General Selection Policy Statement

In order to fulfill the specific aims of the library in an efficient manner, the selector must gain considerable knowledge of certain local factors, which have some influence on his decisions as to what would be most beneficial to purchase under the circumstances.  The most important of these factors is the library as it stands with its existing collection, budget and services.  Naturally, one can spend only whatever money is available, but it is important that a reasonable portion of the total budget be spent on the collection.  It is recommended in the ALA minimum standards that a MINIMUM of fifteen percent (15%) of the operating budget be spent on the collection.  The Library will exceed this standard to the greatest extent practicable.

The selector should have intimate knowledge of the community served, by the library.  Such knowledge, which would cover a myriad of things such as organizations, homogeneous groupings, employment and technological levels, socio-economic stratification, etc., is necessary in order to provide appropriate materials for the people of this community.

For instance, a concentration of people in a particular occupation or profession might be well served by a plentiful supply of materials in their chosen fields.

No addition to the collection is made simply because the work represents a specific area of subject field.  A book written by an author known to be an expert in his field has an advantage over a book by an unknown author but selection is not made on this basis alone.  Each work is evaluated to the greatest degree possible and either purchased or rejected on its own merit.

The Library does not cater to nor discriminate against any religious group.  Purchase of religious books is limited to those of a general nature or to titles which have become recognized classics and standard reference items.  Materials expounding the principles and practices of specific religious denominations are not purchased.

The existing collection must always be kept in mind when selecting so that subject areas which are either completely void or below standard in content may be filled in with standard works and new materials as they become available.  Care must be taken to avoid over-purchasing in particular areas to the exclusion of other areas that are thinly considered to avoid unnecessary duplication.  Any books, which Stevens County Library does not have, will be requested from other local libraries if possible, through inter-library loan in order to meet as many patron needs as possible.