Collection Development Policy (updated June 2018)
Yutan Public Library supports an informed community, lifelong learning, and the love of community and surrounding area.
Yutan Public Library recognizes that library patrons are of all ages and varied interests and will strive to provide a collection of reading and reference materials to meet the educational and recreational requirements of all persons entitled to use the library resources.
Yutan Public Library endorses the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights”, “Intellectual Freedom Statement”, “Code of Ethics”, and “The Freedom to Read” found in the Handbook of Intellectual Freedom.
Library Collection
Yutan Public Library collection consists of books, Overdrive(E-books), DVD’s, CD’s, Observe the Moon Kit, watt detectors, Mega Blocks, Brick Legos, Lego Robotics kits, screen, smart TV, Apple TV, X-Box and games, board games, laminator, Cricut, Zutter Bind-it-all Machine, ghost hunting kit, puzzles, 3D printer, Kindles, iPads and Little Bits.
Adult Collection-0-999 & FIC
Adults are served with materials for general reading, reference and recreation including large print titles. In selecting fiction, the library sets no arbitrary, single standard of literary quality. An attempt will be made to satisfy a public varying greatly in education, interests, tastes, and reading skills.
Easy Reader, Juvenile, and Tween Collection- JNF,E, FJ, & TWN
The Library supports a separate collection of books and other materials to meet the interests, needs and reading abilities of the child from nursery age through Jr. High School. Children’s books reflect the multicultural diversity of our times.
Children’s Materials consist of children’s classics, picture books, easy reading, fiction, fairy tales and a variety of non-fiction material to meet the informational, recreational, and cultural needs of children who read or who are read to.
Young Adult Collection- YA
The library supports a separate section for young adults, ages 14 and up, as a transition between the children’s and the adult collections. The Young Adult collection is recreational in scope and includes hardback and paperbound books.
Reference Collection
Reference material consists of dictionaries, almanacs and other collections of facts or current interests.
Focus on Nebraska- 0-999 & FIC
Yutan Public Library features a “Focus on Nebraska” section of books dealing with Nebraska history, events, people, and Nebraska authors.
Inter-library Loan
Yutan Public Library is able to provide inter-library loan service through the Nebraska Library Commission and other Saunders County libraries to acquire requested materials not in our collection.
Collection Development
Continued development of the collection will be the responsibility of the Library Director with input from library staff. The Library Director will also consider input from library patrons, current interest topics, best seller lists, published book reviews, and other reviews and/or recommendations available.
The Library Director should also consider circulation statistics of the current collection to assist in determining the needs of the collection in specific areas.
Purchasing
Library materials will be purchased at regular intervals throughout the year in order to ensure a steady flow of new materials. Purchases of special requests for specific items or to meet the needs of specific programs should be considered as the need occurs.
Purchases should be within the limits of the adopted operating budget. The need to exceed the collection development budget should be presented at a regular board meeting for consideration and/or approval.
Selection criteria
*Educational and social significance
*Existing library collection
*Popular demand and appeal
*Permanent or timely value
*High artistic quality and /or literary style
*Integrity
*Budget
Purchases may be made from a variety of sources to include but not limited to, local bookstores, a multitude of publishers catalogs, and library materials supply sources.
Gifts, Memorials, Donations
Materials donated to the library will be evaluated by the same criteria as materials purchased. Materials donated that cannot be used will be disposed of the same as other withdrawn library materials.
Evaluation
The library collection will be evaluated for retention, replacement or withdrawal on an ongoing basis in order to ensure that the collection continues to meet the needs of the library patrons.
Weeding Criteria
*Material no longer of interest or in demand
*Duplicates and worn or mutilated copies
*Frequency of circulation
*Community interest
*Availability of newer and more valid materials
Books that are damaged or worn due to normal circulation should be considered for replacement if they are still a vital part of the collection, such as classics, local history, or current events, or if they continue to be regularly circulated.
Reconsideration of Materials
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievance.” First Amendment to the United States Constitution
In case of serious objection the library will provide a form, “Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources”, which is to be filled out and signed by the patron. The request should be returned to the Library Director who will examine the complaint, the material in question, and the circumstances involved in the complaint. The Library Director will submit to the patron no later than one week after receipt of the request, a response based on the reasons for the selection of the material and policies of the library. If the complaint feels that the response of the Library Director is not supported by the Policy Statement, the patron has the right to an additional hearing on the complaint with the Library Board.
The Library Board recognizes that while individuals are free to reject materials or services of which they do not approve for themselves, they do not have the right to restrict the freedom of others to read or view the materials. Whenever the question of censorship is involved, no library material or access shall be removed except under unanimous vote of the Library Board.
Responsibility for children’s reading and viewing rests with their parents or legal guardian. Selections or circulation will not be inhibited by the possibility that controversial materials may be obtained by children.