Objective:
The collection supports the Library’s mission statement by “responding
to the expressed and anticipated informational and lifelong learning needs
of its diverse community.” Selection criteria are utilized for the
acquisition and deleting of materials. Management of the collection falls
to reference librarians for collection development and circulation staff
for shelving and stack maintenance. The print and non-print collections
reflect the present and expected research and recreational needs of the
community.
Selection Criteria:
The selection level is Basic (see selection levels below) for all subject
areas with more advanced levels of coverage for high demand/high usage
topics. The Library seeks to acquire authoritative materials representing
all points of view on all sides of controversial issues, insofar as they
meet the standards of accuracy and accountability. Criteria considered
by the selector include
• Does the title improve the quality
of the collection?
• Is the title of general interest?
• Does the item meet standard literary criteria for good writing,
such as factual accuracy, effectiveness of expression, authoritativeness,
indexing and table of contents?
• Is the title of good technical quality with respect to to production
value, binding, printing, illustration, on-screen “help,”
technical support and overall design?
• Does the work relate to other stated needs of the collection?
• Does the work offer information specific to the city of Vineland,
or the Cumberland County region?
• Is the source of the data reliable and documented?
• The entirety of the work of each title is judged as a whole, and
isolated passages in themselves are not used as criteria.
Items are not selected that
• Contain outdated, unaccountable, inaccurate or false information
• Exist only to promote a specific person, cause, or belief
• Would ordinarily be used only to complete school assignments,
specific to a particular curriculum of local educational institutions
Selection is based primarily upon reviews
in accredited/peer-reviewed journals of librarianship and the book trade,
as well as additional reputable national magazines. The professional judgment
of the librarians, with intimate knowledge of community needs and demands,
also comes into play during the selection process. In addition to library
user requests or suggestions, selection aids as of April 2007 include
• New York Times Book Review
• Library Journal
• School Library Journal
• VOYA
• Booklist
• Horn Book
• What Do Young Adults Read Next?
• Children’s Catalog
• Middle & Junior High School Catalog
• Senior High School Library Catalog
• Fiction Catalog
• Public Library Catalog
Donations and gift materials will be held
accountable to the same criteria and evaluated on an individual basis.
No conditions may be imposed relating to any gift after its acceptance
by the Library.
Selection Levels:
1. Comprehensive/Exhaustive Level: Complete coverage related to topic
2. Research Level: Broad coverage with reasonable depth
3. Reference/Study Level: Resources such as current dictionary, encyclopedia,
history, and/or a few texts on topic
4. Basic Level: Standard works sufficient to meet usual demands
5. Minimal/Skeletal Level: A few carefully selected books or a dictionary
where there is light demand
Electronic Media:
Electronic media considered for selection should provide improved access
to or be an enhancement or enrichment of current library collections.
Selection of materials is based on subject need, popularity, and equipment
appropriateness. Resources chosen for direct library user use should require
a minimal level of computer literacy. Products with the best on-screen
instructions, graphic displays, and printing protocols which match current
products are preferred. Highest priority choices will address the needs
of a significant portion of the Library’s users. Purchases also
should be broadly accessible under current copyright and licensing laws.
Stack Maintenance:
Collection maintenance entails shelf maintenance as a necessary element
of upkeep. Maintaining the shelves in correct call number order enables
easy access to materials and information by Library users. A 24-hour turnaround
time for the re-shelving of materials ensures easy access in a timely
manner for Library users. Periodic shelf reading for the Reference collection
is completed by the student assistants, supervised by the Reference librarians.
Shelf reading of the circulating adult and young adult collections will
be performed by the shelvers on an ongoing basis.
Weeding (De-selection):
Weeding is an important part of maintaining the collection. Reasons why
items must be removed from the collection include damage, wear, being
out of date, inaccuracy, lack of current relevance, lack of interest by
Library users and lack of space. Lack of space for new acquisitions is
an ever-present problem. Ideally, weeding should be done on a continual
basis, but when this is not possible, it should be done periodically.
Decisions concerning which items should be removed from the collection
are made by librarians although other staff may assist in the routine
weeding tasks such as pulling items from the shelves. *CREW recommendations
are followed concerning removal of items that have not been circulating.
Weeded items in reasonable condition are placed in the Library’s
book sale. Items that do not sell and are not useful to other public libraries,
nursing homes, etc. are eventually discarded.
*Segal, Joseph P. Evaluating and Weeding
Collections in Small and Medium-sized Public Libraries: The CREW Method.
American Library Association, Chicago. 1980