jamaica Memorial Library, of Jamaica, Vermont support and affirm the principles of Intellectual Freedom as outlined in the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights and The Freedom To Read Statement and Goals
A person’s right to use the library will not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
Materials Selection Policy
Collection Development Guidelines are used by the librarians to establish appropriate selection criteria for all fiction and nonfiction categories based on current and desired levels of materials in the collection, usage as determined by circulation, earliest acceptable copyright date, and average number of transactions.
The Board of Trustees, recognizing the varied backgrounds, interests, and needs of the community, and declares as a matter of selection policy that:
- Materials selection is and shall be vested in the Library Director by reason of special education, training and experience.
- Material selection is based on their contributions to our community, whether that be for enlightenment, educational purposes, positive growth, and/or materials that hold an interest for our patrons. Race, nationality, or the political or social views of the author shall not be a determining factor in book selection.
- Selection of materials does not constitute or imply agreement with or approval of the content, viewpoint, implications, or presentation of the materials.
- The freedom to read, along with the freedom to hear and to view, is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This freedom, essential to our democracy, will be upheld, supported, and defended in the selection and accessibility of all library materials. In this regard, the library upholds the principles of the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read, Freedom to View, Statement on Labeling.
- Donations are evaluated by staff based on these principles and directed either to the collection or the Library’s book sale fundraiser. Donated books become the property of the Library and cannot be returned to the donor.
- The Library reserves the right to recycle donated materials.
- Materials are removed from the Library based on lack of interest, physical condition, accuracy and currency.
- Children have free access to all library materials. The library does not operate in loco parentis. It is the parents and/or guardians responsibility to determine what their children and only their children may read. The library staff may not be used as means for censorship by restricting access in any way.
Criteria for Selection
Library materials, whether purchased or donated, are subject to the criteria listed below. An item need not meet all of these standards to be included in the Library’s collection:
- Public interest or demand
- Relevance to the community
- Contemporary significance
- Enduring value
- Readability and style
- Treatment of subject for intended audience
- Physical durability, and attractiveness
- Suitability of the format for library use
- Creative, literary, or technical quality
- Cost
- Availability from our contracted vendors
- Reviews in the professional journals
- Reviews in popular media
- Professional or literary reputation of the author, publisher or producer
- Circulation of similar material
- Relation to existing collection and other materials on the subject
Materials missing or withdrawn from the Library’s collection are not automatically replaced. The decision to replace items is based on the following criteria:
- Availability of other copies or editions in the collection
- Public interest
- Adequacy of coverage in the subject area
- Circulation of withdrawn or missing item
- Cost
- Availability from our contracted vendors
Challenged Materials
The Library Director will consider each request relative to the criteria in this
policy, also considering the principles of the ALA Library Bill of Rights, the Challenged Materials interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, printed reviews, staff input and other appropriate sources. The Library Director will respond to the individual making the request in a timely manner.
Challenged Procedure:
In the event of a challenge, the procedure will be:
- The Director will discuss the challenge and the selection procedure with the complainant.
- If the complainant wishes further consideration of their objection to the library material under reconsideration, they will be requested to fill out a form titled “Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials” and submit it to the Director.
- The Director will inform the Board of Trustees of the complaint.
- The challenged material will remain on the shelf during the reconsideration process.
- Upon receipt of the completed form, the Director presents it to the Chair of the Board of Trustees so that the request may be incorporated into the agenda of the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. The complainant will be notified of this meeting.
- Prior to the next Board meeting, the Director and the members of the Board who have read, viewed, or listened to the material in its entirety, checked general acceptance of the material by reading reviews and consulting recommended lists, will determine the value of the material to the collection.
- The Director and the Board of Trustees present a written recommendation to the complainant. The recommendation will be based on their knowledge of the material as well as their understanding of the library’s selection policy and Library Bill of Rights.
Reconsideration of Library Materials Form
The trustees of Jamaica Memorial Library have established a materials selection policy and a procedure for gathering input about particular items. Completion of this form is the first step in that procedure. If you wish to request reconsideration of a resource, please return the completed form to the library director.
Jamaica Memorial Library
PO Box 266 / 17 Depot St
Jamaica, VT 05343
Date ___________________________________________________________
Name __________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________
City ____________________________ State/Zip _______________________
Phone __________________________ Email __________________________
Do you represent yourself? ____ Or an organization? ____
Name of Organization ___________________________
1. Resource on which you are commenting:
___ Book (e-book) ___ Movie ___ Magazine ___ Audio Recording
___ Digital Resource ___ Game ___ Newspaper ___ Other
Title ________________________________________________________________________
Author/Producer _______________________________________________________________
2. What brought this resource to your attention?
___________________________________________________________
3. Have you examined the entire resource? If not, what sections did you review?
___________________________________________________________
4. What concerns you about the resource?
___________________________________________________________
5. Are there resource(s) you suggest to provide additional information and/or other viewpoints on this topic?
___________________________________________________________
6. What action are you requesting the committee consider?
__________________________________________________________
Cited Sources:
“Library Bill of Rights”, American Library Association, June 30, 2006. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill
Materials Selection Policy – Austin Public Library – Austin, TX. (2021). Retrieved from https://library.austintexas.gov/about-library/materials-selection-policy
Materials Selection Policy – Brooks Memorial Library – Brattleboro VT. (2002). Retrieved from https://brookslibraryvt.org/policies/materials-selection-policy/
“Sample Reconsideration Form”, American Library Association, December 26, 2017.
http://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit/sampleforms