The purpose of the Medina County District Library is to serve the community by providing for its recreational and informational needs. To fulfill this mission, the Library acquires, makes available, and encourages the use of materials in all media which will assist the community to:
- Educate themselves continually
- Keep pace with progress in all fields of knowledge
- Become better members of home and community
- Be more capable in their daily occupations
- Develop their creative and spiritual capabilities
- Appreciate and enjoy works of art and literature
- Make use of leisure time
- Develop reading skills Contribute to the growth of knowledge
PRINCIPLES OF SELECTION
Selection is based on the merits of a work in relation to the needs, interests and demands of the community. Medina County District Library supports and is supported by the American Library Associations's Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read, and Freedom to View Statements which affirm that free and convenient access to ideas, information, and the creative experience is of vital importance to every citizen today. The selection of library materials is predicated on the library patron's right to read and his/her freedom from censorship by others.
The Library cooperates as fully as possible with other libraries and with community agencies, groups, and organizations whose purposes and activities are related to library objectives. Expanding techniques of interlibrary loan on a county, state and federal level will be utilized to improve service to Medina County District Library patrons.
Providing textbooks or materials needed in quantity for school work is generally held to be the responsibility of the schools. Textbooks will be purchased for the collection when they supply information in areas in which they may be the best, or the only, source of information on the subject.
SELECTION CRITERIA
To build relevant and useful collections, materials must be measured by objective guidelines. All materials whether purchased or donated are considered in terms of the standards listed below. An item need not meet all of the criteria in order to be acceptable.
- Contemporary significance or permanent value
- Accuracy
- Reputation and/or authority of author, editor, or illustrator
- Literary merit
- Relation to existing collection and to other materials on the subject
- Price and availability
- Format and ease of use
- Scarcity of information in subject area
- Availability of material in other area libraries
- Attention of critics, reviewers, media and public
Multiple copies of heavily requested titles will be purchased to meet community needs.
RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION
The initial responsibility for material selection lies with the professional staff of the library. The ultimate responsibility for materials selection rests with the Director of the Library who operates within the framework of policies determined by the Library Board of Trustee.
MAINTAINING THE COLLECTION
Systematic withdrawl of materials no longer useful is necessary in order to maintain an active, accurate and relevant collection. Library materials are discarded for one or more of the following reasons:
- Irreparable damage
- Obsolescence
- Insufficient use
- Inadequate space available for housing materials
PATRON INPUT
Patrons may recommend materials for purchase or may question materials in the collection. A form, "Patron Review of Library Material", is available from library staff.
