Collection Development
Hermiston Public Library, as a department of the City of Hermiston, serves all who live in Hermiston and it surrounding areas. As a public library, HPL provides free and convenient access to informational, cultural, educational, and recreational materials. This Policy is established to ensure that our collections remain current and responsive to the needs of our community and that materials are easily accessible through appropriate formats and technology.
I. Authority and Responsibility for Selection
The Library Director is ultimately responsible for the selection of materials. The Director assigns members of the staff to assist in the selection of materials. All staff members and the general public are encouraged to recommend materials for consideration as well.
II. Freedom of Speech and Intellectual Freedom
HPL believes that the right to access materials of varying viewpoints is an important aspect of freedom of speech, known as intellectual freedom, a basic element of democracy. Freedom of speech is of course guaranteed in the federal and state constitutions and protected by law. In keeping with those principles, HPL will favor no viewpoint. Additionally, a number of philosophical documents, including, but not limited to, the American Library Association's, Library Bill of Rights, and Freedom to Read statement, provide direction and guidance to our policies and practices.
III. Selection Criteria
A. Materials are selected by staff members for their
1. Literary or artistic merit;
2. Accuracy;
3. Utility;
4. Entertainment value;
5. Current or historical interest.
B. Generally, except for items of special local interest, items are selected based on favorable reviews, inclusion in special lists, patron or staff recommendations, popularity, or media coverage.
C. HPL attempts to maintain a collection that includes materials on a variety of subjects and points of view, in keeping with the community's interests. The collection is reviewed constantly so that gaps in subject areas and formats may be filled. Each item must be considered with appropriate standards for its type and audience and the suitability of its format for a library collection. Some materials may be judged primarily in terms of artistic merit, scholarship, or historical significance; others are selected to satisfy recreational and entertainment needs. With restricted budgets and space, HPL emphasizes quality rather than quantity, balancing the value of and demand for materials. Final decisions are based on the value and interest of the item to the public, regardless of selectors' personal tastes. These standards apply equally to purchased and donated materials.
D. Selectors will follow these basic guidelines while carrying out this policy:
1. HPL is responsible for ensuring a robust collection.
2. Because HPL serves a public embracing a wide range of ages, reading skills, and educational backgrounds, it will select materials of varying complexity.
3. HPL selects materials in languages commonly spoken at home by its patrons.
4. In selecting materials for the collection, HPL will be attentive to the special commercial, industrial, cultural, and civic enterprises of the area.
5. HPL will acquire state and local historical materials. Usual weeding practices do not apply to local historical materials.
6. Because HPL's collection cannot be comprehensive, special interest items may be borrowed through interlibrary loan.
7. HPL does not attempt to acquire textbooks or other curriculum-related materials unless such materials also serve the general public.
8. Suggestions from the public for the purchase of materials are considered according to the general selection policies.
IV. Access
A. Items are placed in the collection according to common library standards, age of user, alphabetical, Dewey classification as deemed appropriate by staff.
B. The use of items frequently subject to damage or theft, may be controlled to protect the materials for future patrons.
C. Children are not limited to the juvenile collection, juvenile collections are kept together to facilitate ease of use. Responsibility for a child's selections rests with the parent/guardian. The parent/guardian who chooses to limit his or her child's access to certain materials should so advise the child.
V. Gifts
HPL gratefully accepts gifts of materials while reserving the right to evaluate and dispose of such gifts in accordance with this policy. As donations may be tax-deductible, HPL will, on request, issue a receipt stating the number of items donated, but will not assign a value. Donations that are not added to the collection may be given to the Friends of the Library.
VI. Collection Maintenance
The Library keeps its collection vital and useful by retaining or replacing materials and removing works that are worn, outdated, of little historical significance, or no longer in demand.
VII. Oregon and Local Materials.
HPL collects and maintains commercially available materials pertaining to Oregon and the local area. These items may be kept as part of the collection for longer periods of time than other collection items. Items in this collection may include but are not limited to the following:
A. Histories for Umatilla County, Oregon, and our region;
B. Newspapers within Umatilla County;
C. Documents from governmental entities operating within Umatilla County with historical value for HPL patrons;
D. Works useful for genealogical research specific to Umatilla County, or Oregon;
VIII. Request for Reconsideration of Library Material
Should a resident library card eligible patron object to an item in the collection, they will be offered the “Request for Reconsideration of Library Material” form. Completed forms will be considered by the Library Director, who with staff will read reviews and assess its conformity to the standards of this policy. The Library Director will decide what, if any, action is appropriate for the item in question, and will write to the patron, explaining the decision. If the patron is not satisfied with the Library Director's decision, the item will be referred to the Hermiston Public Library Board for further review. Materials under reconsideration shall not be removed from use during the consideration process.
(Approved September 27, 2023)
