PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to describe the method by which library materials are selected, maintained and evaluated, and to inform the public about the principles of materials selection for the library system.The approval and adoption of the Collection Development Policy is the responsibility of the Hall County Library System Board of Trustees.Implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the library director and the library system staff.The policy will be reviewed periodically.Limitations on the budget, changes in population, diversity in population, current events, technological innovations, the collections of other institutions, availability of materials from other sources, and other unforeseen situations and conditions are factors to be considered and monitored.

HALL COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM AT A GLANCE:

The Hall County Library System has libraries throughout Hall County.The library system participates in a statewide and national interlibrary loan network and reciprocal borrowing agreements with other types of libraries.Professionally trained and certified librarians are employed by the system to oversee collection development.

HALL COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM MISSION STATEMENT

The HCLS connects you to the tools that empower you to explore the world and enrich your life.

HALL COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM VISION STATEMENT

The Board of Trustees and the Staff of the Hall County Library System envision a library that will be recognized as a dynamic force in the community by creating an environment that nurtures intellectual freedom, sparks lifelong learning, offers open access to resources, supports new technologies, respects cultural diversity, and embraces the future.

PRINCIPLES

The Hall County Library Board and staff recognize and adhere to the principles of intellectual freedom found in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and in the American Library Association Bill of Rights.Efforts are made to insure that a wide variety of views are represented and made available to all citizens regardless of age, race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or social or political views.Materials are not added or removed from the collection for partisan or doctrinal reasons.The parent or legal guardian is ultimately responsible for the selection and use of a minor age patron’s library materials.The selection of materials will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may come into the possession of children.The library system will not mark materials to show approval or disapproval of contents, and materials are not restricted in access except for the purpose of protecting them from theft or damage.Staff will not develop or arrange the collection based on the curriculum needs of local schools or institutions of higher education.S

ELECTION CRITERIA

The selection of print, non-print, and electronic resources does not constitute an endorsement of contents.The Hall County Library system recognizes that many materials are considered controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons.Reasonable effort is made to provide a balanced collection, equitable access to materials, and a collection that meets the reading and information demands of the general public.Materials are selected from review sources using standard library criteria based on the characteristics of the materials, characteristics of the community, budget limitations, current deficiencies in the collection and library roles. Requests for purchase from the general public are welcomed when the materials meet the criteria established by the collection development procedure.The library system cannot honor every patron request or purchase every item desired, however.Patrons are encouraged to make use of the library system’s reciprocal borrowing agreements to obtain materials not in the collection.

SPECIAL COLLECTION MATERIALS

Hall County Library System will develop and maintain a collection of local history and genealogy materials.This will serve as a research collection and will be housed in the special collections area of the Headquarters Library Branch.The collection will include Georgia authors, genealogy materials and Southern history materials.Rare books, documents, regalia, manuscripts, autographed works and valuable works may be assigned to this area for security purposes, and special preservation techniques may be utilized to maintain the integrity of such items.Singular materials of this type may require that use be confined to direct supervision by library staff.Individual family histories shall not normally be purchased for the collection, but will be accepted as gifts and subjected to standard collection criteria.GIFTS(see separate gift policy)

PATRON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS

Patron complaints regarding materials that are a part of the library collection are handled in the following manner:

1. The patron is offered an opportunity to file a formal written complaint using the Board adopted PATRON REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY MATERIALS form.A copy of the Hall County Library System Collection Development Policy will be provided to the patron.

2. The request will be considered by the library system materials review committee.The committee is composed of professional library staff appointed by the library director.

3. The library director will assume responsibility for, and the possession of, the completed request form and the materials in question.The director will acknowledge the request in writing to the complainant.The materials review committee will begin the review process within seven business days after their receipt of the filed complaint. The committee will review the materials and make recommendations. The director will inform the complainant in writing of the decision of the materials review committee.

4. The decision of the materials review committee may be appealed to the Hall County Library Board by making a request in writing to the Board.The Board decision will be considered final.

Library Bill of Rights

1. The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

2. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of origin, background or views of those contributing to their creation.

3. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal approval.

4. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

5. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

6. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

7. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
   

Patron Request for Reconsideration