Section 1- Purpose
To establish a framework for continuous evaluation and improvement of collections that support the mission and core values of the St. Ignace Public Library.
Section 2-Goals
Section 3- Materials Selection
The mission of St. Ignace Public Library is to provide materials, resources, and services to foster the evolving educational, informational, cultural, and recreational enrichment of all the people served by the library.
St. Ignace Public Library adheres to the principles of intellectual freedom stated in the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement. The library provides equal service to all our library users and is committed to honor the rights of an individual to use the library regardless of race, religion, age, gender, national origin, or social and/or political views.
Library materials are selected by the director after consulting with various forms of reviews and web resources. Circulation statistics, patron usage, patron requests and subject fulfillment are used to guide the selection process.
III. Standards of Selection
The library attempts to purchase a wide variety of fiction that will fulfil patron needs. Titles are chosen in consideration of the popularity of the author, the appeal of the book for a specific audience, genre, and literary reputation of the author. Materials are chosen through book lists from established sources and online journal reviews. Effort is made to continually update and weed items that are outdated.
Nonfiction is purchased to suit a variety of informational interests, subjects and needs of the patrons. Materials are chosen through book lists from established sources and online journal reviews. Effort is made to continually update and weed items that are outdated.
If a hardback version of an item is available, the hardback will be purchased over a paperback edition.
Books donated and gifted to the library may be accepted if in good condition. If the item is in good condition, it will be checked against the collection to see if it is needed by the library. Those not added to the collection become the property of the Friends of the St. Ignace Library.
Section 3- Selection Sources and Criteria
Significant Selection Sources
Selection Criteria
Reviews: Reviews are utilized to assist in evaluating items.
Demand: Titles in demand based on local interest, author popularity, and other factors are strongly considered for purchase.
Authors: The author’s previous publications and qualifications are important when selecting material.
Formats: Formats of material should be appropriate for library use. Ideally, books will have good bindings and attempts to buy hardcover will be made. Audiovisual materials should be able to withstand heavy use; durability is considered. Digital material should be available in formats widely accessible and used by the community.
Price: Price is a considered in the relation to the value of the item to the library collection.
Local Authors: The work of local authors is given strong consideration for addition to the library’s collection. Self-published items will be reviewed against our selection criteria, and if there is a high interest in the subject, the item will be purchased.
Memorial Gifts: Monetary gifts made to the library in memory of, or in honor of, an individual will be directed to staff to select and make the appropriate purchase. A memorial plaque will be placed in the item before circulation.
Non-print: Recreational and informational interest, demand, and award recognition are considered for featured films for the inclusion into the collection.
Section 5- Replacement Copies
Titles that are still in demand will be repurchased.
Adopted July 10, 2018. Updated and adopted November 8, 2022.