Material and Collection Development Policy

Policy Statement
The North Arlington Public Library Recognizes the informational, educational and cultural needs of our community are diverse and desire a collection that reflects the many needs and interests of the North Arlington Community, regardless of age, economic status, race, creed, political persuasion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or mental limits.

Regulations

1. The goal of selection is to provide collections that meet the informational, educational, and recreational needs of the customers in the library’s service area.
2. The library upholds the following principles of service:
   • Provides open, free, non-judgmental access to collections and services regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, language proficiency, and social economic status.
   • Support intellectual freedom and promote the dissemination of a wide range of ideas and information representing a variety of viewpoints.
   • Create an inviting environment with a broad selection of timely material that encourages customers to encounter the rich diversity of ideas on which our democratic society depends.
3. The scope of the collections encompasses materials with popular, contemporary appeal as well as those with permanent, historical value in a wide variety of formats from print to digital. The library also provides collections to support a wide audience including the needs of specific populations such as children, teens, adults learning to read, world language readers and those with disabilities.
4. Selection of material is legally the responsibility of the Board of Trustees. (N.J.S.A. 40:54-12) However, the Board has delegated that authority to the Library Director and the library staff, who shall operate within the framework of policies determined by the Library Board of Trustees. Under the director’s guidance, a staff of librarians with professional education and training selects materials in accordance with the principles and practices of collection development. The Library Director, in conjunction with staff, will promulgate guidelines to follow in the management of the collection.
5. There are general criteria of quality of content, and suitability and sustainability of format, taken into consideration for selections; however, each item within the collection is given individual consideration for selection in terms of its own merit, demand, popularity and the audience for whom it is intended.
6. The library will select, organize and make accessible materials in a variety of formats, reading and comprehension levels, and languages which:
   • Promote and facilitate lifelong learning.
   • Provide information about all aspects of the human experience.
   • Document and illustrate the past.
   • Nourish intellectual and creative growth.
   • Broaden experience and understanding.
   • Explore current issues, trends, and controversies, providing balance of viewpoints.
   • Enhance job-related knowledge and skills.
   • Inform business and professional practice.
7. The library attempts to collect materials on a wide range of subjects but may be unable to meet every need with on-site material.
8. The library does not purchase academic textbooks because, generally, students need textbooks for a lengthy period of time that would exceed the libraries loan and renewal period.
9. The library strives to keep its collection vital and useful by retaining and replacing essential materials, and by removing on a systematic and continuous basis those works that are obsolete, worn, outdated, of little historical significance, or no longer in demand.
10. Items discarded may be replaced based on a number of factors which may include:
    • Popularity and demand.
    • Relevance, significance, and uniqueness.
    • Reputation of the author, illustrator, or others involved in its creation.
    • New or better alternative material on the subject.
    • Number of copies owned and age of the title.
11. The library selects material and organizes its collection to facilitate library users in making choices about the materials that are appropriate for them. The library does not restrict access to resources based on the age of the user, location of the item in the library, or third-party rating or classification.
12. The North Arlington Public Library endorses the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights (https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill) and Interpretations and will strive to adhere to the principles therein.
13. If you would like to challenge a book at the library, please fill out “Citizen’s Request for Reconsideration of a Book” form and return to the library.

The Decision by the Board of Trustees Shall be Final

Approved by the Library Board at the meeting on 1/11/2022