The Franklin Public Library affirms its obligation to provide, on equal terms, free service to all residents of Franklin without question or user purpose.  Within the limits of its budget, the Library provides the widest diversity of resources for information making, educational purpose, repository of the recorded past and cultural and recreational requirements of the community.

The Franklin Public Library's book selection policy is intended to implement the objectives of the library.  The authority for the determination of policy in the selection of materials is vested in the Board of Trustees.  The responsibility for selection belongs to the Library Director and to the Book Selection Committee appointed by the Director.  The privilege of selection of materials is shared, ideally, by all staff members since no one person, nor few persons, can know enough about all subjects nor the reading tastes of all people.  Prompt attention and consideration are given to readers' requests and suggestions.  An integral part of this library's policy of book selection is the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read resolution adopted by the American Library Association, copies of which are attached.

The general criteria for the Franklin Public Library's book selection policy include scholarship, literary value, social significance, style, demand, price, balance in the collection as a whole, format and available space.

Periodicals, pamphlets, compact discs, audiocassettes and all other non-book materials are selected to meet the same criteria as books.

The library accepts gifts without commitment as to their final disposition.  The same standards apply to the selection of gift books to be added to the collection as to the selection of the items for purchase.

If a book is not chosen for the collection, it has been excluded because it does not measure up to the library's standards; the library already has adequate coverage of the subject; budget limitations; it is too technical, scientific or specialized for a general library.