Materials Selection, Collection Development, & Donations Policy

Platteville Public Library offers materials in a variety of formats to serve community needs and interests. The volume of publishing, contrasted with Library budget constraints and space limitations, necessitates guidelines for selecting materials and developing collections that best meet Library service objectives.

The Library Board of Trustees has endorsed the Library Bill of Rights and The Freedom to Read Statement, which are integral parts of this policy.

Selection Policy

Responsibility for the selection of Library materials rests with the Library Director, who may delegate or share this responsibility with members of the Library staff.

In selecting materials, the Library Director and Library staff attempt to provide a variety and balance of ideas and viewpoints wherever possible. The selection of any given item is not an endorsement by Platteville Public Library staff or the Board of Trustees of the viewpoints or ideas contained therein.

Selection Criteria

Materials are considered on their individual merit and intended audience. Considerations in the selection of materials may include:

accuracy and authenticity of information
educational significance
balance and appropriateness within specific library collection
popular appeal and/or demand
contribution to the breadth of viewpoints on controversial issues
significance and reputation of the author, producer, and/or publish
timeliness or historical value
quality and variety of format
value commensurate with cost and/or need
availability of material elsewhere
relationship to existing library holdings
community standards and interests

Sources of information about new materials include professional reviews, popular media, and patron recommendations. The lack of a review or an unfavorable review will not be the sole reason for rejecting a title. Materials are judged on the basis of the work as a whole, not on a part or parts taken out of context.

The selection of some materials may be limited to general or basic works that are not considered specialized.

Recommendations for Purchase

Patrons’ suggestions are welcomed. Patrons are asked to complete a Recommendation for Purchase form [see Appendix J], providing as much information as possible about a suggested item. Purchase is then considered within the selection policy framework. The Library Director has the authority to approve or reject any item recommended for purchase by Library staff or patrons.

Donations

Donations of books and other materials that are clean and in good condition are welcomed. Donations are accepted with the understanding that they will be added to the collection only if appropriate and needed. Items not needed because of duplication, condition, or failure to meet selection criteria may be given to the Platteville Library Foundation for use in its fundraising activities, shared with other libraries or community agencies, or disposed of. The Library reserves the right to refuse to accept any materials which create a disposal problem. The following donations will not be accepted:

Textbooks
Condensed books
Encyclopedias
Musty/dirty materials
Pamphlets
Materials that are obsolete or contain outdated content
VHS and cassette tapes

Upon request, the Library will provide a written acknowledgment of the receipt of donations [Appendix K] but, in accordance with tax regulations, will leave the determination of the value of the donation to the donor.

Gifts & Memorials

Gifts of cash for the purchase of Library materials are welcomed. When possible, the Library Director will try to accommodate specific material preferences which meet the Library selection criteria. Where gifts are made to the Library as a memorial, a book plate recognizing the individual may be affixed to the material if desired.

Offers of substantial cash gifts, securities, bequests, works of art, special collections, and real property will be submitted to the Board of Trustees, who may work out terms of acceptance that are compatible with Library policies, the donor’s intent, and applicable laws or transfer the gift to the Library Foundation.

Gifts of Artwork

Donations of artwork may be accepted by the Library Board of Trustees. Donations of art must be unconditional, transferring ownership and all the rights of ownership to the Library. Donations are accepted only with the understanding that the Library has the right to determine retention and other considerations relating to the use or disposition of the gift. If a piece of art is donated for display in the Library, the Library Board of Trustees will approve acceptance of the piece and will determine the placement/location. The Library Board of Trustees may sell the item for value and use the proceeds for any purpose appropriate to the Library’s vision. The Library may transfer ownership to any other agency it deems appropriate. At the request of the donor, a small plaque or metal plate, will be placed near the work of art to identify it and recognize the donor or an honoree. The decision concerning placement of such a plaque or plate is the sole prerogative of the Library.

Weeding of Collections

Obsolescence, damage, normal wear, and space limitations make the discarding of materials a continuing process. Factors considered in discarding materials include:

physical condition
lack of use
materials no longer considered accurate or factual
multiple copies of items no longer in demand
older editions replaced by later revisions

Materials of local significance normally will not be discarded, even if they meet the abo criteria. Due to space limitations or infrequent use, materials may be transferred to storage or discarded. Final responsibility for deciding which materials to discard rests with the Library Director or designated Library staff.

The weeding process may be guided by local use patterns, standard library catalogs and lists, and professional sources. Items discarded from Library collections may be given to the Platteville Library Foundation for use in its fundraising activities, shared with other libraries or community agencies, or disposed of. The Library will not accept requests to hold weeded materials for individuals.

Challenged Material

The Library Board of Trustees believes that while individuals are free to reject for themselves those materials that do not support their tastes and views, they will not restrict the freedom and choice of others to read or inquire. Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of their contents, and Library materials will not be sequestered except to prevent disturbance or to protect them from damage or theft. Library staff are available to discuss patron concerns and identify alternative materials. Parents/guardians are responsible for guiding and directing the reading, viewing, and listening of their own minor children.

Requests for Reconsideration

Patrons who request that an item be withdrawn from a Library collection or reassigned to another collection will be referred to the Library Director and offered a Request for Reconsideration of Library Material form. Upon return of the completed form, the Library Director and designated Library staff will evaluate the item, taking into consideration the item’s acquisition and circulation history, relevance, value to the collection, and professional reviews, if any may exist for the item. The Library Director and designated staff will meet to discuss the item’s merits, after which the Library Director will make a decision regarding the reconsideration request. The Library Director will share this decision with the patron within 30 days of receipt of the reconsideration request form. If the patron is unsatisfied with the decision, the inquiry will be placed on the agenda of the next regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Their decision will be final. A patron may request reconsideration of the same it only once in a twelve-month period.

Approved by the Platteville Public Library Board of Trustees; revised September 4, 2018
Reviewed October 6, 2021