Section D - COLLECTION MANAGEMENT

Policy Number D040

ADULT COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY

SUBJECT: THE SOCIAL SCIENCES -- 300

Description: This Dewey range of numbers encompasses a large array of subjects, about which the district will attempt to provide books, audiovisuals and electronic information to the public.

Influencing Factors: Business materials and services will remain the primary responsibility of the Business librarian at Spencer Road, and government-related materials and services will remain the primary responsibility of the Government Documents librarian at Middendorf-Kredell. Other branches will attempt less comprehensive collection coverage and will rely on the specialists for suggestions and advice in their collections.

There are many special, college, and university libraries in the metropolitan area which carry extensive collections in such subject areas as law, politics, minorities, government documents, social work, police science, and transportation. The district will not attempt to duplicate comprehensive collections in these subject areas, but only obtain the more popular items.

The library district cannot and will not attempt to act as a substitute for school or college libraries. However, it will collect some supplementary materials for educational purposes.

The branches of the district will try to have a representative collection of materials and services on the subjects of careers, job searches, investments, college selection and costs, and business information, including addresses; these are the subjects most in demand.

One of the most vital services of the public library is to act as an information and referral agent to more specialized community services. Efforts will be made to obtain and make available the best tools to perform this important task.

Retention: The district will keep only the current editions of materials in those subjects with rapidly changing information, such as law. Otherwise, condition and current usage will determine retention of popular items. Numerous subjects, such as costume, are of such a nature that historical items must be kept.

The library will also keep materials in the social sciences that have historical and cultural significance. Lists, published by professional sources like the American Library Association, will be used to determine these items.

Local history, government documents, and business specialists will determine how long materials in their subject areas will be kept.

Tax forms and related materials will be kept for five years, including the current tax year, at the regional branches, with other branches retaining forms as needed.

Current selection: Comprehensive subject coverage at a basic level for the general patron will be the primary consideration in most areas. Exceptions have been noted above.

Retrospective selection: Retrospective development will include replacement of worn, missing, or damaged materials as needed and checking subject bibliographies of available items to determine if an area of the collection needs additional materials.