I. Introduction
Altamont Free Library provides free, open and equal access to culture, ideas, and information for all members of our community. The library recognizes its responsibility to carefully select and maintain its print, non-print, and to contribute to a shared digital collection maintained by the Upper Hudson Library System in support of its mission to make its resources available to every patron regardless of national origin, age, background, or personal beliefs.
The purpose of this policy is to provide direction for the development, maintenance, and weeding of the library’s collections.
The library will acquire resources representing various contemporary and historical points of view which are of current interest and possible future significance, including resources which reflect current conditions, trends and controversies.
II. Responsibility for the Selection of Library Resources
The ultimate responsibility for selection of library materials rests with the Library Director who operates within the framework of the policies determined by the Altamont Free Library Board of Trustees. This responsibility may be shared with other members of the library staff: however, because the Director must answer to the library board and general public to actual selections made, the Director has the authority to reject or select any item contrary to the recommendations of the staff.
Responsibility for the selection of materials in the UHLS shared digital collections is shared amongst all of the libraries in the Upper Hudson Library System. The following policy cannot be applied to items in the shared digital collection.
III. Criteria for Selection
The following criteria will apply to purchased and donated resources, as well as selected online sites.
- Relevance to community needs
- Current popularity and/or permanence
- Suitability to the intended audience of subject, style, format, interest and reading level
- Budget allocations
- Space considerations
The Library strives to acquire materials to meet demand from patrons in as timely, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly manner as possible. While cost of materials is a prime consideration for acquisition, preference will be given to acquiring materials from local, independent, and/or environmentally friendly vendors when prices are similar, even if they might be slightly higher.
The library’s decision to acquire material does not constitute endorsement of the material’s content.
IV. Gifts and Donations
The library accepts gifts of books and other materials with the understanding that they will be added to the collection only if appropriate and needed and sufficient shelf space exists for them without diminishing the rest of the library collection. If they cannot be used for any reason, the Director may dispose of them as they see fit. All possible care will be taken to dispose of library materials in an environmentally sustainable way.
V. Withdrawal of Materials
The process of removing items from the collection is an integral part of collection development. Materials are withdrawn from the collection in order to maintain its usefulness, currency, relevance and condition. Responsibility for collection maintenance and for the disposition of withdrawn resources rests with the library director or persons approved by the Library Director. Withdrawn items may be sold, offered to other libraries or non-profit organizations, recycled, or discarded. All possible care will be taken to dispose of library materials in an environmentally sustainable way.
VI. Reconsideration of Library Resources
Although materials are carefully selected, differences of opinion regarding suitable materials may arise. Patrons requesting that material be withdrawn from or restricted within the collection may submit their concerns in writing either on paper or by an email to the Library Director at Director@AltamontFreeLibrary.org. The inquiry will be placed on the agenda of an upcoming regular meeting of the Altamont Free Library Board of Trustees.
The Library Director will notify the patron of the results of the reconsideration.
Responsibility for children’s reading choices lies with the child and their parents or legal guardians. Children’s access to any given book will not be restricted by the library or its staff. The selection of materials for the library collection by library staff will not be restricted on the basis of the possibility that children will see or borrow it.
Adopted December 21, 2020
