MARK TWAIN LIBRARY
COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT

I. Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that the library's collection reflects the mission of the library as defined by the Board of Trustees and implemented by the library staff. It assures the integrity, consistency and continuity of selection and deselection practices and clarifies the methods and principles of those practices to both the staff and the public.

II. Mission Statement

The Mark Twain Library is an inviting meeting place for all, using its resources efficiently to meet the community's common needs for general information, cultural, intellectual and social enrichment, and self-directed learning.

III. Background Information

Redding is an exurban/rural town founded in 1767 by settlers from Fairfield Parish. Approximately 60 miles from New York City, its 8000 residents (2000 census) range from descendants of the first citizens to weekend visitors from New York.

Redding has always numbered a select group of writers, artists and musicians among its population, including Samuel L. Clemens (aka Mark twain), who moved here to his final home in 1908. He was founder of this library, and the first president of its Association.

Redding was one of the first communities in New England to understand the value of open space, and was in the vanguard of green-belt communities. The town retains its rural character through the diligence of its citizens, who stay aware of regional trends and policies.

As an association library, the Mark Twain Library does not receive full funding from the town government. Fiscal responsibility is important in collection development and management. Other town agencies and institutions (e.g. the schools, the Historical Society, Town Hall) have collections that compliment and enhance the Mark Twain Library collection, and the Library works cooperatively with them.

The library building serves as a community center as well as a lending library. It is neither an archive, nor a research center. Because space is limited, the collection must constantly be evaluated for the relevancy of material selected for inclusion on the shelves. Special collections, while perhaps valuable, are not necessarily appropriate for a general interest library.

Material not deemed suitable for purchase for the Mark Twain Library collection may be obtained for the serious patron through the excellent interlibrary loan system that the library uses.

IV. Material Selection

Using the previously stated background material as a guide, and with attention to the library's mission and intent, the following general criteria shall apply to each item selected for the library collection, including materials and collections being offered as gifts to the library:

• Affordability
• Timeliness
• Value added to the collection as a whole
• Relevance to the mission and/or strategic plan

Responsibility for Selection
The Board of Trustees entrusts material selection to the library staff, subject to the general policies and standards of the library. Selection will be performed by staff with professional level training in material selection.

Selection Tools
Selection tools will include (but not be limited to) professional judgement as the first criterion, professional and trade journals (Library Journal, School Library Journal, Booklist, Publisher's Weekly), public library catalogs (Wilson's) and book reviews. Patron requests or recommendations will also be considered, subject to the same evaluation as staff-selected material.

Selection Criteria

• For nonfiction, to seek those materials judged to be the standard or definitive handling of a particular subject. If possible, all sides of an issue should be represented in material selection.
• For fiction, attention should be paid to literature of intrinsic and lasting quality with particular emphasis on American writers and other English language authors, as well as those items that satisfy the current desires of the library's users. If an item receives two requests, it will definitely be considered for purchase.
• For all media (audio and visual), materials will be chosen for both long-term appeal and significant temporal interest. Attention should be paid to emerging technologies in the productions of these materials. · For children's material, the above criteria will also apply.
• Areas of particular interest to the community (including but not limited to the following) are considered important and should be part of the permanent collection of the library:
  
  1. Local history
  2. Local authors and/or illustrators
  3. Samuel Clemens

Maintenance and Deaccession of Material
Periodic inventory of the collection is the responsibility of the staff. The "CREW" and "MUSTI"** systems will be used for identification of unsuitable, worn, damaged and irrelevant material that should be withdrawn. Those items may be sold in the annual book sale sponsored by the Association. Materials that have been damaged, but are still useable, will either be rebound, or mended according to accepted standards for book repair.

V. Requests for Reconsideration of Library Material

The library staff will consider all requests for the withdrawal of material from the collection. The Library Director, with the recommendations and proper background on each item, will bring these requests to the Board of Trustees. The form that initiates this process is attached as an appendix to this policy.

VI. The "Library Bill of Rights" and the American Library Association's "Freedom to Read" Statement

The Mark Twain Library is guided in its selection policy and in all its activities by the "Library Bill of Rights" and the "Freedom to Read" statement published by the American Library Association. Both documents are attached as appendices to this policy statement.

**CREW and "MUSTI"=

Continuous
Review
Evaluation
Weeding

Misleading
Ugly
Superceded
Trival
Irrelevant

Adopted November 19, 2001 Mark Twain Library Board of Trustees :