Because of limited budget and space, the Library cannot provide all materials that are requested. Therefore, interlibrary loan is used to obtain from other libraries those materials that are beyond the scope of this library’s collection.
In return for utilizing interlibrary loan to satisfy the needs of our patrons, the Library agrees to lend its materials to other libraries through the same interlibrary loan network. The Library will make an effort to have its current holdings accessible by other libraries throughout the state. (See Fee Schedule).
H. Gifts
The same criteria of selection which are applied to purchased materials are applied to gifts.
I. Collection Maintenance and Weeding
Factors considered in the collection review process are:
1. Obsolescence of information
2. Number of copies in the collection
3. Circulation or reference use over the last 3 years.
4. Adequacy of other resources in the subject area to meet user needs.
5. Ease of replacement
Resources that no longer meet expectations for the collection are discarded and the record for them deleted from the Library’s catalog. They may then be declared surplus by the Board of Trustees and:
1. Given to other libraries
2. Given to community agencies
3. Sold through Friends of the Library
4. Destroyed or recycled if dilapidated, outdated, or misleading
J. Challenged Materials
Although materials are carefully selected, there can arise differences of opinion regarding suitable materials. Patrons requesting that material be withdrawn from or restricted within the collection may complete a “Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials” from which is available in the library (See appendix A). The Director will confer in person or by telephone with the patron requesting removal of the item.
If agreement cannot be reached regarding the disposition of the item concerned, the written request will be mailed immediately to each Library Board member. This statement will be accompanied by annotations and reviews from professional journals, information on patron reserves, level of circulation, etc. on the particular title in question. The matter will be discussed at the next regularly scheduled Library Board meeting.
In most cases, a decision on whether to retain the questioned title in the library collection will be based on the principle of the freedom to read and the professional responsibility of libraries, rather than a defense of the individual item.
In the event that the Board, at a public meeting held in accord with the “Open Public Meetings Law”, concludes that the item should either remain in the collection or should be removed from the collection, the Board’s decision will be final and binding, unless the City Council votes to hear the challenge. If the City Council votes to hear the challenge, the Council’s decision shall be final.
IX. GIFTS AND DONATIONS
A. Policy Statement
The Library welcomes gifts of library materials or money to purchase materials. The Library (Board) will make every effort to respect donors’ wishes regarding the purchase and assignment of gift materials. All gifts shall be acknowledged. Library staff will follow established procedures for recognizing and thanking donors. Gifts of books and materials shall become part of the Library’s circulating collection and will be available to all residents served by the Library District, unless they are assigned to the library's reference collection. Any monetary gifts or grants to the Library shall be deemed gifts orgrants to the corporation for use as specified by the donor, or if no use is specified, to be used by the corporation exclusively for the support of the Library as directed by the Board. Any gifts or grants, which are made to the City at the request of the Board shall be used by the City exclusively for the purposes for which such gifts or grants were obtained, as directed by the Board.
