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4.1 COLLECTION STATEMENT FOR BOOKS
Newport Public Library seeks to provide current popular material reflecting diverse points of view to satisfy the informational and recreational reading needs of our community. The Library will not attempt to collect scholarly material, rare books, or manuscripts, but will maintain a core collection of classics.
Although the Library Board is ultimately responsible for selection choices, the day-to-day responsibility for selection rests with the Acquisitions Coordinator and the Youth Services Coordinator in consultation with the Library Director and other department members with particular areas of expertise.
Most materials will be selected on the basis of reviews in standard library publications such as Booklist, Library Journal, School Library Journal, and Children's Catalog. Reviews from other sources will also be consulted, if appropriate.
Within budgetary constraints, the Library will attempt to respond to patron requests if a review source is cited and the material requested seems appropriate to the collection.
The Library will attempt to identify populations with specialized informational needs and purchase materials they are able to utilize.
The Library will accept donations of books if they conform to the guidelines of the donations policy. Unusable materials will be disposed of as the Library sees fit.
The Library will purchase historical, general, comparative, and primary religious materials (the Bible, the Koran, etc.). The Library will not attempt to collect extensively in the literature of any particular religion.
4.2 COLLECTION STATEMENT FOR VIDEOTAPES AND DVDS
Newport Public Library will acquire and maintain a balanced collection of entertainment, documentary, instructional, and cultural videos. Material more appropriate in print form will not be purchased in video simply for the sake of the format.
In the area of feature films, particular attention will be paid to acquiring materials not readily available from local sources, such as foreign language films, overlooked films from the United States, and films related to theater. In the area of children's films, particular attention will be paid to acquiring materials related to children's literature.
The Library does not attempt to restrict or label videos as appropriate for particular age groups. We believe that what children view is the responsibility of their parents or guardians.
While some videos include public performance rights, most of the Library's collection is intended for home use, and the Library assumes no responsibility for license infringement.
4.3 WEEDING
Materials in all media will be weeded at regular intervals using standard professional criteria, including circulation, currency, physical condition, and degree of lasting interest.
4.4 DONATIONS
The Library will accept donations of the following materials:
- recent hardback fiction and nonfiction books which are not already in the
collection and are in good condition with dustcovers
- other fiction and nonfiction books, in good condition with dustcovers,
which fill a gap in our collection
- recent popular paperbacks in good condition
- popular magazines in good condition, no more than two months old
- popular audio and video materials in good condition which meet our collection development
criteria
The Library will not accept items in poor condition, hardback books without dustcovers, textbooks, or condensed books of any kind.
The Library's acceptance of a donated item does not constitute an agreement to add it to the collection; the Library reserves the right to dispose of all donations as it sees fit.
4.5 PATRON INPUT REGARDING THE COLLECTION
Newport Public Library welcomes input from the public regarding the contents of the collection. Patrons wishing to suggest titles for acquisition may fill out a Purchase Suggestion form, and all such suggestions will be considered for acquisition in accord with the collection development policy.
Patrons wishing to express concerns about materials already in the collection will be
invited first to discuss their concerns with appropriate staff and/or the Director.
Should a patron still be unsatisfied, s/he may formally request that the Library reconsider
its classification or possession of an item by submitting a Request for Reconsideration of
Library Materials form to the Library Director. In the event that a request for
reconsideration is submitted, the Director will notify the Board as soon as possible that
a request has been made. In consultation with appropriate staff, the Director will promptly
review the item in question, together with any available reviews of the material, and will
render a decision as to appropriate action. The Director will convey this decision to the
requestor in writing.
Should the patron wish to pursue the matter further, s/he may ask that the Director bring the matter before the Board. At this point the Director and either the Assistant Director, the Youth Services Coordinator, or the Acquisitions Coordinator,
having reviewed the material in question, will each fill out a copy of the
Request for Reconsideration form, including his/her recommendation as
to appropriate action. The Board will consider the request and these staff recommendations at the next regular Board meeting and will render a decision as to appropriate action. This decision will be final and will be
conveyed in writing to the patron submitting the request.
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