Collection Development Policy

Overview

The free exchange of ideas and information is guaranteed in the US Constitution and is vital to a healthy democracy, within the framework of the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement. The Washington County Public Library provides materials and programs representing a wide variety of viewpoints, including perspectives and expressions that may be deemed offensive or controversial to individuals or groups. The use of Library materials and programs is voluntary. Parents or guardians of minors are responsible for monitoring the selection of materials or attendance at programs by their children.

The Library embraces its mission to provide materials and programs that enable guests to freely access and consume information and cultural expressions across the spectrum of human experience and knowledge. The Library does not promulgate particular beliefs, views, or forms of expression, nor does the selection of an item or program express or imply an endorsement of the content or viewpoint expressed. Library materials and programs 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 damage or theft. In support of its mission, the Library rejects censorship and the abridgement of the free expression and access to ideas.

Authority

The Library Director assumes ultimate responsibility for collection development and maintenance, with primary responsibility delegated to the Collection Development Librarian. The Collection Development Librarian, in collaboration with qualified Library staff, oversees all collection development and maintenance planning, budgeting, selecting, and management. Any Library staff and guests can participate in the collection development process by relaying purchase requests, observed trends, and general feedback regarding the collection.

Materials Selection Criteria

Within the scope of its vision, mission, and objectives, the Library will provide materials in a wide variety of formats, both physical and digital, including books, audiovisual materials, periodicals, newspapers, kits, objects, and other materials.

Collections contain popular works, classic works that have withstood the test of time, and other materials of general interest. In building collections, the Library places priority on filling contemporary needs rather than building historical or rare material collections, with some exceptions for materials of past and current significance to Washington County. The Washington County Public Library follows the principles of selection rather than censorship.

The Library will not attempt to furnish materials needed for formal courses of study offered by private or public elementary and secondary schools, or by institutions of higher learning such as academic texts, or those of a highly technical nature used in specialized research.

The Library exercises foresight in anticipating demand in the selection of materials and will keep informed of other available resources in the area, including within the Holston Associated Libraries (HAL) consortium and the SWVA OverDrive Consortium, in order to avoid unnecessary duplication.

To build a collection of merit, materials are evaluated according to one or more of the following standards. An item need not meet all criteria in order to be acceptable.

General:

• Present and potential relevance to community need
• Suitability of physical form for Library use, including durability
• Suitability of subject and style for intended audience
• Cost
• Importance as a document of the times
• Relation to the existing collection and to other materials on the subject
• Attention by critics and reviewers
• Potential user appeal
• Requests by Library guests

Content:

• Authority
• Comprehensiveness and depth of treatment
• Skill, competence, and purpose of the author
• Reputation and significance of the author
• Objectivity
• Consideration of the work as a whole
• Clarity
• Currency
• Technical quality
• Representation of diverse points of view
• Representation of important movements, genres, or trends
• Vitality and originality
• Artistic presentation and/or experimentation
• Sustained interest
• Relevance and use of the information
• Effective characterization
• Authenticity of history or social setting

Special considerations for digital resources:

• Ease and use of the product
• Availability of the information (licensing terms)
• Equipment needed to provide access to the information
• Technical support and training

Materials Acquisitions

The Library will purchase materials requested by guests if the materials are acceptable according to the Collection Development Policy. The materials generally must have the current or previous year’s copyright date and anticipated demand. Otherwise, the material may be requested for that guest’s use through Interlibrary Loan services when possible.

Occasionally, the Library purchases items such as works of local authors and regional history titles from area sources. All materials acquired must meet staff-guided standards for quality (both in writing and in physical construction), illustrations, guest demand, pricing, and other requirements.

The Library welcomes donations that align with the selection criteria noted above. For more information, see Gifts and Donations.

Gifts and Donations

The Washington County Public Library accepts donations of material from guests. Gifts must meet the same standards for inclusion in the collection as items that are purchased. The Library reserves the right to incorporate donated materials into its collection, to sell them in the Friends of the Library book sale, or to dispose of them as the staff see fit. The Library will not accept donations if the donor places restrictions on the disposition of the material. The Library encourages unrestricted monetary gifts to allow for the greatest flexibility in supporting the Library. The Library reserves the right to make the final decision regarding all materials purchased through special donations and memorials.

Special Collections

The Virginia Reference Collection’s acquisition is heavily directed by limited physical space and guest-driven usage, request, and interest. The purpose of this collection is to acquire information about the people and history of Washington County, Virginia from its beginnings, to support local history and genealogical research. This collection prioritizes resources directly related to Washington County rather than to surrounding or other localities.

Reconsideration of Materials

Guests may request that the Library reconsider inclusion of specific materials in the Library collection. For more information on the process, see the Library’s Reconsideration Policy.

Withdrawal of Materials

Materials are withdrawn in order to maintain the collection’s usefulness, currency, and relevance as well as to utilize the Library’s limited physical spaces for effective discovery and retrieval of materials. Materials may be moved from one Library branch or storage facility to another at the discretion of the Collection Development Librarian.

The Library follows professional practices for the removal of material. Criteria include, but are not limited to, condition, currency, and popularity of the material. Special consideration is given to last copies of titles with particular local and historical significance when no other copies are available within the Holston Associated Libraries (HAL) consortium.

The Library offers withdrawn materials to the Friends of the Library to sell on its behalf with the proceeds directly benefitting Library programs and projects.

APPROVED BY THE WASHINGTON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES ON: August 26, 2008; revised 4/25/2023; revised 2/27/2024