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Linwood Public Library, NJ

Collection Development Policy

Linwood Public Library Collection Development Policy

LIBRARY MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the public library is to provide free and open access to information, knowledge, and resources that support lifelong learning, cultural enrichment, and personal development for the community. The collection is designed to offer a wide range of materials that reflect diverse perspectives and viewpoints.

 

POLICY STATEMENT

The Linwood Public Library Collection Development Policy serves as a framework for the acquisition, maintenance, and deselection of materials in the library’s collection. The goal of the collection is to support the educational, recreational, and informational needs of the Linwood community. This policy ensures that materials are selected and managed in a way that reflects the diverse interests, needs, and preferences of the library’s patrons, while maintaining the library’s mission and values.

 

INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM AND THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT

New Jersey’s Freedom to Read Act prohibits censorship of library materials and provides certain protections to library workers in collection development and maintenance. It supports the right of individuals to free inquiry and the right to form their own opinions. It acknowledges the training and education that librarians receive to develop and curate collections.

The governing body of a public library, in consultation with staff members of a public library, including a librarian employed by a public library, shall have discretion in selecting, purchasing, or acquiring library material for inclusion in the public library.  Nothing in this policy or the law shall be construed to require a governing body of a public library to purchase, or otherwise acquire, library material for a public library.

This policy recognizes and acknowledges that:

  • Public libraries serve as centers for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas;
  • Prohibiting censorship of library materials promotes free expression and free access to idea by residents;
  • Library materials shall not be removed from a public library because of the origin, background, or views of the library materials or those contributing to its creation.
  • Library materials should be provided for the interest, information, [and] enlightenment of all people and should present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole;
  • Librarians are professionally trained to curate and develop collections that provide residents with access to the widest array of library material available to the public; and,
  • The Library has a procedure for a librarian to review library materials on an ongoing basis.

The library is committed to providing access to a broad spectrum of ideas and information, including materials that may be controversial or unpopular. No material will be excluded from the collection solely based on content, viewpoint, or ideology, provided that it meets the library’s selection criteria.

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

The primary goal of collection development is to provide the best possible collection with the financial resources available. Library materials are chosen based on selection criteria such as predicated demand and interest, reputation of the publisher and author, historical significance, and cost. The item’s contribution to the diversity or depth of a collection, such as providing differing viewpoints is also considered.

Materials are selected by trained staff and take into consideration:

  • Relevance: How the materials align with the library’s mission and the needs of its users.
  • Quality of content: Consider literary merit, technical quality, and the author’s and publisher’s authority.
  • Audience Appropriateness: Ensure materials are suitable for the intended age group and reading level.
  • Format: Consider the format of materials (print, digital, etc.) and their accessibility.
  • Cost: Balance quality and cost when making purchasing decisions.
  • Timeliness: Ensure the content is current and whether there are more recent materials available on the same subject.
  • Scope and depth: The collection will strive for balance, offering a mix of general and specialized materials.
  • Availability: Consider whether similar materials are available elsewhere – are the materials available through interlibrary loan?
  • Community Needs: Materials should address the current and anticipated community needs.
  • Physical quality: Physical materials should be durable and in good physical condition.
  • Space Constraints: May impact the scope and depth of the collection.

 

Additional criteria for digital resources:

  • Ease of Use
  • Licensing and System requirements (hardware, software, networking, storage)
  • Assessment of content quality and cost as compared to other available formats
  • Accessibility

 

COLLECTION EVALUATION

The collection will be evaluated regularly to ensure it meets the needs of the community and aligns with the goals and objectives of the library. Evaluation methods will include:

  • Usage statistics: Circulation data, user surveys, and program feedback.
  • Patron input: Requests, suggestions, and community feedback.
  • Professional reviews and recommendations: Critiques from library professionals, publishers, and trusted review sources.
  • Changes in community demographics and needs: Adjustments to the collection will be made in response to shifts in the population, educational trends, and local interests.

 

PATRON RECOMMENDATIONS

Patron suggestions for purchase are subject to the same selection criteria as all other materials and are not automatically added to the collection.

 

GIFTS AND DONATIONS

The library may accept gifts and donations with the explicit understanding that the library, in its sole discretion, reserves the right to display, store, sell, or otherwise dispose of all gifts and contributions of tangible property. Those materials which do not meet the library’s objectives and materials selection criteria may be refused.

 

WHAT IS EXCLUDED FROM PURCHASE

The library no longer purchases the following materials: physical audiobooks, CDs, Blu-ray, encyclopedias, or textbooks.

 

DISPOSITION AND DESELECTION OF MATERIALS (WEEDING)

A librarian must review library material within a public library on an ongoing basis.  Criteria for ongoing review must include, but is not limited to, the:

  • library material’s relevance;
  • condition of the library material;
  • availability of duplicates;
  • availability of more recent material; and,
  • continued demand for the library material.

 

The library may have additional criteria when evaluating materials for withdrawal from the collection, including but not limited to:

  • Physical condition
  • Number of copies available
  • Accuracy and currency of information
  • Circulation
  • Enduring value
  • Local interest
  • Obsolescence
  • Availability elsewhere
  • Space limitations

 

REASON FOR POLICY

The purpose of the policy is to provide standards for the curation of library material; establish criteria for removal of existing library material or library material selected for inclusion in the public library; and provide protection against attempts to censor library material.

 

DEFINITIONS

Censorship. Means to block, suppress, or remove library material based on disagreement with a viewpoint, idea, or concept, or solely because an individual finds certain content offensive, but does not include limiting or restricting access to any library material deemed developmentally inappropriate for certain age groups.

Diverse and inclusive material . Means material that reflects any protected class as enumerated in the “Law Against Discrimination,” P.L. 1945, c 169 (c.10:5-1 et seq); material produced by an author who is a member of a protected class as enumerated in the “Law Against Discrimination,” P.L. 1945, c 169 (c.10:5-1 et seq); and material that contains the author’s points of view concerning contemporary problems and issues, whether international, national, or local.

Governing body . Means a board of trustees, director or other chief administrative officer, a county library commission, or board of county commissioners of a public library

Individual with a vested interest . Any Linwood resident with a Linwood Public Library card.

Library material . Means any material, including, but not limited to, nonfiction and fiction books; magazines; reference books; supplementary titles; multimedia and digital material; software and instructional material, belonging to, on loan to, or otherwise in the custody of a public library.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Library Board – Establishes, reviews and updates policy. May serve as governing body.

Library Director – Coordinates implementation of policy, trains staff, approves purchases, serves as first responder for patron complaints. May serve as governing body.

Request for Reconsideration Review Committee – Reviews challenged materials, deliberates, and makes recommendation(s) to the governing body.

Content and Acquisitions Librarians – Acquires materials for the library and is the primary contact with booksellers and content vendors. Selects materials for the library collection that help to achieve the library’s mission and follows the collection development policy. Manages the withdrawal of materials from the collection according to library’s criteria (see Procedures).

 

Date adopted: 11/19/25

Date(s) revised: