Materials Selection Policy

The mission of the Nevada County Library is to: 

• Provide a diverse collection that meets the needs of the community
• Create an inclusive environment that fosters discovery
• Connect our community with innovative opportunities
• Provide a space for community gathering
• Inspire lifelong learning and personal growth 

Achieving this mission requires providing the strongest collections that our available resources will permit.  

This Materials Selection Policy establishes guidelines for the allocation of library resources.  

Further, California State Law, AB 1825 passing in 2024, requires the following statements to be included in public library collection development policies:  

• The collection meets the broad and diverse interests of the community and respects both the library’s autonomy and their specific community needs. 
• The public library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas. 
• Library materials should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people, and should present diverse points of view in thecollection as a whole. 
• The right of the public to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences is acknowledged

Per this policy: 

• The library’s collection meets the broad and diverse interests of the community and respects both the library’s autonomy ad their specific community needs.
• The public library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas.
• Library materials should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people, and should present divers points of view the collection as whole.
• The library acknowledges the right of the public to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral, and other ideas and experiences. 

Principles of Selection

Selection of materials is based upon a number of criteria that include:

• proven or potential interest to the community served;
• favorable reviews in library review media;
• the existence, or lack, of similar materials in the collection;
• the constraints of available space;
• cost;
• the extent to which the item is available elsewhere in the community.

An item need not meet all criteria to be acceptable, nor will any single criteria be decisive.

The Library selects materials in accordance with the guidelines stated by the American Library Association in its Library Bill of Rights, and Freedom to Read Statement and Freedom to View Statements.

The Library supports diversity of expression and views in its collection in an attempt to provide patrons with a foundation for making informed decisions and formulating personal opinions. The Library does not exclude items because of the race, nationality, social, political, or religious views of the authors. The presence of controversial materials in the collection does not represent the Library’s endorsement of the opinions expressed therein. Although some materials selected may contain language and/or illustrations that may be offensive to some patrons, the Library cannot undertake the task of pleasing all individuals by censoring such items.

Selection Responsibility

The Nevada County Board of Supervisors is the legal body in which rests the ultimate responsibility for the selection of materials for the Nevada County Libraries. The responsibility for the actual selection of materials lies with the professional staff at the Library.

Weeding

The Library periodically discards materials from the collection if they are obsolete, outdated, physically worn or damaged. Multiple copies of an individual title may also be removed as demand wanes. 

Challenged Materials 

Any citizen may challenge materials. If the citizen chooses to submit a written Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials, Library staff will collect reviews and accumulate data on how the material conforms to the selection policy. An ad hoc review committee consisting of the Library Director, Branch Manager, one other librarian, and a citizen appointed at the discretion of the Library Director will review the material, judge whether it conforms to the Selection Policy and submit its report in writing to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors. Concerned parties will be notified of the final decision in writing.