Materials Selection Policy

Selections for the library will be made with the following objectives in mind:

  1. The purpose of the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library is to provide all individuals in the community with carefully selected books and other materials to aid the individual in the pursuit of self education, reliable information, research, pleasure, and the creative use of leisure time. It is the library's goal to cooperate with educational, civic, and cultural groups and organizations to promote general welfare of the community.

  2. Because of the volume of publishing, as well as the limitations of budget ans space, the library must have a Materials Selection Policy

  3. The Materials Selection Policy is used by the library director in the selection of materials and also serves to acquaint the general public with the principles of selection.

  4. The Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to REad Statement have been endorsed by the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library’s Board of Trustees and are an integral part of the policy.

  5. The Materials Selection Policy, like all other policies, will be reviewed and/or revised as the need arises.

Responsibility for Selection

The ultimate responsibility for selection of library material rests with the library director whom operates within the framework of the policies determined by the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library Board of Trustees


Criteria for Selection

  1. The main points to be considered in the selection of materials are:

    1. Reliability of information

    1. Timeless and permanent value

    2. Integrity of author and publisher

    3. Popular appeal and/or demand

    4. Existing library holdings

    5. Budget

    6. Suitability of material for the needs of the community

    7. Good quality binding and paper for performance to the collection

    Reviews are a major source of information about new materials. The primary sources of reviews are Booklist, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, School Library Journal, Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), Kirkis and award winners, and reviews on the internet.

  2. The lack of a review or an unfavorable review shall not be the sole reason for rejecting a title which is in demand. Consideration is, therefore, given to requests from library patrons and books discussed on public media. Materials are judged on the basis of the work as a whole, not on a part taken out of context.



Interlibrary Loan

Because of limited budget and space, the library cannot provide all materials that are requested. Therefore, interlibrary loan is used to obtain from other libraries those materials that are beyond the scope of this library’s collection.

In return for utilizing interlibrary loan to satisfy the needs of our patrons, the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library agrees to lend its material to other libraries through the same interlibrary loan network, and to make an effort to have its current holdings listed on WISCAT, a tool that is accessible by other libraries throughout the state.


Gifts and Donations

  1. The library accepts gifts of books and other materials that are in good to excellent condition, with the understanding they will be added to the collection only if appropriate and needed. If they are not needed, the director can add them to the friends of the  Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library book sales. The same criteria of selection which are applied to purchase material, are applied to gifts. Memorials of money are accepted. Book selection will be made by the director if no specific book is requested. The  Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library encourages and appreciates gifts and donations.

  2. By law the library is not allowed to appraise the value of donated materials, though it can provide an acknowledgement of receipt of the items if requested by the donor.


Potential Challenges or Problems

  1. The  Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library recognizes some materials are controversial and that any given item may offend some patrons. Selection of materials will not be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval, but solely on the basis of the principles stated in this policy.

  2. Parents or legal guardians have the responsibility of selecting any materials that their children may borrow. Selection of library materials will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may come into the possession of children.

  3. Library materials will not be marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of their contents, and no library material will be sequestered except to protect it from damage or theft.

  4. Although materials are carefully selected, differences of opinion regarding suitable materials can arise. Patrons requesting that material be withdrawn/restricted within the collection may complete a “Statement of Concern” form which is available from the director. The inquiry will be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the  Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library Board of Trustees

  5. Once the statement of concern has been received, the Library Director will compile support documents within 7 days to present to the patron issuing the complaint.  If the patron wants to proceed with the process of review, the library board will then be given 2 weeks to review the material in question and the supporting documents.  The formal review process will take place at the next board meeting. Until the review is completed the materials will remain in library collection.

  6. An item will be considered for review once in a 12 month period unless there is a new concern with the same book.



Approved by the Board of Trustees
of the Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library

Approved 8/18/21

Policy revised 8/3/23

Policy revised 8/15/23

Policy revised 10/4/23

Statement of Concern revised 11/29/23

Statement of Concern


The trustees of Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library have established a materials selection policy. Completion of this form is the first step in that procedure. If you wish to request reconsideration of a resource, please return the completed form to the library director.

Evelyn Goldberg Briggs Memorial Library

68235 S. Main St.

P. O. Box 145

Iron River, WI 54847

Date__________________________

Name_________________________

Address________________________

City______________ State/Zip_________________

Phone_____________ Email_____________________

Do you represent yourself?______ Or an organization?_________ Name of Organization____________

  1. Resource on which you are commenting:

___Book (e-Book)  ___Movie ______Magazine ______ Audio Recording

___Digital Resource ___Game ____Newspaper ____Other


Title____________________

Author/Producer_________________


1.) What brought this to your attention?

________________________________


2.) Have you examined the entire resource? If not, what sections did you review?


______________________________________________________________________


3.) How do you feel this resource fails to comply with our Material Selection Policy? 

_____________________________________________________________________


4.) What action are you requesting the committee consider?


_____________________________________________________________________


(I acknowledge that this document will become a public record as soon as it is received by Library staff.-possible addition in December 2023)