Portsmouth Free Public Library
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Selection Policy
The Portsmouth Free Public Library provides free service to all individuals and groups in the community. The general library objective of Portsmouth Free Public Library is stated in the By-laws:
“The Purpose and aim of the Portsmouth Free Public Library shall be to furnish the best kind of reading matter freely to the people of said Town, and especially to encourage a love of literature in the youth of the community.”
Today it is recognized that to meet the cultural, educational, recreational and informational needs of the community the resources of the Portsmouth Free Public Library must include print and non-print materials.
Ultimate responsibility for materials rests with the Library Director, who operates within the framework of policies established by the Board of Trustees. The Children’s librarian is responsible for the initial selection of juvenile material and the Reference/Young Adult librarian is responsible for reference and young adult material.
Books are, and will continue to be the basic materials for the public library. In this rapidly changing world great amounts of information are being contained in other forms. The library is acquiring appropriate materials regardless of form, and integrating each into its total holdings.
The object of selection is to collect those books and other library materials that will inform, entertain and contribute to the enrichment of the spirit. Each type of material must be considered in terms of its own merit and the audience for who it is intended. While some material may be evaluated in terms of artistic merit, scholarship or their value as human documents, others are selected to meet the recreational and entertainment needs of the community.
The Library Director selects library materials. As broad a sample as possible of competent reviewing media and basic lists of standard works are consulted as an aid to selection. Recommendations also are accepted for review from staff and patrons.
“Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials” forms are available at the Circulation Desk. The Board of Trustees has adopted these forms which have been recommended by the Rhode Island Library Association for this procedure. Upon receipt of such a request, the library will review decisions regarding such specific material. The forms concerning censorship issues should be kept for three (3) years.*
Basic to the Library Materials Selection Policy, the Library reaffirms its belief in the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read Statement, the Freedom to View Statement, Intellectual Freedom Statement and the Free Access to Library’s for Minors which are appended.
To build a quality collection, objective guidelines are considered. All acquisitions purchased or donated, are evaluated in terms of the following standards:
1. Current usefulness or permanent value.
2. Authority and competence in presentation.
3. Importance as a record of the times.
4. Its function in broadening or balancing the existing collection.
5. Relative importance in comparison with other works on the subject.
6. High standards of quality in content, format and binding.
The Use of the Library’s Materials
Library materials are not marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of the contents and no book or other item is sequestered.
The use of rare and scholarly items of great value is controlled to the extent required to preserve them from harm.
Responsibility for the reading of children rests with their parents and legal guardians. Selection of materials for the Library’s collections is not restricted by the possibility that children may obtain materials their parents consider inappropriate.
The Library makes every effort to make its collection relevant to meet the multi-faceted needs in the community. Close cooperation with other libraries through inter-library loan will be developed and maintained to meet the highly specialized technical needs that are beyond the capability of this library.
The Library cooperates with school and academic libraries so that the services of these agencies may compliment each other. The major function of the school and academic libraries is to furnish curriculum-related materials. The public library seeks to provide a collection that is broad-based to meet the needs of all segments of the community.
The Library acknowledges a particular interest in local and state history and in the works of local authors.
Books and other materials are accepted on the condition that the Library Director has the authority to make whatever disposition he/she deems advisable.
The Portsmouth Free Public Library will not undertake to evaluate the worth of gift books for tax purposes, but suggests that contact be made with an experienced and reputable book dealer.
Gifts of money, real property and/or stock are accepted if conditions attached thereto are acceptable to the Board of Trustees.
The same criteria will be used in weeding materials from the collection as are used in their acquisition. In order to maintain the collection in its most attractive and useful condition, the Library Director will use his or her judgment in removing from the collection materials that are no longer useful, or are not in a condition suitable for circulation. Materials no longer useful to the Library may be given to other libraries or sold for the benefit of the Library.
This statement of policy will be revised as times and circumstances require.