Material Selection Ploicy
PREAMBLE TO MATERIAL SELECTION POLICY
Libraries have a clear and unalterable responsibility for the dissemination
of knowledge and of making knowledge available to all individuals. The public
library is a repository for the free expressions of free men, where others,
equally free, may come to study and learn all sides of issues; to evaluate them;
and to seek the truth out of such study. Freedom in the public library is the
corollary of freedom of speech by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the
United States. The freedom to read is essential to our democracy.
Historically, the public library was developed as an agency for the free,
public, informal education of the individual. Now as always in our history,
books are among our greatest instruments of freedom and knowledge. They are the
natural medium for the new idea and the untried voice, from which come the
original contributions to social growth. They are the source of mankind's
history, knowledge, and ideas from the beginning of the recorded word. They are
essential to the extended discussion which serious thought requires, and to the
accumulation of knowledge and ideas into organized collections. The Richland
Public Library subscribes to these ideals.
Libraries do not advocate the ideas found in their collections. The presence of
a book, magazine, or other materials in the library does not indicate an
endorsement of its contents by the library.
"Labeling" is an attempt to prejudice the reader, and as such, it is a censor's
tool. If materials are labeled to pacify one group, there is no excuse for
refusing to label any item in the library's collection. No sizeable group of
persons would be likely to agree either on the types of materials which should
be labeled or the sources of information which should be regarded with
suspicion. Freedom is no freedom if it is accorded only to the accepted and the
inoffensive. It is in the public interest for libraries to make available the
widest diversity of views and expressions, including those which are unorthodox
or unpopular with the majority.
The Board of Trustees of the Richland Public Library believes that censorship is
a purely individual matter and declares that, while everyone is free to reject
for themselves materials of which they do not approve, they cannot exercise this
right of censorship to restrict freedom of others to read or inquire.
The Board of Trustees of the Richland Public Library adopts and declares that it
will adhere to and support:
a. The Library Bill of
Rights, American Library; Association Council, June 1967.
b. The Freedom to Read
revision. American Library Association, Midwinter 1972.
c. The Washington Library
Association Statement of Policy of Intellectual Freedom in Libraries. 1959,
Copies of these documents are a part hereof.
RICHLAND PUBLIC LIBRARY MATERIAL SELECTION POLICY
The Board of Trustees of the Richland Public Library recognizes that within
Richland there are groups and individuals with widely separate and diverse
interests, backgrounds, cultural heritages social values. and needs. The Board
further recognizes that the library was created to serves all of the people of
Richland regardless of age, race, creed, national origin, of political or social
views.
The objective of the Richland Public Library is to select organize, preserve,
and to make freely and easily available to the people of the community printed
and other materials, within the limitations of space and budget, which will aid
them in the pursuit of education, information, research, recreation and in the
creative use of leisure time. The goal of the Library is the maximum use of its
collection by the greatest number of persons.
Selection of library materials shall be made on the basis or interest,
information, and enlightenment of the people of Richland to foster the
communication of ideas, to provide opportunity and encouragement for all to
educate themselves continuously, to help people equip themselves for useful
occupations and practical affairs, sharpen their competence to form sound
judgments, increase their appreciation of their cultural heritage, and enrich
their leisure hours. Factors to be considered shall Include timeliness,
effective expression, significance of subject, sincerity, responsibility of
opinions, and evaluations in professionally recognized critical guides, No
materials shall be excluded because of race, nationality, or the political or
social views of the author. Library materials may be sequestered for the purpose
of protection from damage of theft.
The library will accept gifts provided that they meet the general criteria for
selection of materials.
The ratio of books purchased within specific subject areas will be determined by
demand and availability.
Serious works which present an honest aspect of life or of some human problem
are selected for their positive values and are not necessarily excluded on a
basis of coarse language or frankness. The library does not buy pornography or
books which trade in sensationalism.
The library recognizes and accepts its responsibility to provide books and
materials for children and young people; to broaden their educational background
and experience; to open to them the profound experience of reading as a
prerequisite and necessary tool for living; that enrich the quality of thought
and expression; that provide recreation. To this end the collection will include
as wide a selection as possible with due consideration given to the criteria of
value and integrity, background and information authenticity, and style and
presentation of the subject matter involved.
It is not the purpose of the collection to take the place of the elementary,
junior high, high school or college library, although many of its books and
materials may be used by students to augment school library collections. It is
the responsibility of the public school system to supply these curriculum
materials.
The public library's largest and most important field of emphasis is the adult
field of informal education.
The Board of Trustees of the Richland Public Library further recognizes that
discarding no longer useful materials from the collection is as important a part
of maintenance of the library collection as the initial selection. Therefore,
the discarding policy of the library shall include the same factors to
considered as the selection policy.
This policy is dedicated to a selection of these materials of the highest
quality in order to assure an objective collection for the residents of the City
of Richland, the selection to be based upon principle rather than personal
opinion, reason rather than prejudice, and judgment rather than censorship.
adopted by unanimous vote of the Richland Library board on June 21, 1989.
Updated September 29, 2004
