policies
Please select the link below to view the G.A.R. Memorial Library Polices. This statement of policy will be revised as times and circumstances require.
INVESTMENT POLICY
INTERNET ACCESS POLICY
UNATTENDED CHILD POLICY
SERVICES TO NON-WEST NEWBURY RESIDENTS POLICY
MATERIALS SELECTION POLICY
PRIVACY POLICY
MATERIALS SELECTION POLICY
Objectives of the Library
The G.A.R. Memorial Library of West Newbury provides free service to all individuals in the community. Its objectives include the provision of selected books and other materials to aid the individual in the pursuit of education, information, pleasure or research, and in the creative use of leisure time.
Basic to the Library’s Book Selection Policy is the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement adopted by the Council of the American Library Association.
Responsibility for Book Selection
Ultimate responsibility for book selection policy lies with the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees delegates to the Librarian the authority for the selection of books and the development of the collection.
Criteria for Selection
The objective of the book selection is to collect those books and other library materials that will inform, entertain, and contribute to an appreciation of good literature.
Library materials are selected by the Librarian .Competent and authoritative reviewing media and basic lists of standard works are consulted as an aid in selection. Recommendations from the public are welcomed.
The Librarian stands ready to review individual decisions regarding specific books upon written request .However, the library resists at all times the efforts of any individuals or organizations to dictate purchase or the removal of so-called objectionable books from the shelves.
Within standards of purpose and quality, the library’s collections will be built to meet the needs and interests of the community.
Book selection is not based on personal prejudice or preference.Boks are not selected or rejected because of the race, religion or politics of the author.Our objective is to uphold the right of access to all sides of controversial issues and questions.
Book Selection for Children
The children’s collection is carefully selected for children of all ages and abilities, with emphasis on books that stimulate imagination and help in the development of taste for good literature. Books of a non-fiction nature are selected to help the children learn about the world around them.
The Use of the Library’s Books
The Library recognizes that many books are controversial and that any given
item may offend some patrons. Selections will not be made on the
basis of any anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the merits
of the work in relation to building the collections and to serving the interests
of readers.
Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of the contents, and no catalogued book or other item will be sequestered, except for the express purpose of protecting it from injury or theft.
The use of rare and scholarly items of great value may be controlled to the extent required to preserve them from harm, but no further.
Responsibility for the reading of children rests with their parents and legal guardians. Library book selection will not be inhibited by the possibility that books of a controversial nature may come into the possession of children.
The Scope of the Collection
The Library takes cognizance of the collections and resources of neighboring libraries and of the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium and will not needlessly duplicate services and materials. Every effort is made to locate and borrow from other libraries, through inter-library loan, those specialized materials that are beyond the scope of the Library’s collection.
Textbooks are not ordinarily purchased by the library except in those subject areas where material in another form is not conveniently available.
The Library acknowledges a particular interest in local and state history, and in the works of local authors. The Library will, however, apply the same standards of selection to the works of local authors as it does to other library materials.
Gifts
The library welcomes gifts of books and other materials with the understanding that they be given with no conditions as to use, location, rebinding or disposal.
When the Library receives a cash gift for the purchase of memorial books or collections, the selection will be made by the Librarian in consultation with the donor. The name of the donor or person memorialized will be entered on the bookplate.
Maintaining the Collection
The same criteria will be used in “weeding” books from the collection as are used in the acquisition of books.In order to maintain the collection in its most attractive and useful condition, the Librarian will use judgment in removing from the collection those materials which are no longer useful, or are not in a condition suitable for circulation. The Librarian will refurbish by repair or rebinding books that are in a deteriorating condition, whenever appropriate. Books no longer currently useful to the Library may be given to other libraries or sold for the benefit of the library.
Revision of Policy
This statement of policy will be revised as times and circumstances require.