Library Collections
The library system maintains both reference (in-house use) and circulating collections in a variety of formats, including books, periodicals, audiobooks, audiovisual materials, and electronic formats. Both fiction and non-fiction materials are collected, representing the broadest possible range of topics and viewpoints. Materials for all ages are maintained to meet the educational and interest needs of the community. Therefore, while library staff are primarily responsible for developing a balanced collection, recommendations from patrons are encouraged; specific requests will be supplied whenever possible, either through additions to the library's collection or through loans from other libraries.
The objective of the Faulkner/Van Buren Regional Library is to select, organize, and make accessible material to meet the expressed and anticipated needs and interests of the diverse public in the library's service area. Recognizing the pluralistic nature of the community and the varied backgrounds, levels of education, and needs of all citizens of all ages, the library declares and establishes the following policies and priorities:
The responsibility for selection of library materials is delegated to the Library Director and under his/her direction to those members of the staff who are qualified by their education, training, and experience.
Priorities of selection are:
1. Materials to meet information needs, both expressed and anticipated, of patrons of all ages;
2. Materials to meet the continuing education needs of out-of-school adults and for the enrichment of the formal education needs of children and young adults;
3. Materials to meet the recreational needs of patrons of all ages.
The Faulkner/Van Buren Regional Library supports the following statements from the American Library Association (www.ala.org):
Library Bill of Rights
Freedom to Read Statement, interpreted to include all materials regardless of format
Freedom to View Statement
Statement on Labeling, and
Statement on Free Access to Libraries for Minors.
Goals and Criteria for Selection
Expanding areas of knowledge, changing social values, technological advances, and cultural differences require flexibility, open-mindedness, and responsiveness in evaluation. The same sensitivity is required in re-evaluation.
Each item considered for selection must be evaluated on its own merits. There is no single standard that can be applied. Some materials must be judged primarily in terms of their contribution to the continuing exploration of new ideas; their contribution to the continuing exploration of form in literature, art, and other artistic endeavors; or their value to humanity through the exploration of cultural or other differences. Other materials are selected to fulfill the information, educational, and recreational needs of the community. Present and potential relevance of work to community needs should be considered, as well as its importance as a document of the times. Selectors respond to community interests by careful consideration of the following: patron requests for purchases, use patterns for existing materials, purchase trends of similar materials by peer libraries, and any other source of information indicating community interests.
Works that depict an aspect of life honestly will not be excluded because of frankness of expression. All materials will be judged as a whole rather than on isolated passages.
The physical format of materials must be suitable for library use and must be appropriate to convey the subject matter. The subject and its interpretation, presentation, and literary style should be suitable for the intended audience. The relation of new materials to existing library collections shall be considered.
Gifts of Library Materials
Unsolicited gifts will be subject to the same selection policies and procedures applied to any materials added to the collection. Any materials not added to library collections will be given to the Friends of the Library book sale.
Donors may, on request, receive an acknowledgement of number and types of items donated. However, the library cannot provide a statement of the value of items donated. Donors (and their accountants/attorneys) are responsible for the valuation of claims filed
