Collection Development Policy

 

Statement of Principles

Bemis Public Library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas, and honors the public’s right to access a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences. To this end, the library provides a collection of resources for the interest, information, and enlightenment of the community, and seeks to present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole.

In developing and curating its material collection, the library:

  • shall not exclude a resource from the collection because of the ethnic origin, ethnic background, or gender identity of those contributing to the creation of the library resource, or because of any topic addressed or opinion expressed within the resource;
  • shall not proscribe or prohibit the circulation or procurement of a resource because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval of the resource;
  • challenges censorship in the fulfillment of its responsibility to provide information and enlightenment;
  • considers the perspectives of marginalized groups, including those identified in CRS §22-1-104 (1)(a);
  • makes its facilities and services available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use; and
  • prohibits discrimination based on age, background, political or religious views, origin, disability, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, or ancestry in the selection, retention, display, use, or reconsideration of library resources.

    These principles are informed by and aligned with the library’s mission, values, and strategic plan; the American Library Association’s Code of Ethics, Library Bill Of Rights (and related Interpretations), and its statements on the Freedom to Read and Freedom to View; and the laws of the State of Colorado and the U.S. Constitution.

    Material Selection Responsibility

    Ultimate responsibility for oversight of the library’s collection rests with the library director, who delegates day-to-day decisions regarding the selection, evaluation, and removal of collection materials to designated staff who are trained in collection management methods and principles.

    Scope of Collection

    Bemis Public Library strives for a balanced, diverse, and delightful collection that informs, enriches, educates, and entertains. In order to represent a diverse community, the library purchases materials that include a wide range of topics, genres, and viewpoints in a variety of formats such as books, periodicals, audio-visual materials, digital content, and electronic databases. Other formats may be incorporated into the collection in response to need, demand, or interest observed in the local community.

    Selection Criteria & Factors

    Selection staff consider various criteria in navigating selection decisions. Below is a non-exhaustive list of general criteria applicable to most areas of the collection. A given item need not meet all criteria to be included in the collection, and additional criteria may be considered in selecting materials for specific areas of the collection.

    • Expressed or anticipated interest in a subject or title within the community
    • Popularity or usage statistics of similar items
    • Authority or reputation of the author, publisher, or producer
    • Timeliness or cultural relevance
    • Significance to local history or issues
    • Positive evaluation of a title in reviewing media
    • Artistic and/or literary merit or award recognition

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    In addition to the above criteria, staff consider factors such as (but not limited to) the following when making collection decisions:

    • Relationship of a given work to the scope and depth of the existing collection
    • Budget and/or space limitations
    • Durability or suitability of format for library use
    • Item availability or access through resource sharing

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    Most materials and resources in the library’s collection are in English. The library includes materials and resources in other languages as need dictates.

    Materials Not Collected
    • Unauthorized copies: The library respects the intellectual property of creators, and does not knowingly purchase, acquire, collect, use, or retain bootlegged, pirated, or otherwise unauthorized copies of works.
    • AI-generated content: The library respects the work of human creators and the critical thinking skills of library users. The library recognizes concerns about the implications of generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for questions of intellectual property, authorship, and quality standards. Works created using generative AI technology are not routinely selected for inclusion in the collection. Where such works are considered for inclusion, the role of generative AI in the creation of the work must be clearly acknowledged by the creator or publisher.

       

      Intellectual Freedom and Material Selection

      The library affirms the rights of individuals to form their own opinions about resources they choose to read, view, listen to, or otherwise access. The library does not advocate for or against the ideas presented in works in the collection. The presence of a work in the collection does not indicate endorsement by the library of the ideas presented in the work or by its creator(s).

      Library Not In Loco Parentis

      The library does not stand in the place of parents and/or guardians. Parents and/or guardians have the responsibility to guide and direct the reading, listening, and viewing choices of their own children under the age of 18. Selection decisions are not influenced by the possibility that resources may be accessible to minors.

      Purchase Requests

      Community requests are welcomed through the Recommend a Purchase online form. Purchase suggestions are subject to the library’s selection criteria.

      Gifts and Donations

      Bemis Public Library accepts gifts and donations of books and some media from the public. Gifts and donations, including items from local authors and creators, will be subject to the above selection criteria and are only accepted without restrictions. The library makes the final decision as to the acceptance, use, and disposal of any gifts or donations. To set up an appointment to donate items or for more information, see the library's donation guidelines. 

      Resource Sharing

      Bemis Public Library participates in two cooperative resource sharing networks. Marmot Library Network is a member-driven consortium of Colorado libraries that shares physical and digital resources. Prospector, a unified catalog of academic, public, and special libraries from Colorado and Wyoming, allows library patrons to request materials from libraries across these two states. Resource sharing increases the availability and range of materials available to patrons while minimizing duplication of infrequently used materials. 

      Withdrawal of Library Materials

      The library continuously reviews and evaluates the content of the collection for relevance and usefulness to the community. The evolution of the collection in response to community needs requires periodic removal of existing material to make room for newer material. Existing material may be removed from the collection when it no longer sufficiently meets the criteria for selection outlined in this policy. Removal of material will not be used to exclude viewpoints from the collection.

      Reconsideration of Library Materials

      The Library recognizes and supports the right of constituents to voice concerns about library collection materials. Many questions about library resources can be answered through conversations with library staff. Concerns not resolved after such a conversation may be addressed through the library’s reconsideration process, outlined below. A person must reside within the City of Littleton in order to participate in this process.

      Materials under review will remain available to the public until such time as a decision is finalized.

      A given resource may be reviewed under the reconsideration process no more than once every three years.

      A written request for reconsideration of a library resource is not a library user record as described in CRS §24-90-119 (1). Such requests are open records under the Colorado Open Records Act.

    • A library staff member provides the requestor with a copy of the Request for Reconsideration of Library Resources form and a copy of this Collection Development policy. Once completed in its entirety and signed by the requestor, the form is sent to the library director.
    • The library director reviews the completed form and the material in question with the library staff responsible for selection in the relevant collection area. This review ensures that library policies were followed in the selection process.
    • The library director sends a written response to the requestor within ten working days of the form’s submission. Additional time may be needed in the case of extensive requests, in which case an estimated time for response will be provided to the requestor.
    Re-evaluation of the Collection Development Policy

    Bemis Public Library staff will review this policy every two years and update it as necessary. 

    Related Documents
 
Revised August 2026

 

 

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