Language
Log In Get a Card
Washington County Cooperative Library Services Home

WCCLS Collection Development Policy

Purpose

This policy provides WCCLS staff with guidelines for developing and maintaining collections that meet WCCLS strategic objectives. WCCLS shares this policy with its member libraries and the public so that our principles for selecting and deselecting materials are clear. This policy is written by WCCLS staff, reviewed by Washington County counsel, approved by Cooperative leadership, and is reviewed annually. 

Objectives 

WCCLS is not a single library location. It is an organization established to centrally support member libraries that are part of the Cooperative in Washington County. WCCLS also leads initiatives and offers some services centrally when it makes sense for the Cooperative and those being served. In this role, WCCLS manages multiple collections that are available to the public, that support the County’s and the Cooperative’s strategic objectives, and/or that enhance member libraries’ programs and collections. Generally, WCCLS collections fall within the scope of most public library collections: popular materials and general interest. However, in its unique role, WCCLS also maintains a professional collection focused on librarianship and public service, a large collection of special formats for users of the Library Mail Service, and other titles and formats for supporting libraries that might fall outside the scope of a typical public library collection. 

WCCLS recognizes that not everyone has equitable access to library collections and services and that legacy practices in librarianship have at times excluded and ignored the needs of marginalized groups. WCCLS responds by considering diversity, equity, and inclusion when making decisions about its collections. We strive to select materials that meet the needs of underserved populations and to advocate for policies that improve access to our collections for those who have been excluded. 

Selection

WCCLS strives for inclusivity in selecting materials in compliance with the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement. WCCLS aims to develop its collections in line with the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement and Library Bill of Rights. We work to represent as many viewpoints as possible, and selection of materials does not mean endorsement of their contents. Librarians on staff at WCCLS do most of the materials selection. Below are their typical considerations when selecting materials:  

  • Is the cost reasonable? 
  • Is the format appropriate for its intended user group(s)? 
  • Is there demand? (Demand may be found in media coverage, industry data, circulation data, patron requests, and stakeholder requests. WCCLS recognizes that for nascent and community-specific collections metrics may be different.) 
  • Is the title or format being selected to meet community-specific needs (people unable to visit a physical library, people who are incarcerated, people who speak languages other than English, childcare providers, etc.)? 
  • If the work is intended to meet community-specific needs, was it created by someone who belongs to that group? 
  • Is the title broadly available and easy to replace?  
  • Does this title help complete a popular series? 
  • Is this title inclusive in both authorship and content, making it relevant to one or more communities within Washington County? 
  • Has this title been reviewed in the media or industry publications? 
  • Does this title cover a topic of interest for a specific age group? 
  • Are the contents of the material current, relevant, and accurate? 
  • Does the title have local significance? 
  • Has the title received or been nominated for a major award or prize? 
  • Does the title help expand a collection in a language prioritized by Washington County for service? 

Maintenance

WCCLS staff perform regular evaluations to ensure that our collections are meeting the needs of our community. Based on these evaluations, WCCLS may shift resources from one collection to another, establish a new collection, or deselect materials to maintain existing collections. Librarians consider the following factors when de-selecting materials: 

  • Is usage low or declining in relation to other items or collections? 
  • Does an item or collection lack currency, relevance, or accuracy? 
  • Is a format no longer supported, no longer in demand, or difficult to maintain? 
  • Does WCCLS have enough physical space? 
  • Are searches in apps and the WCCLS catalog degraded by too many records? 
  • Is the item in good physical condition? 
  • Has the content or license for a digital title or collection expired? 

WCCLS values stewardship and sustainability, so all physical materials are given a second life through repurposing when possible. Materials that are not in a usable condition are handled through Washington County’s surplus procedures. 

Public inquiries & reconsideration 

Because WCCLS strives to provide materials of interest to all people in the community, patrons may at times disagree with the inclusion or the absence of a particular title in our collections. Members of the public may reach out to WCCLS at any time with questions, comments, or suggestions. Formal requests to remove, relocate, or recategorize a title or resource can be submitted using the WCCLS Request for Reconsideration Form.

Initial inquiries will be addressed by the staff who work with the collection at issue and their supervisor. If an acceptable outcome cannot be reached, the patron’s concerns will be escalated to the Cooperative Library Services Manager, who is appointed by the Washington County Administrator and who may convene a Selection Review Committee.