S-1216 - 12/11/2007 - LIBRARY - Ordinances ExhibitsOAK BROOK PUBLIC LIBRARY
COLLECTION MANAGEMENT POLICY
Table of Contents
EXHIBIT A
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Page
I. Statement of Purpose
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II Criteria for Selection
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III. Selection Responsibility
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IV Collection Parameters
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A. Formats
B. New Formats
C. Evaluation, Maintenance and Weeding
D. Disposal of Library Materials
V Intellectual Freedom and Request for Reconsideration
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of Library Material
VI. Review of Collection Management Policy
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VII Appendices
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A. ALA — Freedom to Read Statement
B ALA — Freedom to View Statement
C. Request for Reconsideration of Library Material
Form
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I. Statement of Purpose
This Collection Management Policy provides guidance to the Library Director and
department heads at Oak Brook Public Library and informs the public about the
principles upon which selection and retention of collection materials are based. This
policy states goals and indicates boundaries that assist librarians in selecting and
withdrawing materials.
II. Criteria for Selection
The Oak Brook Public Library seeks to select, organize, preserve and provide materials
which satisfy the informational, educational, recreational, social, cultural and personal
needs of its community. As more materials are published /produced annually than can
be economically or practically added to the library's collections, collection managers
must be selective and strive toward excellence in collection management Favorable
reviews from reputable sources are used by selectors to support the purchase of
materials for addition to the Library collections. Additionally, the following factors will be
taken into account when selecting materials:
Expressed or anticipated needs within the community,
Individual merit of the work, based on the following criteria -
1 The authority and reputation of the author /performer /producer of the
work;
2. The scope of the work, its purpose and intended audience, timeliness,
accuracy, coverage and date of publication,
3. The work's significance relative to other works on the subject and to
other materials in the collection,
4. The quality and suitability of the format for library use;
5 Popular demand; and
6. Price
• Attempts shall be made to acquire materials listed in standard bibliographies and
indexes.
• Needs and interests of civic groups, business and cultural organizations and
cooperative programs in the community are considered in the selection of materials.
• Materials which represent various religious, political and social points of view shall
also be considered.
• Requests for purchase may be made at Reference desks A request does not
constitute an order to buy an item, but alerts the selector for that area of the user's
interest. The selector will seek reviews and make a purchasing decision based on
the Oak Brook Public Library's criteria for selection set forth in this policy
Anonymous requests for purchases will not be considered. A Library user's
requests and borrowing record will be kept confidential in accordance with the
Library Records Confidentiality Act (75 ILCS 70)
• Selection consideration will be given to the work as a whole No work shall be
excluded because of specific passages or pieces taken out of context.
III. Selection Responsibility
Ultimate responsibility for the selection of library materials and management of the Oak
Brook Public Library collections rests with the Library Director The Library Director
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operates the Library under the direction of the Village Manager and by the authority and
within the policies adopted by the Village of Oak Brook Board of Trustees as
recommended by the Library Commission.
Collection management responsibility is shared in its execution by professional staff as
assigned by the Library Director. The Library Director is accountable to the Village
Manager, the Board and the public for actual selections made by the staff, and
therefore, has the right to reject or recommend any materials contrary to the
recommendations of the staff.
IV. Collection Parameters
A. Formats The Oak Brook Public Library (OBPL) has materials in the
following formats: Books; serials, audiocassettes; CDs; electronic resources;
videocassettes and DVDs.
B. New Formats New formats are added to OBPL's collection when
they are affordable, accessible and deemed valuable by the profession.
C. Evaluation, Maintenance and Weeding The OBPL collection is
organized according to the Dewey Decimal Classification system. Collection evaluation
is based on.
1) The material's usefulness to the community;
2) Frequency of use;
3) Availability of current materials and
4) Physical constraints.
Librarians are responsible for weeding the areas of the collection for which they select
Removal of materials through the weeding process is essential to establish and maintain
the quality of the collection. Materials are withdrawn when they are out -of -date, no
longer of interest, duplicated, worn or mutilated
D. Disposal of Library Collection Materials The Library Director or
his /her designees determines whether an item may be sold or donated by its condition
and content.
V. Intellectual Freedom and Request for Reconsideration of Library Material
The Oak Brook Public Library endorses the American Library Association's Freedom to
Read statement and the Freedom to View statement (attached as Appendixes A, B and
C)
Individuals who have complaints regarding materials in the collection, may complete the
"Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials" form (Appendix E). The Library
Director and Library Commissioners will discuss the reconsideration request at the next
regularly scheduled Commission meeting The requester will be invited to this meeting
to present his /her objections No challenged item will be removed from the collection
before the Library Commission takes action on the request. The Village Manager and
the Village Board of Trustees will be informed of any "Request for Reconsideration" and
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may participate in the Commission discussion An anonymous "Request for
Reconsideration" will cause no action. The Library Commission will determine the
disposition of the challenged material by a majority vote of members present
VI. Review of Collection Management Policy
This policy will be reviewed and /or revised biennially in consultation with the Library
Commission This policy and all subsequent revisions are subject to approval by the
Village of Oak Brook Board of Trustees.
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Appendix A
American Library Association
Freedom to Read Statement
It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the
widest diversity of views and expressions, including those that are unorthodox
or unpopular with the majority
2 Publishers, librarians and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or
presentation contained in the books they make available It would conflict with
the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral, or aesthetic
views as a standard for determining what books should be published or
circulated.
3 It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to bar access to
writings on the basis of the personal history or political affiliations of the author.
4 There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to
confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents, or to
inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression
5. It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept with any expression the
prejudgment of a label characterizing it or its author as subversive or
dangerous.
6. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians, as guardians of the people's
freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by individuals or
groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at
large
7 It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians to give full meaning to the
freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of
thought and expression. By the exercise of this affirmative responsibility, they
can demonstrate that the answer to a "bad" book is a good one, the answer to a
"bad" idea is a good one.
Adopted June 25, 1953
Revised January 23, 1972, January 16, 1991 and July 12, 2000 by the ALA Council and
the AAP Freedom to Read Committee.
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Appendix B
American Library Association
Freedom to View Statement
The Freedom to View, along with the freedom to speak, to hear, and to read, is
protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States In a free
society, there is no place for censorship of any medium of expression Therefore these
principles are affirmed.
To provide the broadest access to film, video, and other audiovisual
materials because they are a means for the communication of ideas. Liberty of
circulation is essential to insure the constitutional guarantee of freedom of
expression.
2. To protect the confidentiality of all individuals and institutions using film, video,
and other audiovisual materials.
3 To provide film, video, and other audiovisual materials which represent a
diversity of views and expression Selection of a work does not constitute or
imply agreement with or approval of content.
4 To provide a diversity of viewpoints without the constraint of labeling or
prejudging film, video, and other audiovisual materials on the basis or the moral,
religious, or political beliefs of the producer or filmmaker or on the basis of
controversial content.
5. To contest vigorously, by all lawful means, every encroachment upon the
public's freedom to view.
This statement was originally drafted by the Freedom to View Committee of the
American Film and Video Association (formerly the Educational Film Library
Association). Endorsed by the ALA Council January 10, 1990.
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Appendix C
REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIAL
Type of Material: Book Periodical Audio -book Music CD DVD/VHS Other
Title
Author /Performer
Publisher
Request initiated by
Name
Address
Street Address Village State Telephone
1 To what in the work do you object? (Please be specific Cite pages /sections.)
2 Did you read /listen to /view the entire work? If no, which parts?
3 Are there good features about this material? What are they?
4 What do you believe is the theme of this work?
5 What do you feel might be the result of reading /listening /viewing this work?
6 For what age group would you recommend this material?
7 Are you aware of judgments of this work by literary critics?
8 What would you like your library to do about this work?
9 Is there a specific title of equal literary or artistic quality you recommend that would convey as
valuable a picture and perspective of the subject treated?
Signature of Requestor Date
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