Material Selection Policy
            The Plainview Public Library seeks to provide the community with information that satisfies educational, entertainment and recreational pursuits through the purchase and organization of books, periodicals, newspapers, audio and video recordings, and other forms of electronic media.  In support of these goals, the Library Board emphasizes the importance of materials which have contemporary significance or permanent value. Materials are chosen, within budgetary limits, to inform, inspire and entertain; to excite new interests and to satisfy free inquiry. The Library Board of Trustees delegates the authority and responsibility for the selection of library materials to the Library Director who is qualified by reason of education, training and experience.  To build a collection of enduring merit, materials must be measured by objective guidelines. All acquisitions, whether purchased or donated, are subject to the standards listed below. An item need not meet all of the criteria for acceptance. Some materials may be judged primarily on artistic merit, while others are considered because of scholarship, historic value or ability to satisfy the needs of the community.

A.  General Criteria
            1.  Relevance, present and potential, to community needs. The Library makes a conscious effort to obtain materials pertaining to local matters – civic, cultural, artistic, educational, recreational and historic.
            2.  Topicality, or the importance of material as a document or recording of the times.  Relation to the existing collection and other materials on the subject. An effort is made to include significant works to illuminate the different and important sides of issues.
            3.  Reputation and significance of the author. No item will be excluded because of the race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, political or doctrinal beliefs or personal history of an author.
            4.  Insight into human and social conditions.
            5.  Attention given by critics, reviewers and the public.
            6.  Suitability of physical form of the material for library use.
            7.  Price as a reasonable value for anticipated use.
            8.  Accuracy of scientific or historical fact.
            9.  Popular demand.
The Library recognizes that certain materials are controversial and that any item may offend some library user. Selections are not made on the basis of any anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits of the works in relation to the goals of building and enhancing a collection that serves the diverse interests of the community.  Continual evaluation of library holdings is an essential part of collection development. To ensure a vital collection of continued value to the community, materials that are judged by the library staff to have outlived their usefulness are withdrawn. Decisions for removal are based on diminished circulation, physical condition, usefulness and accuracy.  Library materials are not marked or identified to imply or show approval or disapproval of the contents. All materials are kept on open shelves except those that are: in poor physical condition and not replaceable, duplicate copies, extremely expensive or subject to mutilation.  The Library provides books and other materials suitable for children and young adults in collections that are clearly labeled and separate from the adult collection. Materials are selected for their merits and not necessarily excluded because of coarse language or frankness. The Library does not deny or limit access to any item because of its content or style.  Selection of materials for the Library’s collections shall not be inhibited by the possibility that some material may inadvertently come into the possession of children. Responsibility for the reading, listening and viewing of Library materials by children rests with their parents or legal guardians.  Once an item has been accepted under the Materials Selection Policy, it will not be removed at the request of those who disagree with its inclusion; unless it can be shown that retention of the item would be in violation of that Policy. Copies of the Materials Selection Policy, the Reconsideration of Library Materials Policy and the Request for Reconsideration of Library Material Form may be obtained at the checkout desk.
            The Library Board endorses the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement adopted by the American Library Association, copies of which are attached to this Policy.

B.  Gifts, Bequests, and Memorials
            The library accepts gifts of books, pamphlets, periodicals, videotapes, audio books, DVD’s, and the like with the understanding that they will be added to the library collections only when needed.  The same principles of selection, which are applied to purchases, are applied to gifts.  Some gifts may not be able to be used to full advantage because of reasons such as these:
            1.  Duplication of materials already owned by the library.
            2.  Physical condition of the donated materials.
            3.  Extent to which the donated materials meet the library’s mission.
            4.  Unrestricted gifts of money, lands, or property will be gratefully accepted by the board to be used at its discretion.  Gifts or bequests with specific restrictions attached will be reviewed by the board before acceptance

C.  Weeding
            An up-to-date, attractive and useful collection is maintained through a continual withdrawal and replacement process.  Replacement of worn volumes is dependent upon current demand, usefulness, more recent acquisitions, informational significance, and availability of newer editions.  This ongoing process of weeding is the responsibility of the library director.