Part 2: Library Collection Development Policies

Question: Doesn't the Library Bill of Rights mean that libraries are required to have “anti-LGBTQ+” materials if they have “pro-LGBTQ+” materials? How can our library possibly get around this? HELP!

Answer: You are probably never going to agree with patrons who say things like that. However, all libraries should have Collection Development Policies in place to make sure that the materials they provide for their libraries meet certain standards, including requiring the books to contain accurate, scientific, and/or timely information. 

The following five resources will help you write collection development policies and give you an examples and advice about maintaining your collection.

American Library Assocation Logo

Resource: American Library Association (2019). Library Policy Development: General. American Library Association LibGuides. 

What the resource says (100 words or fewer): Does your library not have a Collection Development Policy, or is the policy badly in need of updates? Visit this LibGuide, Library Policy Development General, for information, suggestions, and examples. ALA has 45 LibGuides on its site, providing valuable information for libraries and librarians. The LibGuide that I am recommending is collection of resources (articles, websites, and books) about writing library policies. Included are links to state libraries, American Association of School Libraries, and ALA guides; sample library policies; and recommended books such as Libraries, Access, and Intellectual Freedom and Developing Collections to Empower Learners.

Memorable quote from the resource: “Policies ensure equitable treatment for all, and polices provide a framework for delivery of services.”

Resource: Charlotte Mecklenburg Library (2020). Materials Selection Policy. 

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Logo

What the resource says (100 words or fewer): Under the guidance of the Executive Director, library staff members evaluate potential materials for the collection “using rigorous evaluation criteria;” notably, selectors should consider:  

• Authority or competence of the author/publisher/producer of the work
• Content of the work (is it timely, objective, and/or accurate?
• Style and readability
• Public demand
• Potential use by community
• Authenticity of historical settings
•  Originality
•  Artistic merit
• Ease of access

Also covered in the policies are genres, children’s and young adult books, historical and genealogical materials, government documents, newspapers and journals, electronic resources, archives, group services, and collection maintenance.

    

Memorable quote from the resource: “The Library, in collecting and acquiring publications and related materials representing the widest diversity of views, will include items which reflect controversial, unorthodox or even unpopular ideas.”

Librarian from
Boston Public Library

Resource: Toropov, S. (2019). Nobody is Perfect or Neutral — Or, Why Libraries Have so Many Mysteries Where a Librarian Solves the Case. Boston Public Library. 

What the resource says (100 words or fewer): This easy-to-read post explains how librarians choose materials for their collections, referencing the BPL’s Collection Development Policy, wherein the word “neutral” does not appear.

The main criteria for choosing materials:

• Public demand
• Relevant to community
• Diverse points of view
• Critically reviewed and/or award-winner
• Reputation and qualifications of the authors

The librarian also mentions, on behalf of the other librarians:

• We cannot buy every book that exists
• We sometimes buy books we like
• We track how many times books get checked out
• Please tell us if you think that we are not accurately representing your view in our collection

Memorable quote from the resource: “What gives? Are the librarians pushing their biased pro-cat, anti-murder agenda? Well, yes . . .but also no.”

Cover image Public Library
Collections in the Balance

Resource: Downey, J. (2017). Public Library Collections in the Balance: Censorship, Inclusivity, and Truth. Libraries Unlimited.

What the resource says (100 words or fewer): If you would like a book to add to your collection about, well, collections—this one is a good choice. Written by a reference library in California, this

book explains the roles of librarians as information providers, defenders, and, sometimes, in the case of factually inaccurate or traumatizing materials, suppressors. Especially interesting to me is the fact

that Downey regularly writes about including LGBTQ+ materials (and self-censorship of) in libraries; an appendix of resources is included. Also discussed are analyses of real-life controversies, including one in West Bend, Wisconsin which challenged the ideas of “selection vs. censorship” in public libraries.

Memorable quote from the resource: “While the rationales for challenging these books are often categorized as ‘religious viewpoint’ or ‘sexually explicit,’ it has been theorized that these categories are little more than smoke screens concealing the real issue of discomfort with diverse characters” (Downey, 2017, pg. 23).

Awful Library Books Logo

Resource: Hibner, H. & Kelly, M. (2020). Awful Library Books.

  

A weeded book

What the resource says (100 words or fewer): Their collection policies advice is useful; their sample collection policies are customizable, but honestly, the entirety of Awful Library Books is amazing. Run by two veteran reference librarians who regularly publish articles and present at library conferences, the blog offers collection guidelines and ways to rebut the “historical!” arguments. Most of the posts feature outdated library books and why they must be weeded (I found two of my childhood favorites among the weeded—the first is rated “still quite readable,” but the second is super dated and from a how-to-be-a-mean-girl series; sorry if you’re anti-weeding, but books don’t always age well).

Memorable quote from the resource: “We love books as much as anyone else, and sometimes hard decisions have to be made. How many times have you said, ‘But I just bought that!’ and then realized it was ten years ago?”

Click on the links to continue. 

Part 1: Library Bill of Rights 

Part 2: Library Collection Policies

Part 3: Should Libraries be Neutral?

Part 4: Intellectual Freedom vs. Hate Speech

Part 5: Patrons and Their Opinions

Part 6: LGBTQ+ Right to Read