Collection Development Policy

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this policy is to guide in the selection of materials and to inform the public about the principles upon which selections are made. Collection Development includes the planning, selection, acquiring, cataloging, and weeding of all library materials. Library materials include, but are not limited to the following: books, periodicals, reference works, newspapers, books on CD, DVDs, large print materials, and graphic novels.

The Lansing Community Library adheres to and wholly supports the Library Bill of Rights, Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights, Code of Ethics, and Freedom to Read statements, which are considered as part of the Collection Development policy. The Library fully supports the right of all citizens to have free and open access to information.

Mission Statement

Lansing Community Library facilitates the enjoyment of lifelong learning, fosters creativity, and promotes community engagement.

Collection Objective

The aim of the Lansing Community Library is to provide service to all residents of the city including people of every age, education, philosophy, occupation, economic level and ethnic origin. The collection contains information on a variety of subjects and views and is organized to provide free and easy access to patrons within the limitations of space and budget. More specifically, it helps people to keep current with change in all areas, educate themselves continually, become better members of their families and communities, become socially and politically aware, be more capable in their occupations, develop their creative abilities and spiritual capacities, appreciate, and enjoy literature and art, contribute to the overall expanse of knowledge and stimulate their own personal and social well-being.

Responsibility for Selection

The final responsibility for materials selection and the development of the library collection rests with the Library Director. The actual selection of materials is accomplished by trained library staff under the general supervision of the Director.

Selection Criteria

Library materials are selected based on informational, educational, cultural, and recreational value and are selected in compliance with the mission and goals of the Lansing Community Library. The general criteria that are used in selecting all materials and formats for the library’s collection development is as follows:

Public demand and interest
Suitability of subject, style, and reading level for the intended audience
Reflection of all sides of issues
Reputation of the author, artist, publisher, or producer
Quality of the physical format in relation to durability
Local or national significance
Examination of the existing materials to determine if additional or more current materials are needed

Critical reviews in professional publications which include, but are not limited to: Book Pages, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, Library Journal, New York Times Book Review, Publishers Weekly, School Library Journal, VOYA.

Recommendations by library patrons will be considered for purchase if funds are available. Requests will be considered under the same criteria used for the purchase of other library materials.

Interlibrary Loan

The Lansing Community Library will use interlibrary loan to provide materials that cannot be added to the collection because of space and/or budget. This is not designed to substitute for providing books and other materials in constant demand. The library will cooperate with the Kansas State Library and the Regional Systems to provide interlibrary loan as an essential service to library users.

Eligible Borrowers
1. ILL service is limited to patrons with an active account in accordance with current circulation policies and Lansing Community Library as their home library.
2. The patron cannot have overdue or lost materials associated with their account.
Requesting an ILL
1. Items may be requested in person, over the phone, or the library website.
2. A patron may have 3 active ILL requests at a time. This includes items in Pending, In Process, Shipped, Received, and Renewal status.
Check Out
1. The patron will be notified when the item arrives and is ready to be picked up.
2. Items must be picked up within seven (7) days of patron notification.
3. ILL items are checked out for two (2) weeks.
4. Circulation rules, including loan periods and use of the materials, are set by the lending library.
  1. Some materials may not be checked out and are restricted for use in the Lansing Community Library.
5. ILL items may be recalled by the lending library at any time for any reason.
6. Items must be returned to Lansing Community Library, not to another NEXT Consortium library.
Renewals
1. Renewals are not standard but may be possible.
2. Contact Lansing Library at least three (3) days before the item’s due date. The lending library will be contacted, and a renewal will be requested.
3. The patron will be notified if the ILL renewal is extended.
4. Overdue ILL items are not eligible for renewal.
Items that Cannot be Requested
1. Items owned within the NEXT Consortium
2. Reference items
3. Items that have been released within the last 6 months.
4. Video games
Lost/Damaged Items
1. Items must be returned in the condition in which they were received by Lansing Community Library.
2. The patron will be responsible for the replacement and any processing fees assigned by the lending library.
3. The cost of the item is determined by the lending library.
4. If an item is not returned, the item is considered lost and replacement costs will be assessed.

Gifts, Donations, and Memorials

Gifts or donations of books or other materials will be accepted by the library with the understanding that they may be used or disposed of as the library determines as appropriate. This will be determined by using the same criteria set forth in the policy for the selection and deselection of library materials. Gifts or donations that are not added to the collection will be placed in the Friends of the Lansing Community Library book sale.

Gifts or donations of books or other materials to the Lansing Community Library may be deductible and a receipt listing the number of items may be given to the donor if requested. The library will have the privilege of using cash donations in a manner that will best serve the operation of the library and its service to the patrons. Gifts or donations made to the Lansing Community Library become the sole property of the library and remain so until they are either added to the collection or until a decision is made by the library administration and/or the Advisory Board about their appropriate use.

Weeding (Deselecting) Materials

Weeding (deselecting) is an ongoing process with the goal of maintaining the quality of library resources. Materials that are outdated, worn, damaged, duplicated, inaccurate, or no longer in demand may be removed from the collection on a regular basis. CREW: A Weeding Manual for Modern Libraries is the standard used to evaluate the collection. The library staff with the general direction and supervision of the Library Director will be solely responsible for the weeding (deselecting) materials from the collection.

Reconsideration of Materials

The Lansing Community Library considers all materials selected under this policy to be constitutionally protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Lansing Community Library adheres to and wholly supports the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read, and the Freedom to Views statements, which are considered part of the selection process. (These documents are available online.)

Process of Reconsideration of Library Materials

The patron must be a properly identified Lansing Community Library card holder and at least 18 years of age.
All requests for reconsideration of materials are handled by the Director. An in-person appointment will be offered to the person requesting a reconsideration of materials.
A private area should be chosen for the meeting. The Director, with another staff member or board member as witness, will listen to the patron’s reconsideration of materials request.
The items in question will remain in the collection until the final review and decision has been made by the Director or Library Board.
The Library Director will explain the general criteria of the library’s selection policies. It should be made clear that the Library Board subscribes to the Freedom to Read statements in the library’s policy.
If the patron wants to continue the procedure for reconsideration of materials after talking with the Director, the patron will be requested to complete a “Reconsideration of Library Materials Request” form (available online). The form must be filled out in its entirety.
After receiving the completed form, the Director shall refer the matter to the Lansing Community Library Advisory Board.
The Board will review the Reconsideration of Library Materials Form at a future Board meeting.
The patron will be notified within 30 days of the Board making a decision.
The Lansing Community Library Advisory Board’s decision will be final.
1. The Board will not consider a challenge on the same item for one calendar year.

Confidentiality of Library Records

The Lansing Community Library will make every reasonable and responsible effort to keep information about the patron confidential. Refer to Lansing Community Library’s confidentiality policy.

PREPARED BY:

/s/___Terri Wojtalewicz_______

Library Director

Approved by Lansing Community Library Advisory Board

Revised: September 2023

END OF POLICY STATEMENT