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The collection development policy below has been superseded by the collection development policy adopted by the Trustees of the Free Public Library of the City of Newark on May 31, 2006. Click here for the updated policy. Collection Development Policy A. Purposes A. Library purpose, mission statement, roles A. Selection I. Library Bill of Rights A. Challenged Materials III. The Freedom to Read
A. Purposes The purpose of this policy is to set forth broad principles and guidelines for the development of the Library's collections. As such it is intended first to serve as a planning tool to assist Library staff in their work building collections responsive to community needs and in consonance with the purpose, mission, roles and goals of the Library. The Collection Policy will also provide a means of communicating these principles to the public, the Library's funders and other libraries. Finally, the policy will form the basis for development of a collection plan which will translate principles into practice by describing in detail the Library's current collections and prescribing future development levels for specific subjects, users, formats and library service outlets. B. Community and Library Profile (adapted from Gateway to Information/Door to Learning, The Newark Public Library's Service Plan for 1994-1998) Newark is the largest city in New Jersey, home to a vibrant visual and performing arts community, a transportation hub, a higher education center, a locus for federal, state, county and city government, the site for some of the state's finest health care providers, and a business center for law, insurance, financial services, public utilities and a host of small businesses. The City hosts five newspapers, including the Star Ledger, the state's largest, ten radio and television stations, almost four hundred religious groups, and ninety libraries. Four major cultural institutions, the Library, the Newark Museum, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, along with a number of thriving smaller cultural groups, provide the people of New Jersey with exhibits, programs and resources unavailable elsewhere. The 1990 population of the City of Newark was 275,221. The City's population peaked in 1930, when it numbered 442,337, but, since 1950, it has steadily declined with each census count. From 1980 to 1990 the decrease was 16.4%. 58.5% of Newark's residents are Black. 26.1% are of Hispanic origin. 18.7% are foreign born. 37% of children aged 5 to 17 speak a language other than English at home. 26% of persons over the age of 18 speak a language other than English at home. In Newark 48% of adults over 25 lack a high school diploma. An estimated 20% are functionally illiterate. About 15% are unemployed. Median household income in Newark is $21,650, one of the lowest in the state, and approximately half of the median of the state. 26.3% of Newark's people have income below the poverty level. Newark is also "home" to a daytime commuter population of over 70,000 people, who work in offices, businesses, factories and government, and to a higher education community of 45,000, who study, teach or work at the colleges and universities located in the City: Essex County College, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Rutgers University, Seton Hall Law School and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. All of these characteristics of the City and its people influence the services the Library provides and its priorities for the future. The Library is governed by a Board of Trustees, appointed by the Mayor to oversee the broad development of policies. A Director, who reports to the Board, is responsible for the administration of the Library. The Mayor and the Superintendent of the Newark Public Schools are ex-officio board members. The Library system includes the Main Library, eight community branches, and two storefront facilities. The Library receives 85% of its funding from the City of Newark, 10% from State aid and grants, 2% from fines, fees, interest and miscellaneous income and 3% from donations. The Library's collection numbers 1.4 million cataloged volumes and nearly half a million titles. The collection includes books, compact discs, video and audio tapes. In addition there are hundred of thousands of uncataloged government documents, periodicals, microforms, pictures, postcards, photographs and newspaper clippings. The Library's Special Collections include rare books and manuscripts, fine prints and posters. The New Jersey State Library has designated Newark as a Statewide Supplemental Reference Center to provide reference service to all member libraries of the New Jersey Library Network specifically in the areas of art, music, business, New Jersey, U.S. Government Documents and Patents and as a backup to regional reference centers in all other fields. The Library is also a state resource for the provision of photocopies and the lending of books to other libraries in the state. The Library is the Regional Depository for U.S. Government Publications in New Jersey, one of two Patent Depository Libraries in the state, and a Depository for New Jersey Documents. The Newark Public Library is one of the oldest, largest and finest public libraries in the state. A. The Library's purpose, mission statement, roles (excerpted from Gateway to Information/Door to Learning, The Newark Public Library's Service Plan for 1994-1998) The Library's purpose, mission statement and service roles, as articulated in its long range plan, are the key principles that shape the development of the collections. Purpose Statement The purpose of The Newark Public Library is to empower Newark residents, students and workers to enrich their own lives with knowledge, information, education and culture. Mission Statement The mission of The Newark Public Library is to provide for the people of Newark an easily available local collection of and global access to the universal record of human thought, wisdom, ideals, information, experiences, and artistic expressions. The Library provides information useful for daily living, supports formal education and independent learning efforts and assists researchers and scholars. Deriving its principal support from the City of Newark, the Library emphasizes services for Newark's residents and students. Affirming its belief in the power of education and in the potential of libraries to change lives, the Library strongly supports the children of Newark in their efforts to learn and grow and achieve. As a major library resource for New Jersey, the Library strives also to serve those who work in the City, and libraries and people throughout the state. In support of this mission, the Library: selects, collects, organizes and makes available for use a broad, deep and diverse collection of materials in a variety of formats; provides excellent personal information services and guidance in the use of library resources; and offers programs for personal enrichment. In pursing this mission the Library strives to fulfill its unique responsibility to ensure free, open and equal access to information for all the people that the Library serves. The Library actively seeks to serve and reflect the diverse Newark community in its collections, services, programs and staff. It affirms a commitment to preserve, promote and celebrate the multicultural heritage of the people of Newark. The Newark Public Library contributes to the economic life of the City, the vitality of its neighborhoods and the quality of life of its citizens. Service Roles In accord with its stated purpose and mission, the Library is focusing its principal efforts during this planning cycle on fulfilling these primary service roles. Information Center Formal Education Support Center Research Center Independent Learning Center The Library has targeted two areas for growth and development as important secondary roles during the current planning cycle. Preschoolers Door to Learning Community Information Center Finally, the Library also maintains support for two other service roles. Popular Materials Library Community Activities Center B. Endorsement of America Library Association policy statements The Board of Trustees hereby adopts and declares that it will adhere to and support the American Library Association's statements listed in the Appendices and that the principles there espoused will guide the development of the Library's collections. A. Selection Selection refers to the decision to retain as well as to add to the collection. It is based upon awareness of the diverse needs and interests of the individuals who use the Library, balanced with evaluation of the material and knowledge of the collections' strengths and weaknesses. Selection decisions are also influenced by budget and space consideration and the availability and accessibility of alternative information resources. B. Responsibilities Ultimate responsibility for materials selection decisions which shape the development of the collections rests with the Director, who functions within the policies established by the Board of Trustees. The Director delegates broad responsibility for and oversight of the collections to the Assistant Directors for Community and Central Library Services. Day-to-day selection activities, including perusal of reviews, initiation of acquisitions and monitoring of expenditures are the responsibilities of designated selectors in divisional subject areas and community library facilities. C. Criteria Standards of professional librarianship and criteria employed for selection decisions include:
D. Format The Library acquires materials in a variety of formats: books, in both hardcover and paperback; periodicals and newspapers; financial services; pamphlets; microforms; music scores; art slides; prints; compact discs; video and audio cassettes and electronic databases and networks. The Library selects materials in the media most appropriate to their efficient use. For example, indices and bibliographies in electronic format are often preferred to those in print, while treatises and novels in print format are in most cases preferred to those on microfilm or CD-ROM. In certain circumstances the same work may be acquired in more than one format. A treatise that is read from cover to cover but also frequently searched for particular bits of information may be acquired in print format but also searched via an electronic information database. A sound recording of a popular work may be acquired to meet the needs of certain users even when print copies are already in the library. Paperback edition of popular titles are often purchased as multiple copies to meet patron demand. Some works are used in such a way that online access to them via a computer network may be preferable to ownership of them. Paper issues of serials are usually discarded and replaced by microfilm, which saves space and serves the interests of preservation. Those serials that contain important illustrations are retained in paper form. Films are acquired in videocassette format. The Library no longer acquires 16mm films. Music sound recordings are acquired in compact disc format. The Library no longer buys long-playing records. Spoken sound recordings are acquired in tape-cassette format. The Library does not purchase multiple copies of textbooks to supply students with requirements for courses. Textbooks are sometimes purchased when their addition to the collection is deemed to be useful, such as the when a textbook is the best source for an overview of a subject, or when the text has become a "classic." The Library continuously reviews and revises the mix of formats it acquires in response to the development of new media and to the demonstrated and perceived needs of its users. E. Language The Library actively seeks to serve and reflect the diverse Newark community in the development of its collections. While most materials acquired, therefore, are in English, the Library also aggressively acquires significant and diverse collections of materials in many other languages. Principal among these are Spanish language materials acquired to meet the needs of the estimated third of Newark's residents who speak Spanish. Also significant are the collections in Portuguese, intended to serve the needs of that community. The Library also has collections in French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, and Ukrainian. As the Federally funded Multilingual Materials Acquisitions Center for New Jersey, the Library has enriched and enlarged its non-English collections to include not only Spanish and Portuguese but also Arabic, Chinese, Gujarati, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Korean, Polish, Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. These collections are used not only by the people of Newark but also by other libraries and library users throughout the state. Through development of these collections the Library preserves, promotes and celebrates the multilingual heritage of the people of Newark. F. Multiple Copies Within the constraints of available funds, the Library seeks to acquire sufficient copies of popular items to meet patron demand by supplementing, usually, a single copy purchased for an agency with leased multiple copies. In this way the Library strives economically to meet temporary demand with temporary resources and still build a permanent collection of breadth and depth. G. Deaccessioning The Library continuously reviews the collections and removes materials that are worn, obsolete or in unnecessary duplication. H. Gifts Gifts of materials are accepted with the understanding that they will be subject to the same criteria for inclusion in the collection as purchased materials. The Library reserves the right to not add gift materials to the collection and to sell or dispose of them as deemed appropriate. I. Reconsideration of Materials The Library welcomes expression of opinions from the public concerning materials selected or not selected for inclusion in the Library collection. The public's suggestions for works to include can often bring to the Library's attention patrons' needs that are not being adequately met by the collection. Requests to add or remove materials shall be considered within the context of the principles affirmed in this document. Patrons who wish to request the reconsideration of library materials shall complete and sign the Request for Reconsideration Form appended to this policy. Upon receipt of a formal written request, the Director will appoint an ad hoc committee from the professional staff including, but not limited to, the selector for the subject area of the item in question and the appropriate Department Head. The committee will make a written recommendation to the Director who will then make a decision regarding the disposition of the material. The Director will communicate this decision and the reasons for it, in writing, to the person who initiated the request for reconsideration at the earliest possible date. The Director will inform the Board of Library Trustees of all requests for reconsideration of library materials and their disposition. In the event that the person who initiated the request is not satisfied with the decision of the Director, s/he may appeal for a hearing before the Board of Trustees by making a written request to the President of the Board. If a hearing is granted, the individual will be notified when s/he may address the Board. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to limit the length of presentation and number of speakers at the hearing. The Board will determine whether the request for reconsideration has been handled in accordance with stated policies and procedures of The Newark Public Library. On the basis of this determination, the Board may vote to uphold or override the decision of the Director. The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. 1. 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 the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. 2. 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 disapproval. 3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment. 4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas. 5. A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. 6. 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. Adopted June 18, 1948; Amended February 2, 1961; June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980 by the ALA Council. II. Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights A. Challenged Materials The American Library Association declares as a matter of firm principle that it is the responsibility of every library to have a clearly defined materials selection policy in written form which reflects the Library Bill of Rights, and which is approved by the appropriate governing authority. Challenged materials which meet the criteria for selection in the materials selection policy of the library should not be removed under any legal or extra-legal pressure. The Library Bill of Rights states in Article 1 that "Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation," and in Article 2, that "Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval." Freedom of expression is protected by the Constitution of the United States, but constitutionally protected expression is often separated from unprotected expression only by a dim and uncertain line. The Constitution requires a procedure designed to focus searchingly on challenged expression before it can be suppressed. An adversary hearing is a part of this procedure. Therefore, any attempt, be it legal or extra-legal, to regulate or suppress materials in libraries must be closely scrutinized to the end that protected expression is not abridged. Adopted June 25, 1971; amended July 1, 1981; January 10, 1990, by the ALA Council. B. Diversity in Collection Development Throughout history, the focus of censorship has fluctuated from generation to generation. Books and other materials have not been selected or have been removed from library collections for many reasons, among which are prejudicial language and ideas, political content, economic theory, social philosophies, religious beliefs, sexual forms of expression, and other topics of a potentially controversial nature. Some examples of censorship may include removing or not selecting materials because they are considered by some as racist or sexist; not purchasing conservative religious materials; not selecting materials about or by minorities because it is thought these groups of interests are not represented in a community; or not providing information on or materials from non-mainstream political entities. Librarians may seek to increase user awareness of materials on various social concerns by many means, including, but not limited to, issuing bibliographies and presenting exhibits and programs. Librarians have a professional responsibility to be inclusive, not exclusive, in collection development and in the provision of interlibrary loan. Access to all materials legally obtainable should be assured to the user, and policies should not unjustly exclude materials even if they are offensive to the librarian or the user. Collection development should reflect the philosophy inherent in Article 2 of the Library Bill of Rights: "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 disapproval." A balanced collection reflects a diversity of materials, not an equality of numbers. Collection development responsibilities include selecting materials in the languages in common use in the community which the library serves. Collection development and the selection of materials should be done according to professional standards and established selection and review procedures. There are many complex facets to any issue, and variations of context in which issues may be expressed, discussed, or interpreted. Librarians have a professional responsibility to be fair, just, and equitable and to give all library users equal protection in guarding against violation of the library patron's right to read, view, or listen to materials and resources protected by the First Amendment, no matter what the viewpoint of the author, creator, or selector. Librarians have an obligation to protect library collections from removal of materials based on personal bias or prejudice, and to select and support the access to materials on all subjects that meet, as closely as possible, the needs and interests of all persons in the community which the library serves. This includes materials that reflect political, economic, religious, social, minority, and sexual issues. Intellectual freedom, the essence of equitable library services, provides for free access to all expressions of ideas through which any and all sides of a question, cause, or movement may be explored. Toleration is meaningless without tolerance for what some may consider detestable. Librarians cannot justly permit their own preferences to limit their degree of tolerance in collection development, because freedom is indivisible. Adopted July 14, 1982; amended January 10, 1990, by the ALA Council. C. Evaluating Library Collections The continuous review of library materials is necessary as a means of maintaining an active library collection of current interest to users. In the process, materials may be added and physically deteriorated or obsolete materials may be replaced or removed in accordance with the collection maintenance policy of a given library and the needs of the community it serves. Continued evaluation is closely related to the goals and responsibilities of libraries and is a valuable tool to be used as a convenient means to remove materials presumed to be controversial or disapproved of by segments of the community. Such abuse of the evaluation function violates the principles of intellectual freedom and is in opposition to the Preamble and Articles 1 and 2 of the Library Bill of Rights, which state: The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. 1. 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 the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. 2. 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 disapproval. The American Library Association opposes such "silent censorship" and strongly urges that libraries adopt guidelines setting forth the positive purposes and principles of evaluation of materials in library collections. Adopted February 2, 1973; amended July 1, 1981, by the ALA Council. D. Expurgation of Library Materials Expurgating library materials is a violation of the Library Bill of Rights. Expurgation as defined by this interpretation includes any deletion, excision, alteration, editing, or obliteration of any parts(s) of books or other library resources by the library, its agent, or its parent institution (if any). By such expurgation, the library is in effect denying access to the complete work and the entire spectrum of ideas that the work intended to express. Such action stands in violation of Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Library Bill of Rights, which state that "Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation," that "Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval," and that "Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment." The act of expurgation has serious implications. It involves a determination that it is necessary to restrict access to the complete work. This is censorship. When a work is expurgated, under the assumption that certain portions of that work would be harmful to minors, the situation is no less serious. Expurgation of any books or other library resources imposes a restriction, without regard to the rights and desires of all library users, by limiting access to ideas and information. Further, expurgation without written permission from the holder of the copyright on the material may violate the copyright provisions of the United States Code. Adopted February 2, 1973; amended July 1, 1981; January 10, 1990, by the ALA Council. E. Statement on Labeling Labeling is the practice of describing or designating materials by affixing a prejudicial label and/or segregating them by a prejudicial system. The American Library Association opposes these means of predisposing people's attitudes toward library materials for the following reasons: 1. Labeling is an attempt to prejudice attitudes and as such, it is a censor's tool. 2. Some find it easy and even proper, according to their ethics, to establish criteria for judging publications as objectionable. However, injustice and ignorance rather than justice and enlightenment result from such practice, and the American Library Association opposes the establishment of such criteria. 3. Libraries do not advocate the ideas found in their collections. The presence of books and other resources in a library does not indicate endorsement of their contents by the library. A variety of private organizations promulgate rating systems and/or review materials as a means advising either their members or the general public concerning their opinions of the contents and suitability or appropriate age for use of certain books, films, recordings, or other materials. For the library to adopt or enforce any of these private systems, to attach such ratings to library materials, to include them in bibliographic records, library catalogs, or other finding aids, or otherwise to endorse them would violate the Library Bill of Rights. While some attempts have been made to adopt these systems into law, the constitutionality or such measures is extremely questionable. If such legislation is passed which applies within a library's jurisdiction, the library should seek competent legal advice concerning its applicability to library operations. Publishers, industry groups, and distributors sometimes add ratings to material or include them as part of their packaging. Librarians should not endorse such practices. However, removing or obliterating such ratings - if placed there by or with permission of the copyright holder - could constitute expurgation, which is also unacceptable. The American Library Association opposes efforts which aim at closing any path to knowledge. This statement, however, does not exclude the adoption of organizational schemes designed as directional aids or to facilitate access to materials. Adopted July 13, 1951. Amended June 25, 1971; July 1, 1981; June 26, 1990, by the ALA Council. The freedom to read is guaranteed by the Constitution. Those with faith in free people will stand firm on these constitutional guarantees of essential rights and will exercise the responsibilities that accompany these rights: We therefore affirm these propositions: 1. It is in the public interest for publishers and librarians to make available the widest diversity of views and expressions, including those which are unorthodox or unpopular with the majority. 2. Publishers, librarians and booksellers do not need to endorse every idea or presentation contained in the books they make available. It would conflict with the public interest for them to establish their own political, moral or aesthetic views as a standard for determining what books should be published or circulated. 3. It is contrary to the public interest for publishers or librarians to determine the acceptability of a book on the basis of the personal history or political affiliations of the author. 4. There is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents, or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression. 5. It is not in the public interest to force a reader to accept with any book the prejudgment of a label characterizing the book or author as subversive or dangerous. 6. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians, as guardians of the people's freedom to read, to contest encroachments upon that freedom by individuals or groups seeking to impose their own standards or tastes upon the community at large. 7. It is the responsibility of publishers and librarians to give full meaning to the freedom to read by providing books that enrich the quality and diversity of thought and expression. By the exercise of this affirmative responsibility, they can demonstrate that the answer to a bad book is a good one, the answer to a bad idea is a good one. We state these propositions neither lightly nor as easy generalizations. We here stake out a lofty claim for the value of books. We do so because we believe that they are good, possessed of enormous variety and usefulness, worthy of cherishing and keeping free. We realize that the application of these propositions may mean the dissemination of ideas and manners of expression that are repugnant to many persons. We do not state these propositions in the comfortable belief that what people read is unimportant. We believe rather that what people read is deeply important; that ideas can be dangerous; but that the suppression of ideas is fatal to a democratic society. Freedom itself is a dangerous way of life, but it is ours. Excerpted from a joint statement by the American Library Association and the Association of American Publishers. The freedom to view, along with the freedom to speak, to hear, and to read, is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In a free society, there is no place for censorship of any medium or expression. Therefore, we affirm these principles: 1. It is in the public interest to provide the broadest possible access to films and other audiovisual materials, because they have proven to be among the most effective means for the communication of ideas. Liberty of circulation is essential to insure the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression. 2. It is in the public interest to provide for our audiences, films and other audiovisual materials which represent a diversity of views and expression. Selection of a work does not constitute or imply agreement with or approval of the content. 3. It is our professional responsibility to resist the constraint of labeling or pre-judging a film on the basis of the moral, religious or political beliefs of the producer or filmmaker or on the basis of controversial content. 4. It is our professional responsibility to contest vigorously, by all lawful means, every encroachment upon the public's freedom to view. Originally drafted by the Educational Film Library Association's Freedom to View Committee, and adopted by the EFLA Board of Directors in February 1979. Adopted by American Library Association on June 28, 1979, endorsed by the ALA Council January 10, 1990. Adopted by the Board of Directors of the Association of Educational Communications and Technology on December 1, 1979. Adopted December 17, 1981 by the NJLA Executive Board.
Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials REQUEST INITIATED BY: Name: Address: City: Zip Code: Phone: AUTHOR: TITLE: FORMAT: PUBLISHER: PUBLICATION DATE: Is this request made on behalf of: Have you read reviews of this material by critics or specialists? Please state the reason for your request: Have you read the Library Bill of Rights and The Newark Public Library Collection Development Policy? Signature of Requester Date__________ Received by Staff Member Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials REQUEST INITIATED BY: Name: Address: City: Zip Code: Phone: AUTHOR: TITLE: FORMAT: PUBLISHER: PUBLICATION DATE: Is this request made on behalf of: Have you read/viewed/listened to this material in its entirety? Have you read reviews of this material by critics or specialists? What is your objection to the material? Please state the reason for your request: Have you read the Library Bill of Rights and The Newark Public Library Collection Development Policy? Signature of Requester Date__________ Received by Staff Member |
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http://www.npl.org/Pages/AboutLibrary/collectionsdevpol.html ©2000 The Newark Public Library |
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