Materials Selection Policy
Watonga is a small rural community located 72 miles Northwest of Oklahoma City. Watonga is the county seat for Blaine County. The library is primarily supported by the tax base of the city of Watonga, however, in an attempt to serve all citizens within the city’s trade area and to comply with State Aid regulations, the library provides service free of charge to all citizens of Blaine County.
The Watonga Public Library works in cooperation with the local K-12 schools and the Chisholm Trail Technology Center to provide educational opportunities for all ages. Many area citizens are also enrolled at Redlands Community College or SWOSU at Weatherford. The library attempts to help these students as much as possible at the local level by providing access to information, research assistance and technology.
Mission
The Watonga Public Library places major emphasis on educational functions recognizing the importance of basic materials of permanent value and timely materials on current issues. The Watonga Public Library will provide free public access to books and materials, classes and events, and online resources which enhance self-directed education, research assistance and instruction, and instructive and enlightening experience for all ages thereby improving quality of life for the community of Watonga and the citizens of Blaine County. The library will serve as a bridge providing access to information and services not otherwise available at the local level through Interlibrary Loan and Internet access.
Primary Roles
- High Speed Broadband Access
- Preschool Learning Center/Early Literacy
- Research and Education Center
- Events and Classes for All Ages
Responsibility
The Watonga Public Library Board acts in an advisory capacity and shall supervise the operation of the library subject to the approval of the city council and the mayor. Responsibility for day to day operation, including collection development, is delegated to the library staff. The library director has the final responsibility for selection of all materials to be incorporated into the library’s collection. The library director is designated to perform these duties which guide the application of policy in day to day decisions and is deemed qualified by education and training. The director may delegate selection and acquisition tasks to other staff as he/she deems necessary for the efficient operation of the library.
Selection Criteria
In general, materials acquired by the library, whether purchased or donated, are considered in terms of the standards listed below. However, an item need not meet all of the criteria in order to be acceptable. Materials are evaluated on the significance of the entire work rather than individual parts. When judging the quality of materials, several standards and combinations of standards may be used. The following principals will guide selection:
- Contemporary significance or permanent value
- Community interest
- Accuracy of content
- Reputation and/or authority of the author, editor, illustrator, or publisher
- Literary merit
- Relation to existing collection and to other materials on the subject
- Price, availability, and demand
- Format and ease of use
- Scarcity of information in the subject area
- Availability of material in other libraries
- Attention of critics, reviewers, media, and public
Regarding Format
The following are the primary formats which the library will purchase. This list is not necessarily inclusive.
- Books, Ebooks, and Audiobooks
Nonfiction and fiction
Large Print
Children, Young Adult and Adult - Newspapers and periodicals–print and downloadable
Provide current information to supplement books
Entertainment or recreational use
Retain 1-3 months of back issues of monthly magazines - DVD
Emphasis will be on classic films, movies based on books, award winning films and children’s titles - Audio books—cd and downloadable audio
- Computer software & online electronic format
- Microfilm and digital collections
- Watonga Republican Newspaper
- Blaine County Census
Databases
Online access will be provided to databases that the Oklahoma Department of Libraries purchases and makes available statewide.
Oklahoma Digital Prairie is the entrance to online services and resources that help find books, articles, web content and other useful information.
Digital Prairie is a production of the Oklahoma Library Technology Network, and is funded with state and federal funds by the Oklahoma Department of Libraries. Federal funds are provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
In addition to the Digital Prairie, the Library provides databases to assist with Homework and Research, Genealogy, and online access to ebooks, magazines, and audio through the Oklahoma Virtual Library. Links to these resources will be provided on the library web site.
Method of Selection
Selection aids which may be used by the staff include retrospective and current lists of recommendations, specialized bibliographies, standard current review media such as Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal. Materials are purchased only after professional review.
Other Considerations
Due to the size of the library’s service area, generally, only one copy of each item will be purchased, however, ebook format may be available and may duplicate some titles. The staff will maintain a reserve list for popular items.
Decisions will be made regarding paperback versus hardback or ebook by the staff considering projected usage, long-term appeal, and availability.
Decisions regarding replacement of lost or damaged items will be made on a case by case basis. The patron will be charged the replacement cost for the item regardless of the decision to replace.
Due to local interest, books about local history and Native American history will be a high priority for purchase.
Deselection
To maintain the effectiveness of the library’s total collection, the library staff will attempt to systematically remove materials judged to be dated, inaccurate, seldom used, in poor condition, or otherwise no longer appropriate. The library staff does not automatically replace all materials withdrawn because of loss, damage, or wear. Need for replacement is weighed with regard to several factors including number of duplicate copies, existence of adequate coverage of a field, similar material in the collection, later or more authoritative materials as well as current demand for the particular subject or title.
Gifts
Gifts of materials are accepted with the understanding that they must meet the Selection Criteria and will be evaluated according to the library’s needs. Gifts of money and materials cannot be accepted when the donor specifies that the books are to be kept together or placed in a special location. Gifts may either be assigned to the library collections, offered for sale to the public by the Friends of the Library, or discarded. The library does not appraise gifts for income tax purposes, although an acknowledgement of the donation may be given. All gift materials will be processed and located in the appropriate collection of the library. Gifts of money and materials are accepted with the understanding that the library staff will evaluate materials using the same Selection Criteria utilized for purchased materials and that the library director will make the final determination with regard to the gift.
Reconsideration
Patrons requesting that material in the collection be reconsidered may complete a “Request for Reconsideration of a Book”. (Appendix A–please request in person at the library) The inquiry will be placed on the agenda at the next regular meeting of the Watonga Public Library Board. The decision of the Board will be based on this Selection policy after due consideration of the report of the library director and the patron’s inquiry.
The library recognizes that some materials may be controversial and that any given item may offend some patron. Selection or retention of materials will not be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval of any group of patrons, but solely on the basis of the principles stated in this policy. Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of their content, and no library material will be sequestered, except to protect it from theft. Responsibility for the reading of children rests with the parent or legal guardian.
Freedom to Read
Watonga Public Library does not promote particular beliefs or views. The library provides resources for various opinions that apply to important, complex, and controversial questions including possibly unpopular or unorthodox positions. The Watonga Public Library supports the Intellectual Freedom statements promulgated by the American Library Association, and these beliefs serve as a basis for this policy.
Revision of this Policy
This policy and all other library policies are reviewed every two to four years. Policies are evaluated and approved by the Watonga Public Library Board.