I. Introduction
The Collection Development Policy is intended to support Northland Public Library’s mission and vision while adhering to the Library’s values.
Mission: Northland Public Library enables, empowers and encourages lifelong learning and discovery in a safe, welcoming space for all.
Vision: Northland will serve as a positive influence on society by ensuring our library is welcoming and inclusive to all.
Values: knowledge, quality, customer focus, teamwork, integrity, fiscal responsibility, respect and DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion).
II. Community Profile
The library primarily serves an increasingly diverse population of approximately 90,000 in 61.15 square miles comprised of five communities: Borough of Bradford Woods, Franklin Park Borough, Marshall Township, Town of McCandless, and Ross Township. These communities include two school districts: North Hills and North Allegheny. While demographics are constantly changing, current socio-economic and cultural components of the Library’s communities are considered when purchasing.
III. Collection Summary
Northland’s collection contains materials in a wide variety of formats, Lexile and age levels. It includes, but is not limited to print, audio, video, digital and nontraditional. For the purpose of this document, “the collection” refers to items that have been selected by Northland staff. Selected items may be physically available in the library or available online. In general, the collection is current and popular; not scholarly or archival. The library does not generally go beyond sophomore year of college in difficulty level. Northland strives to meet the informational, educational, cultural and recreational needs of the community. The vast majority of the collection is in English, though the Library maintains a World Language collection of materials.
IV. Collection Goals
Northland’s Collection policy goal is to strike a balance between the most authoritative, well-researched materials that represent the intellectual capital of our society, and popular “in demand” material, while ensuring that our collection is representative of the community and includes diverse subjects and perspectives.
V. Selection Responsibility
- Adult Materials: Adult materials are chosen by members of the Adult Services Department.
- Children’s Materials: Children’s and teen materials are chosen by members of the Children and Teen Services Department.
- Online databases: Northland provides online databases in three different ways. Many are subscribed to by the county consortium of which Northland is a member. Many are provided by the POWER Library, Pennsylvania’s Electronic Library. A few are purchased by Northland directly. Northland is represented on the county-wide Digital Resource Committee (DRC) which evaluates, selects and de-selects web-based databases for all Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA) member libraries. Northland subscribes to additional databases through various reputable vendors.
- E-materials: The DRC also evaluates and selects for purchase e-books, e-audio, e-video and e-magazines. The DRC adheres to its own guidelines for selection and de-selection.
VI. Selection Criteria
Collection development staff use their training, knowledge and expertise along with the following general criteria to select materials for the collection:
- Relevance to interests and needs of the community
- Extent of publicity, critical review in mainstream media, review journals, or websites, and current or anticipated demand
- Current or historical significance of the author or subject
- Local significance of the author or subject
- Diversity of author, characters, viewpoint and experience
- Relevance to the existing collection’s strengths and weaknesses
- Reputation and qualifications of the author, publisher or producer, with preference generally given to titles vetted in the editing and publishing industry
- Suitability of format to Library circulation and use
- Date of publication
- Price, availability and Library materials budget
- Patron recommendations (each one is evaluated for possible purchase)
- Standing orders & subscriptions
- Adherence to holds ratio guidelines
- Available collection space
- For donations only, condition of the material is also considered
Formats collected: print books, print magazines, music CDs, books on CD and MP3players, DVDs, e-books, e-audio (books & music), e-video, e-magazines, databases and non-traditional items. When a format becomes obsolete due to a new format, the library will cease collecting the old format. New formats are generally evaluated initially at the county level (by ACLA). Northland is represented on the ACLA committees that explore this. Northland will consider adding new formats ahead of the county if local demand warrants it.
VII. Acquisitions
- Physical materials are purchased through a variety of library vendors.
- Print magazines are purchased through an agreement with W.T. Cox.
- Databases are purchased through reputable vendors.
- Self-published materials are evaluated by the same criteria that are used to evaluate all purchased materials.
- The collection budget is sanctioned by the Northland Public Library Authority Board of Directors, and generally represents 12% of the Library’s total budget, per state requirements.
VIII. Gifts
The Northland Public Library accepts donations of books and other materials. The Library retains the authority to accept or reject gifts. Gifts are evaluated by the same criteria that are applied to purchased items. Library staff make all decisions as to the use, housing and final disposition of donations. The Library does not evaluate or appraise gift materials for tax purposes.
IX. Withdrawal and Retention
- Use Create Lists to evaluate the collection annually; ideally in January to capture stats for the previous year.
- Age and/or average copyright date
- Turnover rate
- Circulation
- Diverse representation
- CollectionHQ is also used to evaluate the collection.
- Staff will adhere to a set schedule that ensures every NL location and Dewey section is evaluated at least once every two years. Criteria include:
- Condition
- Number of copies in the collection
- Relevance to the needs and interest of the community
- Local interest
- Current demand and frequency of use
- Accuracy and timeliness
- Availability elsewhere including other libraries and online
- Diverse Representation
- Considered to be part of the core collection
X. Reconsideration of Library Materials
In order to represent the diversity of thought within the community, it is very important that the public library’s collection contains materials representing differing points of view. Northland Public Library does not endorse particular beliefs or views, nor does the selection of an item express or imply an endorsement of the viewpoint expressed by the author, nor does the omission or deselection of an item express or imply a rejection of the viewpoint expressed by the author (see: Requests for Reconsideration Policy).
There may be occasions when a member of the community objects to a particular item in the Library’s collection. If a library patron wishes the Library to reconsider material that is in the collection, they are encouraged to discuss their concerns with the department manager (see: Requests for Reconsideration Policy).
XI. Policy Adoption, Review & Revision
- Policy is assembled by the Director of Library Services with major input from the Adult Services Department and the Children & Teen Services Department.
- Draft of Policy given to Library Executive Director for approval.
- Revisions made if necessary then given back to Executive Director.
- Once Executive Director approves the policy, the final draft is submitted to the NPLA Policy & Planning Committee, followed by the NPL Authority Board for approval and adoption.
- Policy is reviewed annually and revised as necessary, with a more thorough review conducted every five years.
Approved 3/22/16
Rev 6/28/22
Rev 1/23/2024