Sno-Isle Libraries Board Policy

Purpose

To provide direction on the procurement and provision of library materials that reflect the ever-evolving needs and interests of the communities served by Sno-Isle Libraries (Library District) and inform members of the community about the principles used to select and manage the collection.

Scope

This policy applies to the physical and digital materials and resources that are available online or distributed between the Library District’s various locations and collectively known as the collection. This policy provides information on:

• Intellectual Freedom and Access
• Responsibility for Selection and Management
• Purchasing
• Collection Selection and Maintenance
• Request for Review / Reconsideration

Implementation

Intellectual Freedom and Access

The Library District is committed to supporting intellectual freedom by providing a collection that reflects a diversity of cultures, views, and opinions.

The Sno-Isle Libraries Board of Trustees (Board of Trustees) recognizes that the library was created to serve all the people within the Library District’s service area and that within the Library District there are individuals and groups with varied interests, backgrounds, ages, life experiences, and information needs.

The Library District’s collection is organized and maintained with the goal of making materials easy to find. Materials and resources will not be restricted, separated, or altered because of controversy surrounding the author or subject matter.

The Library District provides an impartial environment where customers and their interests are brought together with the universe of ideas and information that spans the spectrum of knowledge and opinions.

The Board of Trustees believes that customers should be free to select or reject materials based on personal values; however, they may not restrict the freedom of others to read, view, or inquire. Only parents / guardians are in charge of what their own minor children read, view, or listen to in the library as well as online. The Library District does not decide what a person reads or watches.

Responsibility for Selection and Management

The Library District’s Executive Director is responsible for the selection and management of the collection as authorized by the Board of Trustees. In turn, the Executive Director delegates this function to qualified library staff members.

Purchasing

Multiple vendors are approved for the purchase of materials and resources because of the variety of formats, languages, vendor areas of focus and expertise, and due to independent publishers or distributors not reselling or using wholesalers for their products. Administrative procedures and guidelines for purchasing are established and maintained by the Finance Director that assure a competitive, open, and fair purchasing process.

Collection Selection and Maintenance

Selection. Materials are selected for the collection based on criteria in the Library District’s Collection Development Guidelines. Materials are acquired in various print, audio, visual, and electronic formats. Selection of materials and resources does not mean that the Library District endorses the content contained in those materials and resources. Materials that are not in the Library District's collection may be obtained on behalf of a customer through resource sharing with other libraries (Interlibrary Loan).

Purchase Suggestions. The Library District is responsive to suggestions for titles and subjects to be included in the collection when these requests meet selection criteria.

Gifts and Donations. Gifts or donations of materials may be accepted with the understanding that the same selection criteria are applied to gifts as to materials acquired by purchase. Following the Sno-Isle Libraries Donation Policy, any gifts may be donated to Friends of the Library groups, the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation, other community partners, or recycled at the Library District’s discretion.

Collection Maintenance. The collection is reviewed and evaluated on an ongoing basis. The Library District does not maintain an archival collection and may discard materials based on criteria in the Collection Development Guidelines. Discarded materials are disposed of according to Washington State law.

Request for Review / Reconsideration

The Board of Trustees recognizes the right of individuals to ask questions and share feedback about materials in the Library District’s collection. A customer with collection questions or feedback is encouraged to contact local library staff.

If a customer wishes to request a formal review or reconsideration of an item in the Library District’s collection and is a resident of the Library District’s service area, they may complete and submit a Request for Review / Reconsideration of Library Materials form. The Assistant Director of Collection Services will respond with a written decision within thirty (30) days of receiving a completed Request for Review / Reconsideration form.

If a customer wishes to appeal the Request for Review / Reconsideration decision, the appeal will be reviewed by the Executive Director to whom the Board of Trustees has delegated operations authority. Materials under review will remain available to customers during the process.

Associated Policies and Laws

• United States. First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States
• Washington State RCW 12.210. Library trustees – Organization – Bylaws – Powers and duties
• Washington State RCW 33.070. Disposal of obsolete or surplus reading materials - procedures
• American Library Association. Library Bill of Rights
• American Library Association. Freedom to Read
• American Library Association.Freedom to View
• Washington Library Association. Intellectual Freedom Statement
• Sno-Isle Libraries Board policy. Equity Policy
• Sno-Isle Libraries Board policy. Donation Policy
• Sno-Isle Libraries Administrative Policies & Guidelines. Collection Development Guidelines

Process

This policy is reviewed every four (4) years by the Executive Director (or designee) who makes recommendations to the appropriate Board Committee. The Committee reviews and revises as necessary, endorses, and advances to the full Board for approval.

Policy History

Date approved: March 27, 2023
Next review date: 2027
Date adopted: April 1987