Collection Development Policy

A. Objectives

The Elm Grove Public Library aims to provide a diverse variety of materials that help meet the informational, educational, and leisure needs of the community.

Because of the volume of materials published today, as well as the limitations of budget and space, the library must have a selection policy to help it effectively meet community interests and needs.

The collection development policy guides the library staff in the selection of materials and also serves to inform the general public regarding the principles of selection.

B. Responsibility for Selection

Responsibility for materials selection rests with the Library Director, who operates within the policy adopted by the Library Board. The responsibility for initial selection of materials is shared by staff librarians.

C. Criteria for Selection

In keeping with the demands of the community and with consideration to the size and scope of the library, the Elm Grove Public Library provides a collection of reliable materials that strives to meet community needs and includes both basic works of permanent value and materials of current interest.

All materials, whether purchased or donated, are considered in terms of the criteria listed below. An item need not meet all of these standards in order to be added to the collection. In addition, materials will be judged on the basis of the content as a whole, not by selected or random passages or scenes.

Critical analysis from professional review sources
Popular interest
Accuracy
Contemporary, historical or permanent significance
Reputation of author, publisher, producer, or illustrator
Circulation as monitored through the automated system
Currency of information
Readability or ability to sustain interest
Local emphasis
Creative, literary, or technical quality
Relationship to existing materials in collection
Relationship to materials in other area libraries
Format and ease of use

The selection and acquisition of electronic materials is conducted by the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium (WPLC), through a selection committee comprised of 34 active members, 2 librarians from each of the 16 library systems in Wisconsin. The selection decisions of the committee are made within the guidelines of the WPLC Collection Development Policy.

D. Collection Maintenance

An up-to-date, attractive and useful collection is maintained through an ongoing withdrawal and replacement process. Withdrawal and/or replacement of materials is dependent upon the following criteria:

Physical condition
Currency of information
Demand for subject
Lack of use
Superseded by newer edition
Space needs

If appropriate, withdrawn materials are donated to the Friends of the Elm Grove Library for the annual used book sale.

E. Resource Sharing and Interlibrary Loan

Due to limited budget and space, the library cannot provide all materials that are requested. In an effort to supplement the materials collection and to better serve the community, the Elm Grove Public Library is currently a member of the Bridges Library System, a network of 24 libraries sharing resources equally. Additionally, statewide interlibrary loan is used to obtain materials that are beyond the scope of the Bridges Library System collection.

F. Donations

The Elm Grove Public Library gladly accepts donations including books and other formats as well as monetary donations designated for materials purchases, with the understanding that the library will only add items to the collection if appropriate. If a donated item is not added, the material will be given to the Friends of the Elm Grove Library (FOEGL) for their annual book sale. Tax deductible donation forms are available upon request; however, library staff, by law, cannot determine value. Materials will not be returned once donated. If a donation is added to the library’s collection, it may not remain there in perpetuity and may be removed as a part of ongoing collection maintenance.

G. Reconsideration of Materials

The American Library Association defines intellectual freedom as the right of every individual to both seek and receive information from all points of view without restriction. Please see the Library Bill of Rights, the Freedom to Read, and Freedom to View Statements.

Selection of materials at the Elm Grove Public Library will be made on the basis of the principles stated in this policy. The selection of any title does not constitute endorsement of its contents. Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of their contents, and no library material will be sequestered except to protect it from damage or theft.

Responsibility for a child’s access to materials rests with the child’s parents or legal guardians. Selection of library materials will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may come into the possession of children.

Although materials are carefully selected, there can arise differences of opinion regarding suitable materials. Patrons concerned about material in the collection may complete a “Request for Reconsideration of Materials” form, which is available at the library. The library director will respond in writing to all submitted “Request for Reconsideration of Materials” forms advising the person who completed the form of the director’s decision regarding the status of the item in the library’s collection. The patron may appeal the library director’s decision by writing a letter to the Library Board of Trustees. The Elm Grove Public Library Board of Trustees serves as the final authority and arbiter on matters of reconsideration.

H. Policy Revision

This policy may be revised as circumstances require. Suggested changes to the policy are presented to the Elm Grove Public Library Board of Trustees for consideration.

Approved by the Elm Grove Public Library Board of Trustees - July 2019

Reviewed by the Elm Grove Public Library Board of Trustees – July 22, 2024