Library Collections Policy

Alameda County Library (AC Library) helps our community members learn, explore ideas, and find joy. AC Library shares materials in the formats, media, and languages used in our communities. We provide reliable, up-to-date information, opportunities to learn and grow, and tools to prepare for the future.

A main goal of the Library is to encourage and support reading. AC Library develops collections of materials with this goal in mind. Access to books and other reading materials at an early age helps young people succeed, and free access to Library collections opens opportunities for all ages.

Laws and Rules That Support This Policy:

AC Library follows laws and rules made by the State of California and the Alameda County Board of Supervisors. These rules guide our approach to building collections, and include:

  • California's Freedom to Read Act (AB 1825), which requires that:    
    • Public libraries like AC Library serve as centers for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas.
    • AC Library acknowledges the right of the public to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences.
    • AC Library acknowledges that materials should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people, and should present diverse points of view in collections as a whole.
    • AC Library acknowledges that its collection meets the broad and diverse interests of the community and respect both the library's autonomy and our specific community's needs.
  • California Education Code, section 19146. This says the County Librarian is responsible for the library's collections.
  • New Procedures for Alameda County Library Discarded Materials. This says how the Library removes materials from our collections.

Library Principles of Intellectual Freedom That Support This Policy:

AC Library's collections support intellectual freedom for our community. We use professional guidance from the American Library Association. You can read the following statements about intellectual freedom:

The next sections describe how we use this professional guidance at AC Library.

How Titles are Chosen:

AC Library takes time to learn about our communities' interests and needs. We also respond to changes in our community. Knowing about you helps us make collections that support everyone. Our belief in open access to diverse views and ideas guides the Library in choosing titles.

When choosing titles, AC Library:

  • Buys titles with many points of view on public issues;
  • Makes sure collections show more than one side of topics where people disagree;
  • Includes titles with controversial ideas; and
  • Does not endorse the opinions or points of view voiced in titles in our collection.

Professionally trained librarians choose titles for our collections. Librarians choose titles using professional library standards, not their personal opinions.

AC Library has a Collection Development Plan that guides librarians in choosing materials.

The Collection Development Plan:

  • Has sections for different formats, media, and languages.
  • Shows how we organize collections to make materials easier to find.
  • Includes details about collection development duties and methods.

The Library gets suggestions for new titles from library members. These help AC Library know what members want. We buy many of these titles for our collections. Members can send suggestions online by logging into their account or by visiting our website.

Library Member Concerns & Reconsideration of Titles:

Library members sometimes think a title does not belong in our collection. They may think AC Library should remove the title, move it to a different area, or they may just have questions. Members can share concerns with any librarian in-person, by phone, or online. After talking with a librarian, a member can make a written request for AC Library to reconsider the title's inclusion in a collection. They will need to fill out a form which they can get from any librarian.

  • Each title to review needs its own copy of the form.
  • AC Library will only respond to requests from members who live in Alameda County.
  • While the Library reviews, the title will still be available to borrow.
  • AC Library will only review the same title once in a 3-year period.
  • A group of library employees will review and discuss the request. This review team will send a written response to the member within 30 days.
  • If a member is not satisfied with the response, they can appeal to the County Librarian. The County Librarian will review the work done by the review team and decide if their answer was appropriate.

The County Librarian makes the final decision about titles in the Library's collections.

How Materials are Removed from Collections:

To keep the best collections of materials, AC Library regularly removes materials. These are careful decisions about outdated, worn, or no longer used items. Librarians follow rules approved by the County of Alameda Board of Supervisors. AC Library makes efforts to find new uses for materials after they leave the Library's shelves. Former library books may be sold by used bookstores. These books will have stickers that say the books are no longer part of the Library's collection.

AC Library follows a regular cycle of adding and removing material. Professionally trained librarians use tools to review the Library's collections. These tools help AC Library identify worn, outdated, or unused materials in the collections. Guidelines also help AC Library find the strengths and gaps in collections. This allows the Library to make decisions that meet the needs of community members.

AC Library's collections reflect our communities. As our communities change, it is AC Library's duty to make sure our collections change with them.

Library Collections
Chapter 6.01

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