Purpose

The purpose of the Collection Development Policy of the Peotone Public Library District (PPLD) is to establish guiding principles for the curation of the Library’s collection.  The Library aims to build and maintain a well-balanced collection of print and non-print materials.  The collection is designed to meet the informational, cultural, and recreational needs of our patrons; the goal of the Peotone Public Library District is to help the public connect, discover, and grow, and we cultivate a collection of materials to connect patrons to thousands of years of human creativity and knowledge, help the public discover their curiosity, and grow their intellectual aliveness in the ways they seek to develop through lifelong learning, creativity, and community. 
 

In order to achieve our purpose, the Board of Trustees of the Peotone Public Library District has adopted the American Library Association’s (ALA) Library Bill of Rights and the American Library Association Freedom to Read and Freedom to View Statements.  (See Appendices A, B, and C.)  
 

Moreover, since the Library is a public institution with limited resources, it is important that materials be selected with intention, guided by this policy, in an inclusive, judicious and fiscally responsible manner. Selectors will take into consideration many factors when for purchase, removal, and maintenance of the collection such as but not limited to anticipated or existing patron demand, reputation and skill of the author, reviews in established review media, existing holdings in the subject area, availability of the materials from other sources, and price.   
 

While the Library may develop a deep and thorough collection in one or more subjects, overall the collection as a whole must be planned so that all subject areas are adequately covered through sound selection practices. Due to space and funding limitations, materials of a highly technical or professional nature cannot be systematically acquired nor will we retain materials simply as an archival practice as our space is limited, along with our funds, and in general the collection must seek to serve a wide, inclusive and diverse array of our community’s interests. Patron demand will be weighed heavily when considering materials but materials outside the scope of the library’s collection may be obtained through interlibrary loan or other avenues as well.  The public library serves a broad area with a diverse community, and selection of materials cannot benefit one patron or group to the exclusion of others. 
 

Responsibility of Selection 

Responsibility for collection development rests with the Library director who operates within this framework of policies determined by the Board of Library Trustees. Under the Library director’s direction, members of the professional staff who are qualified by training may participate in selection, ordering, maintenance, and withdrawal of library materials.  

It is the duty of the staff to acquire materials which meet our patrons’ needs even though the materials may present views contrary to personal beliefs of staff members, Library board members, community organizations, or individuals. In accordance with Illinois law, no employee may be disciplined or dismissed for the selection of library materials when the selection is made in good faith and in accordance with this written Collection Development Policy (75 ILCS 5/4-7/2).

Suggestions for materials to be purchased are always welcome from any patrons, including trustees and also staff; patrons are encouraged to make suggestions by filling out a “Materials Request Form” form at the circulation desk or on our website.

 

Criteria for Selection

1. Materials are selected to fulfill the roles established by the Peotone Public Library District Board of Trustees. The following criteria serve as guidelines: 

• Popular demand, expressed or anticipated

• Patron requests

• Intrinsic value or quality of work, including factual accuracy and authoritativeness of content, comprehensiveness of treatment, style, clarity of expression, and creativity 

• National, state or local awards or nominations

• Reviews of the material from professional and/or popular sources (such as Library Journal, Booklist, Horn Book or popular social media platforms reviewing materials)

• Importance of a work in adding balance or filling gaps in the collection

• Relevance to community interests, needs, and languages spoken 

• Authority of the author in the field 

• Representation of varying points of view 

• Budgetary and space constraints

• Format or production quality

• Availability of the item for purchase

• Availability of the same or similar material at neighboring libraries or through interlibrary loan
   

2.  Selection of materials is made on the basis of the values and interests of all the people in the library district. Since all political, religious and social opinions should be represented in a public library, no group or individual will be allowed to impose partisan emphasis on the collection, and as such the library seeks to support the intellectual freedom of all our patrons.  No material will be excluded because of the race, nationality, religion, or political or social views of the author. The library does not advocate a particular viewpoint, simply because a title was selected for the collection.

3.  No titles are excluded from the collection solely because the frankness of presentation might be offensive to some nor because the material might not be suitable for all levels. High interest materials of questionable long-term value are included in the collection and may be withdrawn once they have served their purpose. Literary merit is not a necessary criterion for high interest materials.

4.  When available, all materials which contain a significant amount of information about the library district area written by a resident of the district will be acquired.
 

Censorship

1. The Board of Trustees believes that censorship is an individual matter and declares that, while anyone is free to reject for themselves materials of which they do not approve, they cannot exercise this right of censorship to restrict the freedom of others.
    

2. The Library selects appropriate material for each age group. Special collections serve the needs and interests of children of preschool, elementary and junior high age.
    

3. There are no age restrictions on the borrowing of library materials. The responsibility of monitoring library material used by minors rests with the parent or guardian, and library staff cannot serve in loco parentis.
    

4. The Library Board of Trustees upholds the principle of the Freedom to Read and declares that whenever censorship is involved, no material will be removed from the library except under the orders of a court of competent jurisdiction. The principles on which this policy is based are expressed in the “Library Bill of Rights”, adopted by the American Library Association (ALA), and as amended by the ALA Council, and the following interpretations by the ALA Council: Challenged Materials, Evaluating Library Collections, Exhibit Spaces and Meeting Rooms, Expurgation of Library Materials, Free Access to Libraries for Minors, Restricted Access to Library Materials, and Statement on Labeling, copies of which are incorporated herein or attached.
    

5. Patrons with complaints concerning specific library materials will be provided with a copy of the Collection Development Policy of the Peotone Public Library District and asked to complete a copy of the “Request for Reconsideration of Materials”. Upon receipt of said request the Director will review the form and make an appointment with the patron for a consultation regarding the material. Should the consultation not rectify the problem, the Director will bring the matter to the attention of the Library Board of Trustees for their consideration. The complainant must be a PPLD patron in good standing.

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Donations

1. Gifts of books and other materials will be accepted periodically by the Library with the understanding that these articles are given unconditionally and become the property of the library. The library reserves the right to add the item to the collection, donate it to another institution or dispose of it in any other manner.
    

2. Gifts of money, real property, and stocks and bonds are encouraged and are most useful to the library in unrestricted form. Any restrictions or conditions attached to such gifts must apply to the mission and roles of the library and be acceptable to the Board of Trustees.
    

3. Personal property, art objects, memorial or commemorative objects, displays or plaques, portraits, artifacts, antiques, museum objects and similar materials are generally not accepted as gifts by the library. Under certain circumstances the library may accept such a gift if all conditions are approved by the Board of Trustees.
    

4. The library will not accept any materials which are not outright gifts, nor will the library accept any materials that attach the condition of periodic or permanent display.
    

5. No valuation or appraisals shall be made by the library staff on any potential or actual gifts to the library. A gift receipt form is available upon request.

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Withdrawal of Material

The collection will be periodically examined for the purpose of discarding materials so as to maintain a balanced, timely, and attractive collection.
 

Materials which no longer meet the stated objectives of the library will be discarded according to accepted professional practices as described in the publication, the CREW Manual. Disposal of all library materials will be at the discretion of the Library Director and designated selectors.
 

Items may also be discarded if the items become worn, tattered or defaced.
 

Review of Policy

The Collection Management Policy will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees on a biennial basis.
 

Ratified: April 15, 2014

Amended: February 19, 2019

Last Amended January 15, 2026