MORRISON AND MARY WILEY LIBRARY Materials Selection Policy

3/5/07

The authority and responsibility for the selection of library materials are delegated to the Head Librarian and, under his or her direction, to additional staff members who are qualified for this activity. No employee may be disciplined or dismissed for the selection of library materials when the selection is made in good faith and in accordance with the written policy required to be established pursuant to Illinois Library Law. Suggestions from patrons are welcome and will be considered using the same criteria as all other selections.

In accordance with the recommendations of Serving Our Public: Standards for Illinois Public Libraries, the Morrison and Mary Wiley Library will allocate not less than 12% of its operating budget on materials for patrons every year. These materials will be selected in a variety of formats including, but not limited to, print, video, audio and electronic media. Each type of material must be considered in terms of its own excellence and the audience for whom it is intended. No single standard can be applied in all cases. Some materials may be judged primarily in terms of artistic merit, scholarship or value to humanity; others are selected to satisfy the informational, recreational or educational interests of the community.

Reviews in professionally recognized periodicals are a primary source for materials selection. Standard bibliographies, book lists by recognized authorities, including best seller lists and the advice of competent people in specific subject areas also will be used.

According to the mission statement of the Morrison and Mary Wiley Library, the roles chosen to best suit the needs of the community are Livelong Learning and Current Topics. In keeping with those stated roles, the library will endeavor to build collection strengths in both of those areas.

The policy for selection of books for Young Adults and the Juvenile Section of the library is to choose the best new books and replace older titles which have proven their worth.

The library attempts to collect all local history available, subject to budgetary limits. The library will also attempt, with the assistance of ALS, to collect microfilm of the local newspaper, The Gazette.

The library keeps the collection vital and useful by retaining or replacing essential materials and by removing, on a systematic and continuous basis, those works that are worn, outdated, of little historical significance or no longer in demand. Materials which are removed from the library collection may or may not be made available for public purchase at book sales.

Textbooks as such will not be purchased unless material is not available in another format. Legal and medical works will be purchased only if they are of a popular nature written for the layman.

The Morrison and Mary Wiley Library endeavors to build a collection representing varying

points of view. The choice of library materials by users is an individual matter. Responsibility for appropriateness of the reading materials of children and young adults rests with their parents or legal guardians. While a person may reject materials for himself or herself and for his or her children, he or she cannot exercise censorship to restrict access to the materials by others. The library supports intellectual freedom and has adopted the following statements as policy: American Library Association Freedom To Read statement, American Library Association Library Bill Of Rights and the Freedom To View statement of the American Film and Video Association.

MORRISON AND MARY WILEY LIBRARY Materials Selection Policy (CONT.)

Requests for reconsideration may be made only by registered patrons and shall be made in writing and given to the Head Librarian for a written response. Appeals are directed to the Library Board of Trustees for a final decision.

MORRISON AND MARY WILEY LIBRARY REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS

Author: ___________________________________________________________________

Title: _____________________________________________________________________

Publisher or Distributor: ______________________________________________________

Request Initiated by: _________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________ Telephone: __________________________

City: ____________________________ Zip code: __________________________________

Request represents: _________ Individual

________________________Organization or group (Please write name)

Have you read or viewed the entire work? _______________________________________

If not, what parts? _________________________________________________________

To what in the material do you object? (Please be specific, cite pages or sections) ______

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What good or valuable features do you find in the material? _______________________

________________________________________________________________________

What do you believe is the theme of this work? _________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What do you feel might be the result of reading or viewing this material? _____________

________________________________________________________________________

Have you read any reviews of this material? ____________________________________

MORRISON AND MARY WILEY LIBRARY REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS (CONT.)

If yes, specify: ___________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Do you think this material would be more appropriate for a different age group? Please

explain: _________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What would you like the library to do about this material? _________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Can you recommend other material that would convey as valuable a picture and/or perspective?

of the subject treated? __________ If yes, please specify: _________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Date: _________________ Signature:

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