Tempe Public Library Collection Development Policy

Approved by the Library Advisory Board
April 3, 2003

The mission of the Tempe Public Library is to provide materials and services to help community residents of all ages obtain information meeting their educational, professional, and recreational needs. Special emphasis is placed on supporting students at all academic levels and on stimulating children's interests and appreciation for reading and learning. The Library serves as an information and educational resource for the community.

In order to meet this mission, the Tempe Public Library's collection must provide a wide range of materials for users of all ages, all educational levels, and all socio-economic backgrounds. The purpose of this document is to further public understanding of the purpose and nature of the library's collection and to provide guidance and direction to the library staff for the development and maintenance of the Library's collection.

Given the diversity of the Tempe community, the following conclusions are important to consider in creating a collection development policy tailored to the community.

The presence of Arizona State University, the Maricopa Community Colleges, several private universities and colleges, and a full range of elementary and high schools, indicates that the student population comprises a significant proportion of the Library's clientele. It is, therefore, important that materials be selected to supplement their educational needs.

It is clear that the Arizona State University Library System is the major research resource in the area. While the Tempe Public Library does not attempt to duplicate its services, the University's presence and the relatively high degree of educational attainment by Tempe residents indicate that the Library should include selected scholarly and advanced technical materials in its collection; i.e., those materials generally thought to be outside the realm of the typical public library.

Preschool and elementary age children form an extremely important part of the library's clientele.

Fifteen percent of Tempe's population is under the age of twelve. Fostering a love of books and reading is crucial to building an educated and responsible population. Materials for the Youth Services section have an important role in the collection.

The Tempe Public Library's hours of operation are considerably longer than those of school libraries. Since the public library is open in the evening and on weekends, high school, middle school, and elementary students frequently use its facilities and collections for research and study purposes. For that reason, materials are selected specifically with their study needs in mind.

Students require access to a broad range of general interest periodicals and newspapers, as well as an accurate and efficient indexing system to locate the information contained within them. The reference collection must include a variety of encyclopedias, dictionaries, collections of literary criticism and other reference tools geared to their age level and subject interests.

The Library is also important to those members of our community who have special needs, or whose native language is not English. As a result, special materials need to be selected with those segments of the community in mind.

The economic development of the community depends to a great extent on its business environment. Small and medium-sized businesses often require business-related information in order to make sound decisions and plans. As they generally do not have their own libraries, it is vital that the library selects resources to satisfy their specific needs.

In addition to traditional methods of delivery, the Library must respond to the growing need to deliver information resources electronically on a 24 hour, seven days per week basis.

Finally, the Library, as a service unit of the City of Tempe, is responsible for providing reference and information services to municipal government. Developing a collection of materials that will provide City officials with the information they need to operate the City is a major goal.

The Tempe Public Library selects materials for its collection in accordance with professionally accepted guidelines. The Library will attempt to represent all approaches to public issues of a controversial nature. The Library does not sanction particular beliefs or views, nor is the selection of any given item equivalent to an endorsement of the author's viewpoint. If a scarcity of information in a particular subject area exists, material in that area may be selected, even though it does not meet the usually applied standards.

A. Nonfiction Criteria: The library acquires materials of both permanent and current interest in all subjects, based upon the merits of a work in relation to the needs, interests, and demands of the community. Each item is evaluated in its entirety and not on the basis of a particular section.

While a single standard cannot be applied to each work, the following general criteria are to be considered when selecting materials for purchase:

authoritativeness of the writer and reputation of the publisher; accuracy of information; impartiality of opinion, or clearly stated bias; timeliness of data; adequate breadth and depth of coverage; appropriateness and relevancy of subject to the library's users; popular demand; historical value; availability of similar material within the community and other area libraries; organization and style appropriate to the material and to the library's users; good quality illustrations; special features, such as bibliography and index; durable binding and paper; and cost.

B. Fiction Criteria: Works of contemporary fiction, graphic novels, and classic works of enduring value are included in the collection. Fiction is selected according to the following criteria:

popular demand; reputation of the author and publisher; appropriateness to the library's users;

importance as a document of the times; relationship to the existing collection and to other titles and authors dealing with the same subject; interest and originality of the plot; interest and development of the characters; style of writing; literary merit; inclusion in standard library bibliographies; availability of similar material within the community and other area libraries; the physical qualities of the book; cost; and whether a title is part of an existing series.

C. Periodicals: Periodicals are publications issued and received on a regular basis in print, microfilm, or electronic format. They form an important part of the Library's research collection and the periodicals collection is intended to complement the book collection. Periodicals are selected according to the following criteria: whether the periodical is indexed in one of the Library's indexing services; inclusion in or exclusion by standard indexing resources; cost;

requests by library users or City of Tempe employees; whether the periodical has local or regional interest; and whether a subject area needs to be expanded to help balance the collection.

D. Reference: Reference materials, whether in print or computer-based formats, are those designed by the arrangement and treatment of their subject matter to be consulted for definite items of information rather than to be read consecutively. They can provide quick, concise, and current information or they may serve as an index to other materials in the collection. Since they are typically used daily by the public and Library staff to answer specific questions, books in the reference collection are designated for use within the Library. According to their primary use, these materials may be located in Adult Reference, the Computer Access Center, or Youth Reference sections.

The Arizona Department of Library, Archives and Public Records has designated the Tempe

Public Library as one of twenty-three Economic Development Information Centers throughout the State of Arizona. The EDIC collection is located within the Adult Reference collection. Its purpose is to support local economic development and small businesses. The resources selected will include basic business resources, local economic development materials, demographics, legal resources, how-to materials, and computer-based business information.

In selecting for the reference collections, the primary criteria are the Library's users' information needs and the format in which it is available. Computer-based reference resources may be preferred over print publications in some instances. These decisions will be based upon cost, content, currency, and ease of use. In addition to the general selection criteria mentioned above, the following must be considered in acquiring materials for the reference collections:

favorable reviews or inclusion in basic reference collection guides; reputation of the author or publisher; currency of information; cost; and the expense of ongoing maintenance, especially in the case of serial publications that will require frequent updating.

Duplicate copies of reference materials may be purchased for the circulating collection if the price is not prohibitive. To a very limited extent, items not falling strictly within the reference format, but in high demand by library users, may be included in the reference collection to allow maximum use, for example, civil service examination review texts, business plans, resumes, etc. in order to insure their availability in the library at all times.

E. Computer-Based Resources: This category includes computer-based information resources available via the Internet or on a locally installed CD-ROM. In some instances, this material may be available to registered library users at remote locations via the Library's Web page.

This collection includes, but is not limited to, citation or full-text databases and instructional multimedia programs. The following criteria should be considered when considering computer-based resources for the collection: compatibility with available equipment and/or existing operating systems; ease of use by library users, including enhanced searching capabilities; price of print format versus electronic; authority; accuracy; frequency of updating; anticipated demand by library users; impact upon staff for ongoing maintenance and updating of database; training requirements for staff and the public; remote access capability; and licensing fees and usage restrictions.

F. Videos and Digital Videodiscs (DVD): The Library's goal is to provide a collection of instructional, educational, and literature-based videos that will enhance the Library's existing nonfiction and fiction collections. Feature film selections will be limited to those videos and/or digital videodiscs that are culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.

Preference will be given to feature films listed on the Library of Congress National Film Registry. It is not the Library's intention to duplicate the spectrum of feature films available in the private sector, but rather to provide those selections that are not readily available in commercial outlets. The library video collection is not intended to supplement curriculum requirements of educational organizations within the community.

The following selection criteria will be considered for videos and digital videodiscs:

favorable reviews in standard library reviewing sources; appropriateness of the subject to the collection; appropriateness to the interests and skills of the intended users; technical quality, i.e. clarity of picture and sound quality; authority and competency of the producer; artistic merit and reputation of the performers; availability of public performance rights; the need for non-fiction and documentaries to present accurate and current information; and cost.

G. Recorded Books: The Library's goal is to provide a collection of recorded instructional, educational, and quality literature that parallels most areas of the general collection. The use of audiocassette and compact disc players at home and in automobiles has led to a demand for books in audio formats that can be listened to by many people, not only the visually impaired. Recorded books may be in either audiocassette or compact disc format. Efforts are made to select on a variety of topics and to appeal to a range of interests. Both abridged and unabridged selections will be purchased. In addition to the general criteria for selection, the following criteria must be taken into account when selecting recorded books: authority and competency of producer; artistic merit and reputation of the reader; quality of interpretation and ease of understanding by library user; technical quality, i.e. sound quality; packaging; and cost.

H. Recorded Music: The Library's goal is to provide a collection of music on compact disc that is historically significant and of enduring popularity. Selections will include instrumental and vocal recordings in the following genres: classical, jazz, world, and opera. Recordings of local interest, musical theater, sound tracks, and other award-winning recordings may be added as demand and funds allow. The following criteria will be taken into account when selecting compact discs:

authority and competency of producer; artistic merit; technical quality;

availability from vendors; and cost.

Due to finite resources, there are certain materials that the Tempe Public Library does not collect:

A. Rare books: Since it is the public library's function to make materials available to all users, the Tempe Public Library does not collect rare or unusual materials that require special handling. Rare publications pertaining to Tempe or Arizona history will be given to the Tempe Historical Museum or another appropriate institution for preservation and protection.

B. Genealogy materials: The Library collects basic materials on genealogical research but does not collect more specialized publications such as family histories, etc. Since one of the finest genealogical research collections in the world is located within driving distance of Tempe, it would not be cost effective to duplicate this collection.

Library staff, however, will attempt to locate desired genealogical information via the inter-library loan system or via computer databases on the topic.

C. Textbooks: The Library does not buy textbooks used by the local schools, colleges or universities, as it is the responsibility of the libraries of those institutions to provide copies of these course materials to their students. Textbooks will, however, be purchased in those subject areas where there is little or no material in any other format or in those instances where they substantially add to the collection.

Ultimate responsibility for materials selection rests with the Deputy Community Services Manager-Library who operates within the Collection Development Policy approved by the Library Advisory Board. The Collection Management Librarian oversees the selection process and tracks the materials budget to insure a flow of new materials throughout the year according to budget allocations. The Media Librarian, under the direction of the Collection Management Librarian, is responsible for coordinating the purchase of audio-visual materials. Senior Librarians from the Reference and Adult Services, Computer Access, Youth Services sections also suggest materials for inclusion in their respective collections.

Involvement by the community in the selection process is encouraged. Several mechanisms are provided for this purpose including: analysis of pending reserve requests; purchase suggestions submitted by library users; and questionnaires and surveys administered by the Library. User suggestions for purchase will be evaluated in accordance with the Collection Development Policy.

Among the selection tools used by librarians are professional library journals, trade journals, subject bibliographies, publishers' promotional materials, and reviews from reputable sources. Librarians should also be aware of materials reviewed in national newspapers and magazines, local publications, the broadcast media, and from reputable sources available via the Internet.

In order to represent the diversity of thought within the Tempe community, it is very important that the public library's collection contain materials representing differing points of view on public issues of a controversial nature. The Tempe Public Library does not endorse particular beliefs or views, nor does the selection of an item express or imply an endorsement of the viewpoint expressed by the author. Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of the contents, nor will items be sequestered, except for the purpose of protecting them from theft or damage.

There may be occasions when a Tempe resident may be concerned about a particular item in the

Library's collection. If the resident wishes the Library to reconsider material that is in the collection, a Request for Reconsideration form * is available at all public services desks. This form must be completed in its entirety and returned to a Library staff member who will forward it to the Deputy Community Services Manager-Library. Once the form is received, the Deputy Community Services Manager-Library will form a committee of professional librarians who will meet to review the Statement, as well as the criteria used in selecting the item, its place in the collection, and reasons for including the item in the collection. A written response from the Deputy Community Services Manager-Library will be sent within four weeks.

In the event that the Tempe resident who initiated the Request for Reconsideration is not satisfied with the response of the Deputy Community Services Manager-Library, she or he may arrange to meet to discuss the matter with the Community Services. Manager. This must be done within fourteen days of receiving the written response. If the resident is not satisfied at this level, he or she will be invited to attend the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Library Advisory Board.

The Board, after hearing the complaint, may either wish to appoint a special review committee or recommend a policy regarding the item in question. In either case, a letter will be sent to the resident informing him or her of the Board's decision. A copy of this letter will be forwarded to the City Manager. If the resident seeks further consideration, final authority rests with the City Council.

Materials are purchased in the most appropriate format for library use. Although the majority of the Library's collection is offered in the traditional print format, valuable information is increasingly available in audio-visual and electronic formats.

New formats will be considered for the collection when industry reports, national survey results, and local requests indicate that a significant portion of the community has the necessary technology to make use of the new format. The following factors must be taken into consideration when deciding whether to add a new format to the collection: availability of items in the format; cost per item; and the Library's ability to acquire, process, and circulate the items in the specific format.

Books are generally purchased in hardcover editions because of their durability.

This format includes paperback books which are comparable in size to hardcover editions but which are typically lower in cost. They are preferred in those cases where the hardcover edition is extremely expensive and the title would be either used infrequently or would be removed from the collection in a few years.

This format includes paperback books that are smaller in size than the typical hardcover or

trade paperback book. The paperback fiction collection will be primarily limited to those titles published only in mass-market paperback format. Non-fiction mass-market paperbacks will be bound and integrated into the hardcover collection when deemed necessary for collection development purposes.

Serials are publications issued in successive parts bearing numeric or chronological designations and intended to be continued indefinitely. This format includes periodicals, newspapers and annuals or continuations retained in the reference collections. They may include the following physical formats: print, microform, and computer-based. Decisions as to retention of back issue periodicals and reference annuals or continuations are made on a title-by-title case.

The following factors must be considered in any retention decision: cost; usage rates; shelf space required or computer system compatibility; availability of the title in another format such as microfilm or electronic format; and existing indexing in one of the Library's indexing services

The Library generally retains those periodicals that have long-term research value in print format for five years. If back-issues of a particular title are available in computer-based format, the Library may decide to retain print copies for a shorter period of time. Any periodical or newspaper that the Library determines should be retained for historic value may be retained in print format indefinitely.

Microforms are used primarily for long-term storage and preservation of periodicals and newspapers. Specialized microform collections may be purchased to complement the library's indexes. Reference materials may also be acquired in this format if the storage requirements or cost of the print format would be prohibitive.

Videocassettes are selected in the VHS format. Special consideration is given to those titles available in closed caption format. Films may also be purchased in DVD format as they become available.

The majority of recorded books are available in cassette format. Both abridged and unabridged titles are included in the Library's collection. This format also includes instructional recordings such as foreign language instruction and keyboarding practice exercises

H. Compact Discs

Musical recordings are most readily available on compact disc. This format is distinguished by its durability and technical quality. Therefore, the Library will collect recorded music

primarily in this format. Works previously available on audio-cassette (such as language

instruction and recorded books) may be purchased on compact disc as they become available.

Books printed in larger than 16-point type are in demand by those persons in the community with visual impairments. The library attempts to provide a variety of titles in this format, particularly in fiction, and maintains several standing orders with large-print publishers for the purpose of maintaining and developing this collection. The large print format may also be considered for those books that are out of print in regular print formats.

This format includes on-line databases available via the Internet and CD-ROM resources mounted on local computer servers. Citation databases provide references to sources of information rather than the actual text or information. Full-text databases include complete articles, documents, and any other resources that provide actual text and information.

Books written in languages other than English may be purchased for the library where an actual or potential demand exists. Since Spanish is spoken in 7% of Tempe households, a collection of Spanish language materials, both in the adult and youth collections, will be maintained.

Smaller numbers of books in other languages will be selected for inclusion in the collection if staff determines that there is a need for these materials within the community.

Publications and documents of the City of Tempe and other local government agencies are sought by the library for inclusion in the Regional Collection. This collection may include documents not produced by the City but which are of local interest.

The Library also purchases a small collection of books and magazines in Braille for both adults and youth. This collection is supplemented by the federal Talking Books Program administered by the Arizona Braille and Talking Book Library and the Library's recorded books collection.

The rental book collection is comprised of high demand fiction and non-fiction titles. This collection provides additional copies of popular books that may be rented for a nominal fee by library users.

This collection is comprised of pamphlets and newspaper clippings relating to Arizona and Tempe. Some of the items in this collection are available for circulation, while others may be used only within the Library.

The Library maintains an international collection of maps including country maps, city street maps, highway maps, Arizona topographical maps, and recreational maps. The majority of this collection is limited to use within the Library.

This collection, located within the Youth Library, is comprised of materials to assist educators and parents in developing curriculum activities.

The Easy collection is comprised of picture books of interest to all ages. Because the illustrations are the predominant feature, they are generally designed for adults to read to children. Although most picture books are intended for the young child, there is a growing number of picture books that are specifically written and illustrated for the older child.

Beginning Readers are intended for kindergarten through early third-grade readers. They are characterized by a controlled vocabulary, large print, heavy use of illustrations, and a limited number of pages.

This collection serves students from late third-grade through sixth-grade. The books feature age-appropriate vocabulary and subject matter, a limited number of pages and very few illustrations.

2. Non-fiction

The Juvenile non-fiction collection includes materials to serve the information needs of preschoolers, elementary-age, and middle school students. The subject matter, vocabulary, organization and scope must be age-appropriate.

The Middle School collection is comprised of popular fiction targeting middle school students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades, who may be as young as ten, but also as old as fourteen. The following criteria are used when selecting these materials: age of the main character, school setting or grade level, use of language, theme or subject matter, consideration of relevant social issues, and the location of the majority of the author's other works.

The Young Adult collection is comprised of popular fiction targeting high school students in the ninth through twelfth grades who could be as young as fourteen and as old as eighteen. Other determining factors for inclusion in this collection are: materials that are clearly reviewed and/or labeled as young adult, characters are of high school or college age, and the theme or subject matter is of interest to and intended for young adults. In addition to popular fiction, the Young Adult collection includes multiple copies of classic works of literature included in reading lists for college-bound students. Young Adult non-fiction is integrated within the Adult non-fiction collection.

1. Film Collection: This collection includes films in video or digital video disc (DVD) formats. It is intended to serve the educational and recreational needs of children, ranging from infants through middle school students. The collection includes both fiction and non-fiction selections.

2. Recorded Books: This collection contains recorded books in audio-cassette and compact disc formats. It is intended to serve preschoolers through middle school students. Emphasis is placed upon beginning reader materials, however, age appropriate fiction and non-fiction titles are also selected for older children.

3. Recorded Music: This collection includes popular music, educational songs, and games recorded in compact disc format. It is intended to serve infants through elementary school children.

4. Computer-Based Resources: This collection contains basic math, language, and reading skills programs for preschoolers through middle school students.

The Adult collection includes fiction and non-fiction titles for adults of all ages and reading

abilities.

The Library is grateful for gifts of used or new books, periodicals, and other library materials. In accepting gifts, the Library reserves the right to decide which gifts should be added to the library collection, which are given to other libraries, and which are sold in the Friends of the Tempe Public Library's book sales. Receipts for gifts can only indicate the type and number of items donated. The donor is responsible for deciding the value of donated items. Library

materials donated to the Library and items given as memorials must meet the same standards as other materials selected for inclusion in the library's collection.

Weeding is an integral part of the collection development process. An active and continuous weeding program is essential in maintaining a viable and useful collection.

Materials are withdrawn from the Library's collection through systematic weeding or because of loss or physical damage. The following categories of materials should be considered for weeding: worn or mutilated items; duplicate copies of seldom used titles; materials which contain outdated or inaccurate information; superseded editions of specific titles; and materials no longer of interest or demand

While the Library attempts to maintain copies of standard and important works, it does not automatically replace all materials withdrawn due to loss or damage. In making a decision as to whether or not an item will be replaced, staff will consider the following factors: whether the item is still available and can be replaced;

whether another item or format might better serve the same purpose; whether there remains sufficient demand to replace the item;

whether updated, newer, or revised materials might better replace a given item; whether the item has historic value; whether another networking agency could better provide that or a comparable item; the number of copies held in the collection; the existing coverage of the subject within the collection; and the cost of mending versus the cost of replacement.

* form is in .pdf format, readable with Adobe Reader.