Approved by:
Board of Trustees

04/27/99
01/25/00

PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to describe the method by which library materials are selected, maintained, and evaluated, and to inform the public about the principles of materials selection for the library system.

The approval and adoption of the Collection Development Policy is the responsibility of the Hall County Library System Board of Trustees. Implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the library director and the library system staff.

As the library collection and the community are constantly changing, the policy will be reviewed annually. Limitations on the budget, changes in population, diversity in population, commercial activities, technological innovations, collections of other institutions, availability of materials from commercial information repositories and lending agencies, crucial needs in certain areas at times, and other unforeseen situations and conditions are factors to be considered and monitored.

HALL COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM AT A GLANCE

The Hall County Library System has libraries in Gainesville, East Hall, Murrayville, Clermont, Oakwood, operates a book delivery system by mail and houses a Subregional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped with approximately 30,000+ active library patrons. The library system participates in a statewide and national interlibrary loan network and reciprocal borrowing agreements with other types of libraries. Professionally trained and certified librarians are employed by the system including the library director, associate director of adult services, and assistant director of youth services.

HALL COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM MISSION STATEMENT

The Hall County Library System provides its patrons with resources and services to meet their informational, educational, business and recreational needs. Special focus is placed on providing and maintaining an adequate reference collection to support current and reliable information for the community and encouraging Hall County residents to develop an interest in reading and lifelong learning. The library system serves as a learning resource center for all library patrons in the community.

HALL COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM VISION STATEMENT

The Hall County Library System seeks to focus on the future highlighting our heritage. Therefore, we will provide current services and materials to all patrons while developing genealogical and historical resources. We will utilize state-of-the-art technologies to enhance the positive development of a growing and diverse area. As one of the most important free public information and leisure activity providers in Hall County, the library will serve as the center of cultural, learning, and recreational resources for our region. Our facilities, materials, equipment, and services will reflect our role as an integral part of a welcoming community.

PUBLIC LIBRARY ROLES

The public library system serves as a learning center, information center, and recreation center for all residents of the community. The following public library roles have been identified for the Hall County Library System based on current use and evaluation of community needs:

Community Door to Learning: Encourage patrons of all ages to practice reading and life-long learning skills.

Materials and Services Provider: Promote the cultural heritage of Georgia and provide recreational and educational activities reflecting popular and diverse topics.

Information Center: Provide exceptional services and materials in the areas of general information, reference and referrals.

Access to Resources: Facilitate access to resources for traditional and non-traditional patrons.

Technology Leader: Utilize state-of-the-art telecommunications equipment and innovative library automation software.

Capable Staff: Employ staff well trained in new technologies whose collection knowledge is reflective of a diverse community.

Facilities: Provide facilities which reflect the importance of the library in our county’s future development.

Community Relations: Promote the library as a welcoming destination in tune with community needs.

PRINCIPLES

The Hall County Library Board and staff recognize and adhere to principles of intellectual freedom found in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and in the American Library Association Bill of Rights. Efforts are made to insure that a wide variety of views are represented and made available to all citizens regardless of age, race, religion, national origin, or social or political views. Materials are not added or removed from the collection for partisan or doctrinal reasons.

Responsibility for children's selection and use of library materials rests with the parent or legal guardian.

Textbooks or other curriculum-related school materials are not placed in the collection unless the materials also serve the general public’s information needs.

Library materials are not marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of contents, and materials are not restricted in access except for the purpose of protecting them from theft or damage.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The selection of print, non-print, and electronic resources does not constitute an endorsement of contents. The Hall County Library System recognizes that many materials are considered controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons. Reasonable effort is made to provide a balanced collection, equitable access to materials, and a collection that meets the reading and information demands of the general public.

Materials are selected from review sources using standard library criteria based on the characteristics of the materials, characteristics of the community, budget limitations, current deficiencies in the collection, and library roles. Requests from the general public are encouraged and honored when the materials meet the criteria established by the collection development procedure. The library system cannot honor every patron request or purchase every item desired, but efforts will be made to acquire materials and accommodate requests through purchase or interlibrary loan services.

SPECIAL COLLECTION MATERIALS

Hall County Library System will develop and maintain a collection of local history and genealogy materials. This will serve as a research collection and will be housed in the special collections area of the Headquarters Library Branch. The collection will include Georgia authors, genealogy materials, and Southern history materials. Rare books, documents, regalia, manuscripts, autographed works, and valuable works may be assigned to this area for security purposes. Unique materials of this type may require use under the supervision of library personnel. Individual family histories shall not normally be purchased for the collection, but will be accepted as gifts and subjected to standard collection criteria.

GIFTS

(See separate gift policy)

PATRONS REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS

Patron complaints regarding materials that are or that are not in the library collection are handled in the following manner:

1. The patron is offered an opportunity to file a formal written complaint using the Board adopted PATRONS REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS form. A copy of the Hall County Library System Collection Development Policy will be provided to the patron.
2. The patron will be informed that the request will be considered by the library system materials review committee. The committee is composed of the library director, the assistant director of youth services, and the assistant director of adult services. No opinions or comments are offered by staff members regarding the committee’s decision or the merits of the materials.
3. The library director will assume responsibility for and the possession of the completed request form and the materials in question. The director will acknowledge the request in writing to the complainant. The materials review committee will begin the review process within seven business days after the receipt of the filed complaint. The committee will review the materials and inform the complainant in writing of the outcome of the materials review committee’s disposition of the complaint.
4. The decision of the materials review committee may be appealed to the Hall County Library Board by making the request in writing to the Board. The Board decision will be considered final.

Other patron grievances related to non-materials related matters should be addressed on the PATRON GRIEVANCE form and not through this procedure.

E. Collection Development, page 4

PATRONS REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS

Title________________________________________________ Book____ Magazine____ Other____

Author______________________________________________

Request Initiated By (name) ___________________________________________________________

Address____________________________________________________________________________

City___________________________________ State_________ Zip_______ Phone_______________

Do you represent: Self___________ or Organization and Group______

Name of Organization or Group_________________________________________________________

1. How was the material brought to your attention?
   
   
2. Did you read or view the entire work?_______ What parts?________________________________
   
   
3. To what do you object in the work? Please be specific. Cite pages, specific scenes or passages, etc.
   
   
4. What do you feel might be the result of reading/viewing this work?
   
   
5. What review sources or other information have you used in evaluating this work?
   
   
6. For what patrons is this material inappropriate or objectionable?
   
   
7. Is there anything good about this work when it is considered as a whole?
   
   
8. What do you believe is the theme of the work or the intention of the author/producer?
   
   
9. What would you request that the materials review committee do about the work?
   
   _____Re-Evaluate for Placement in the Collection ___Other --Explain.
   
   
10. Additional comments:

Please use additional space as required.

Signature__________________________________________________ Date__________

Click here to open printer friendly copy of form (in MS Word format).

Mail to: Library Director
Hall County Library System
127 Main Street NW
Gainesville, Georgia 30501

E. Collection Development, page 5

LIBRARY BILL OF RIGHTS

The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

1. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of origin, background or views of those contributing to their creation.
2. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal approval.
3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgement of free expression and free access to ideas.
5. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
6. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable bases, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

Adopted June 18, 1948
Amended February 2, 1961, and January 23, 1980
Inclusion of "age" reaffirmed January 23, 1996
by ALA Council