Materials Selection and De-Selection Policy

The Franklin Public Library’s Materials Selection and De-selection Policy is intended to implement the General Library Objectives and the Services and Operations of the Library as outlined in the Policies Manual (Section IV).  Another integral part of this policy is the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read resolution as adopted by the American Library Association.  The responsibility for selection belongs to the Library Director and staff with prompt attention and consideration given to customers’ requests and suggestions.

Each selection is evaluated on its own merit and in relation to the entire collection, using
some, or all, of the following criteria:
a) Present and potential relevance to community needs
b) Demand
c) Relevance of subject, format, and reading level for the intended
audience
d) Literary and artistic merit
e) Format is appropriate to library use and is not easily damaged
f) Reputation and/or significance or author, publisher or producer
g) Author or illustrator is local
h) Positive reviews by critics, staff members and/or professional
journals
i) Diversity of viewpoint
j) Enhances a specific collection in the library
k) Within limits of budget for material

Periodicals, audio-visual materials, digital materials, and ephemera are selected to meet the same criteria as books.

The library accepts gifts without commitment as to their final disposition.  The same standards listed above also apply to the selection of gift materials to be added to the collection.

The Library Director and staff will be responsible for the disposal of materials from the collection.  Reasons for the removal of materials may include condition, replacement, lack of demand, and outdated information.

If material in the collection is considered objectionable by a community member, the citizen should discuss the concern with the Library Director.  If the conversation does not result in a satisfactory conclusion, the citizen should file a Citizen’s Request for Reconsideration (Section IX-A) of Library Materials to be presented to the Library Board of Trustees which shall give a written reply within 30 days.