Ala. Admin. Code r. 520-3-1-.01

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 520-3-1-.01 - Collection Development Policies

(1) Goals and Objectives: The Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) will strive to empower all Alabama citizens by providing equal access to the world's library and information resources. These goals and objectives may be summarized as:

(a) To provide public libraries with backup resources that will enable them to provide Alabama citizens access to library materials electronically or on-site to obtain information and services that meet their needs.

(b) To provide job-related resources to State of Alabama employees and elected officials. The materials acquired to serve state government will be selected to serve needs not met by other State collections.

(c) To provide specialized library materials to persons with disabilities.

(d) To prepare library staff through continuing education materials to use current and new technologies in order to assist users in accessing information.

(e) To provide professional materials to public libraries to ensure that children and youth at risk in Alabama will receive the library services they need to support their educational and recreational needs.

(f) To provide resources to public libraries that support programs and ensure library services for users who are of diverse geographic, cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, or who have limited functional literacy or limited information skills.

(2) Philosophy of the Collection Development Policy:

(a) The collection development policy is a statement of principles to guide staff in the selection of materials to fulfill the objectives of the library. Since the collection development policy statement cannot be definitive for all time, it is subject to continuous review and revision. APLS subscribes to the "Library Bill of Rights" (see Appendix A), "The Freedom to Read" (see Appendix B), and the "Alabama Citizen's Request for Reconsideration of Library Material" (see Appendix C), and other supportive documents of the American Library Association.

(3) Responsibilities for Selection:

(a) Ultimate responsibility for the collection is assigned to the APLS Director by the APLS Executive Board within the framework of policies approved by the Board. Selection, however, is a responsibility shared by all APLS professional staff.

(4) Standards for Selecting Library Materials: The selection of library materials is based on several important factors which determine their value to the collection. These factors are:

(a) Demand. Any service institution must include demand among its criteria when considering acquisitions. This demand may be voiced by the library's users, the APLS staff, public libraries, or state agencies.

(b) Value. Materials will be selected because of notable inherent qualities regardless of demand. Reviews in authoritative reviewing media will be consulted in determining which items meet this criteria. However, materials representing all sides of controversial issues will be considered even if such materials are less than authoritative.

(c) Format. APLS will collect material in any format deemed most appropriate to meet the goals and objectives of APLS.

(5) Policies by Format of Material:

(a) Monographs.

1. Policy statement. The APLS collection serves as a back-up resource collection for reference and informational materials.

2. Criteria for selection.

(i) The collection will be limited to Alabamiana, selected Southern works, award-winning titles, and works of literary significance.

(ii) Juvenile books will generally only be purchased if Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, or other prestigious award winners or if works by Alabama authors. Exceptions may be made if introductory level works are needed on a subject and the only suitable works are juvenile in nature. In addition, selected titles may be purchased to support the work of the APLS Children/Young Adult Services Consultants. APLS defines juvenile as ages 10 or younger or grades 5 or lower.

(iii) Primary selection of monographs will be from current review journals, standard selection tools, and bibliographies, e.g., Library Journal, Booklist, and Choice. Special notice will be given to the annual lists of "best" books appearing in such publications. Other professional publications may be used. On occasion, materials will be selected from other sources, i.e., publishers' catalogs, for new editions of standard works, new titles by popular authors, continuations and supplements, Alabamiana.

3. The Collection.

(i) Alabamiana collection. Alabamiana will be purchased regardless of merit. Old, out-of-print, and rare Alabamiana will be acquired when available and practical. At least two copies of Alabamiana will be purchased: one for the reference collection and one for the circulating collection. The criteria to determine that a book is Alabamiana are that the author be born in Alabama, reside in the state at least five years or write the work(s) as a consequence of residency in Alabama; or that the book be set in Alabama or has at least one-third of the subject matter dealing with Alabama. No effort will be made to collect individual family histories.

(ii) Alabama Documents collection. APLS acquires when funds are available at least one copy of documents issued by Alabama state agencies according to the selection policy for the general collection. Three copies of documents compiled and/or published by APLS are processed into the collection.

(b) Newspapers. A highly selective policy will be carried out in maintaining the newspaper collection due to the expense of newspapers and the frequent lack of indexing.

(c) Periodicals. Selection will be made to meet APLS public service needs and to support agency staff professional work. APLS will join organizations to acquire their publications when practical advantages will be received as a result of the membership. At least one copy of each title will be acquired. Acquisitions will conform to the fair use guidelines of the current copyright law. Titles with regular coverage of Alabama will be acquired. Consideration will be given to periodicals that aid in materials selection.

(d) Electronic formats. The selection of electronic formats will complement, not duplicate, those titles included in the Alabama Virtual Library and will be evaluated as they are developed.

(e) BPH special format materials. Within APLS, BPH functions as the Alabama Regional Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Its service policies are established by the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), a branch of the Library of Congress. For this reason, its operation policies and collection development levels will vary from some of those used within APLS. BPH adheres to the NLS Selection Policy for Reading Materials and the NLS Collection Building Policy.

(6) Policies by Subject Material:

(a) Collection development levels. The subject matter of the collection will be developed on three levels:

1.Comprehensive. A collection in which APLS attempts, so far as is reasonably possible, to include all significant works of recorded knowledge in a necessarily defined and limited field. The aim, if not the achievement, is complete coverage.

2. Strong. A collection intended to support and supplement the information needs of APLS users. Its broad coverage at a basic research level includes the reference tools and fundamental works pertaining to the subject.

3.Basic. A core collection of standard works containing general information.

4.Minimal. A subject area in which few selections are made beyond very basic works.

(7) Gifts Policy:

(a) Gift material will be accepted with the understanding that APLS has the authority to use or dispose of such material as it meets the criteria established in this collection development policy. No restrictions on the use of gift material added to the collection may be made by the donor. APLS will not price or evaluate for tax purposes materials donated to APLS or to any other tax-exempt institution.

(8) Weeding Policy:

(a) The proliferation of information and diminishing space makes weeding the collection a high priority. Weeding is selection in reverse. The same care, thought and judgment must be exercised in this process as in the original selection. The objectives of the library as outlined above in the Collection Development Policy as well as the kind of collection APLS is attempting to build and maintain will be considered. Materials considered for weeding will be measured against the criteria in the latest edition of CREW: A Weeding Manual for Modern Libraries. BPH weeds its collection based on guidance from the NLS Network Library. The collection will be weeded by the professional staff of APLS on a continuous basis.

(9) Replacement Policies:

(a) Replacement of titles withdrawn for any reasons will be governed by the following factors: importance of the author or title; existence of similar materials in this collection; availability of newer or better material; cost.

(10) Intellectual Freedom and Procedures for Complaints:

(a) Any resident of Alabama who objects to a book or any other material owned by APLS should be listened to courteously and asked to fill out a reconsideration form available from the APLS Director or from the Head of BPH. If a complaint arises about APLS material:

1. A form will be sent to the complaining patron. (See Appendix C) The APLS Director will be notified and the patron should be told that his objections will be given serious consideration and that his interest in the library is welcome.

2. The APLS Director will notify the APLS Executive Board that a complaint has been received.

3. The objections will be forwarded to an ad hoc committee made up of the APLS Assistant Director, the Head of BPH, and a library consultant; they will draft a response for review by the Director. The response may encourage the complainant to accept the addition of another title to balance the collection or to accept a substitute title for his own use.

4. If the complainant is not satisfied, then the complainant will be told that he may appeal to the APLS Director.

5. The APLS Director will review the completed form, the staff comments, and the appeal. He will contact the complainant, explaining the decision of the library, and advise the complainant that further discussions are welcome.

6. If the complainant still feels that his objections have not been resolved, he may make a final appeal in person to the APLS Executive Board.

7. The APLS Executive Board will decide whether to withdraw the book or other material, refuse to withdraw, or purchase another title to counterbalance the material in question. The Board will notify the complainant in writing of their decision within a month after the meeting.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 520-3-1-.01

Filed September 30, 1982. Repealed and New Rule: Filed March 20, 2000; effective April 24, 2000. Repealed and New Rule: Filed August 19, 2010; effective September 23, 2010.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XXXVII, Issue No. 03, December 28, 2018, eff. 1/24/2019.

Author: Nancy C. Pack, Director

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§41-8-(1-10).