Materials Selection Policy
The library provides media in a wide variety of fields including the sciences, arts, and the
humanities. The following factors should be considered important in the implementation of the
library's goal.
- Groups or individual's needs and interests existing in the inmate population, such as those relating to
age, ethnic origin, and gender.
- Flexibility to meet and satisfy new and changing social interests and needs.
- Priorities established because of budget limitations and requirements of funding sources (see individual
programs).
- Availability and accessibility of materials in other libraries.
Materials shall be selected for purchase based on continuous assessment by the on-site librarian with
the aid of professional tools.
Materials shall be selected on the basis of:
- popularity, appeal, and estimated use by the resident population;
- readability level and quality of writing;
- value in enriching programs provided in the institution;
- factual accuracy;
- reviews in professional literature and the recommendations of professionals.
Materials that have limited appeal for circulation shall be borrowed through intra or interlibrary
loan. Materials with high appeal shall be purchased in sufficient quantity to meet demands when they are
current.
Print materials shall be purchased in paperback if available in this form (especially fiction).
Non-print materials shall be purchased (when budget allows) especially for an ongoing program that has
wide appeal.
- Includes materials needed in the ordinary course of information seeking ( see Information Needs Survey)
that relate to doping and survival in the institution and prepare the patron for re-entry to home community.
- Includes materials requested by patrons that have appeal to large numbers of patrons.
- Includes materials in all formats to stimulate the interests of patrons who have difficulty with reading.
- Contains basic reference collection representing a wide range of subject materials including a
Required Reference List.
- Includes multi-media to encourage interest in reading in subject areas.
- Contains no irrelevant materials (not of interest to many in the population): no excessive duplication,
but sufficient duplication to meet demand for a title or subject area when it is popular.
- Contains no materials in poor condition.
- Is organized as one coordinated collector that is accessible to and retrievable by, patrons familiar with
library organization and these who are not.
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