Watsonville Public Library acquires, organizes, and provides access and guidance to a wide variety of information and materials of contemporary interest and permanent value for the education, intellectual stimulation and social needs of all the people of its community.
The composition of the collection is determined by the particular needs of the users and by the information and material requirements of the subject.
In the broadest sense, the collection consists of printed books and periodicals as well as non-print and computer media; materials as well as the information and contents of the materials; and what is owned locally as well as what is accessible through interlibrary loan agreements.
The collection is not merely an assemblage of items but is a coherent whole, and, as such, has its own unique character and its own particular mix of materials, users, history, and intent. Each separate component of the collection has a relationship to the whole.
The collection is dynamic. Its materials change; its users and uses change. Growth, reclassification, relocation, removal and replacement are parts of a collection's life.
The library is an arena, a place in which people encounter the collection. The physical location, the arrangement of materials, the facilities and services for access and use are part of the collection. The collection itself is an arena in which users encounter information, knowledge, democracy of thought, even the physical objects themselves, and are affected.
OBJECTIVES. The library builds and maintains a collection suitable to the reading and information needs of its particular community. The library provides materials which contribute to positive change in the community, intellectual freedom, and general cultural development.
SELECTION. The library provides a general collection of reliable materials representing the broader fields of knowledge, while taking into account variation in educational level, reading ability, language preference, and reading interests. Materials to satisfy specialized interests are purchased if real or potential demand exists. The library is not able to purchase materials to answer every possible question. Questions calling for obscure or specialized materials will be handled through interlibrary loan or referral to other institutions.
TYPES OF MATERIAL. Watsonville Public Library places major emphasis on its educational and informational function. In this definition the library includes works that broaden horizons, stimulate imagination and reflection, and enlarge experience; thus encompassing fields which a narrower definition of education might classify as recreational. While the library emphasizes books which can be used without taking a class, textbooks will be purchased when they add body and substance to the collection, and at the discretion of the subject librarians.
GENERAL PRIORITIES.
Reviews. Reviews in professionally recognized periodicals are the primary source for materials selection. Standard bibliographies, booklists by recognized authorities and the advice of experts in specific subject areas are used.
Requests. All requests from patrons for specific titles or subjects will be considered. If there is enough demand or interest in a title or subject, an item with unfavorable reviews may be purchased, unless it is completely without literary merit or social value, or the subject in question is already covered by better materials. Any patron making a request will be notified if the request cannot be filled.
Languages and geographical areas. While the library attempts to maintain a general collection embracing the broader fields of knowledge, some areas may be collected at a less than minimal level. Particularly in the case of languages, materials will be purchased only if real or potential demand exists. A large and comprehensive Spanish-language collection is necessary to meet the basic reading and information needs of the library's community. In keeping with patterns of American publication and local interest, materials on the Americas and Europe will be collected at a higher level than those on other parts of the world.
Chronological periods. Watsonville Public Library recognizes the importance of both basic works of permanent value and timely materials on current issues and problems.
Special collections. Special collections have been established as the result of historical precedent and community interest. The library will endeavor to maintain and support special collections that are deemed to be of important local historical value, that continue to receive community support, or that are necessary to meet the information needs of the community. At present these collections include the Yugoslav Collection, Local History Collection, the Local Government Documents Collection, Genealogy, Songbook Collection, and Parenting.
Formats. Non-book materials represent an alternative format and may be selected when the non-book form best meets the needs of the community, or where advisable due to cost. Non-book formats currently collected are: periodicals and newspapers; maps; microfilm and microfiche; audiocassettes, and compact discs; and VHS videorecordings. Audiocassettes currently collected are primarily books on tape, children's music, and language learning materials. Videocassettes are currently collected with emphasis on travel, local history, award-winning movies, safety, health, music, and children's videos which encourage reading, and other non-fiction topics.
Duplication. The timely and adequate provision of significant materials on current problems is necessary, and therefore duplicates of carefully selected titles may be purchased although they will soon be dated and have to be discarded. However, specific demands will be weighed in relation to the total collection, and, in general, duplicate copies will not be acquired at the expense of a first copy needed for the permanent collection. All things being equal, an additional copy will be purchased or leased for every five reserves taken.
Patron's immediate needs. Certain types of materials should be available when a patron walks in because there is no time to wait for a request. The subjects which should be continually stocked include materials on death and grieving; resume's; citizenship; ASVAB and Civil Service test guides; wedding planners; alcoholism and drug dependency; childcare; medical guides to diseases; and report writing.
High demand areas. The builders of the collection will keep in mind subject areas which need replacement because of constant demand. These subjects include typing (keyboarding), small business, massage, herbs, pets, hypnosis, witchcraft, astrology, Greek mythology, real estate, child abuse, lay law, basic English grammar, English and Spanish dictionaries, Spanish for Spanish speakers, mathematics, drawing, marital arts, love poetry, travel in California and Mexico, Indians of North America and current fiction.
It is not the library's policy to replace automatically all books withdrawn because of loss, damage or wear. Need for replacement in each case is weighed with regard to several factors: number of duplicate copies; existence of adequate coverage of a field; other similar material in the collection; and demand for a particular title or subject. Depending on the condition of the materials, items are discarded or surplused and donated to the Friends of the Library for sale or given to other libraries.
Book withdrawal is an important aspect of collection development. The information in books may become obsolete, illustrations may become out-of-date, subjects diminish in interest to the users, and materials become worn with use. The withdrawal of books is based on the following guidelines:
To remove physically worn out or damaged volumes from the collection.
To eliminate books containing obsolete information.
To remove duplicate titles which have waned in popularity, eliminating those most physically damaged or worn.
To consider for withdrawal books which have not been checked out for several years.
Watsonville Public Library will encourage and accept gifts with the understanding that all gifts of materials become the property of the library whether or not they are added to the library collection. Gift items selected to become part of the regular library collection are integrated into the collection in normal sequence, available to all library patrons, and otherwise handled according to the same rules as any other material belonging to the library, including the book withdrawal policy. The library makes every effort to dispose of gift materials not added to the collection to the library's best advantage, such as through Friends of the Library book sales.
Monetary gifts may be designated as memorials or may be of a general character. Donors are encouraged to suggest subjects or titles appropriate to the memorial, but the library reserves the right of final selection to meet the collection development needs and criteria of the library. Items purchased with gift funds may be marked with an appropriate bookplate. A letter for tax purposes may be sent to the donor if requested at the time the donation is made, acknowledging the receipt of the gift.
The library board and staff believe that the right to read is an important part of the intellectual freedom that is basic to democracy, and hereby adopt the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement.
The following procedure is to be followed when a patron objects to materials in the library's collection:
The Librarian involved or Head of Circulation will listen to the patron in a concerned manner and will not attempt to defend the material.
The patron will be offered the "Request for Further Consideration of Library Materials" form. The form is to be filled out in full by the patron and returned to the director. No objections will be considered until this procedure is followed. The patron is to be given the option of speaking with the Library Director or Collection Specialist if she or he desires.
A Reconsideration Committee will consider the patron's request and make recommendations to the library director. Consisting of five to seven members, including both professional librarians and Library Board Members, the Reconsideration Committee will be appointed by the Library Director as needed.
The Library Director's decision is final.
The Library will respond with a formal, written reply to the patron.
Approved 1990
Please read, watch, or listen to the entire book, magazine, video or sound recording you wish to discuss, before completing this form. The library will not review objections to material you have not fully examined and considered carefully. Your signature on this form will be understood to mean that you understand and have completed this requirement.
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The work you wish to discuss:
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Please explain why you feel the library should give further consideration to this title. Be as specific as possible about what your concerns are. (Use the back of this page to write your answer.)
The library strives to include as many viewpoints as possible on controversial topics. Please suggest titles which might give another point of view to balance that of the work named above.
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