The Purpose of the Library
Our Collection Development Policy
The librarian is responsible for (de)selecting materials, and for building, organizing and maintaining the collection. Materials are selected to support the curriculum at all levels, but also to promote reading for enjoyment. The library collection is also based on principles emphasizing the Statement of Intellectual Freedom adopted by the Canadian Library Association. Should there be a concern about a particular library item, please fill out the library's Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials form. The librarian will then (re)read the item in question and draft a response including details about the library's selection policy, the Canadian Library Association's Statement of Intellectual Freedom, reviews, circulation statistics and any other documentation that may explain why the item was selected for the library's collection. Current priorities for selecting new library materials include but are not limited to:
- curricular tie-in
- aboriginal content/author/illustrator
- Canadian content/author/illustrator
- staff and student requests
- selection tools (i.e. reviewing journals, general interest magazines and newspapers, lists of recommended "best books," publisher's catalogues and lists from bestsellers, published retrospective bibliographies and lists of award-winning titles...)
- Demand vs. Quality Titles
- Recreational vs. Educational Titles
- Series vs. Stand-alone Titles
- Reading vs. Reading Something
- Budget
Gorman, M. & Suellentrop, T. (2009) Connecting young adults and libraries. Chapter 6: Collections, pp. 105-170. New York: Neal-Schuman.
