Collection Development Policy

Standards for selection of Book Collection

All books are selected because of their probable value to the community and their relationship to other materials in the library's collection.  

The library respects the individual's right to free inquiry on any subject.  There should be the fullest practicable provisions of material presenting all points of view concerning the problems and issues of our times; international, national, and local.

Donations to the Reynolds County Library District will be considered on the same basis as any material purchased by the library.  Textbooks will be kept only as a need is evident for retaining them.  Textbooks will become library property and can be sold.  Book selection is made from recognized review sources, especially in the categories of children's and young adult titles. 

The library board and Librarians believe that the right to read is an important part of the intellectual freedom that is basic to democracy, and hereby adopts the two basic documents of official library policy: The Library Bill of Rights  and  the Freedom to Read Statement.

Adult Materials

Adult books are selected for the mature reader.  Under no circumstances will they be judged on their suitability for children and young people.  Adult fiction is selected for its appeal to members of the community, and for their literary quality.  The library will attempt to provide a wide selection of standard fiction titles as defined in such recognized bibliographies as the Fiction Catalog; A good reading; etc. In addition to the standard fiction as defined above, the library purchases the best current titles including some material which is above average in quality but which will not be of lasing interest.

Fiction, such as mysteries, westerns, science fiction, and light love stories are bought in limited quantities of representative titles. 

Adult non-fiction is bought for its values of interest, information, and enlightenment of all the people of the county.

In no case is any book excluded because of the race or nationality or the political or religious views of the writer.

In view of the excellent library resources available through the practice of inter-library loan, the purchase of scientific and technical material is limited to those areas of knowledge which are of importance to sizable portions of the community.  

Materials for Children and Young People

Book Selection for Young Adults

The ultimate aim of library work with young adults is to contribute to the development of well-rounded citizens alert to the problems of the community, the country, and the world.  To this end, readable adult titles are selected that are keyed to the young adult's needs and interests, as well as books that will tend to open up new interests to the young person.  Titles written specifically for young adults are naturally included.  Since teenage readers vary widely in ability and background the books selected for them will of necessity vary in content and reading difficulty.  All titles are, however, purchased in the hope that they will lead to continued reading in adult fields on as high a level as possible for each individual.

Book Selection for Children

The basic policy of book selection for children is to buy the best new books and to replace and duplicate older titles which have proved their value.  Selection covers all fields--books for recreational reading; inspirational books of lasting value; books of information covering a wide range of knowledge which will satisfy the children's natural curiosity and widen their interests.  In selecting books for children, abridgements and simplified versions of classic literature will be avoided.  Also, avoided will be titles that fall into the cheaper series. 

Newspaper Material

Newspapers can be obtained on microfiche through the State Historical Society in Columbia, Missouri, and need not be retained by the Reynolds County Library District. 

*Most of our libraries keep local newspapers going back about 1 year.  If you are looking for something fairly recent, the library may be able to help.