Collection Development Policy
Collection Development Policy
The Placer County Library was created to serve all the people within the Library service
area, regardless of race, age, creed, or political persuasions. Within Placer County there
are individuals and groups with widely disparate and diverse interests, cultural
backgrounds, and needs. The Placer County Library, therefore, declares as a matter of
policy that:
The Collection Development Policy is based on and reflects the Library’s mission and the
goals and objectives stated in the current Placer County Library Strategic Plan. Library
materials in all formats, including print, audiovisual, electronic, and digital shall be
selected and retained in the Library on the basis of their value for the interest, information,
and enlightenment of all the people of Placer County in conformance with the Library’s
mission: “Placer County Library connects people and strengthens community for a better
future.”
In accordance with California State Law AB 1825, the Placer County Library affirms:
• That the collection meets the broad and diverse interests of the community and
respects both the library’s autonomy and their specific community needs.
• That the public library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination
of information and ideas.
• That library materials should be provided for the interest, information, and
enlightenment of all people, and should present diverse points of view in the
collection as a whole.
• The right of the public to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic,
moral, and other ideas and experiences.
In support of the Placer County Library mission, the Library Advisory Board has adopted
and adheres to:
Libraries: An American Value
The Library Bill of Rights
The Freedom to Read and the Freedom to View Statements
The American Library Association Resolution on Filtering
The Library Advisory Board, or any body designated to review the procurement,
retention, or circulation of, or access to, library materials, shall not proscribe or prohibit
the circulation or procurement of, or access to, any library material in a Placer County
Library location because of the topic addressed by the materials or because of the
views, ideas, or opinions contained in those materials.
Some of the factors which will be considered in adding to or removing materials from the
library collection shall include present collection composition, collection development
objectives, interest, demand, timeliness, audience, significance of subject, diversity of
viewpoint, effective expression, and limitation of budget and facilities. Local history
materials are inherently important and every effort will be made to maintain them
regardless of use. As the Library Strategic Plan states, the Placer County Library will
“continually update Library collections to promote reading, free choice learning,
entertainment and individual development.”
No library materials shall be excluded because of the race, nationality, political, religious,
or social views of the author. Not all materials will be suitable for all members of the
community.
The Library shall be responsive to public suggestion of titles and subjects to be included
in the library collection. Gifts of materials may be accepted with the understanding that
the same standards of selection are applied to gifts as to materials acquired by purchase,
and that any gifts may be discarded at the Library’s discretion.
The library collection shall be organized and maintained to facilitate access. As stated
in the Strategic Plan, library staff shall “treat the Library’s collection as a single countywide resource and explore innovative
ways to deliver and present materials in response to community needs and interests.” There shall be no prejudicial labeling,
sequestering, or alteration of materials
Selection is vested in the Director of Library Services, and under their direction, in
members of the staff who are qualified by reason of education and training. The Library
Advisory Board believes that reading, listening to, and viewing library materials are
individual, private matters. While one is free to select or to reject materials for oneself,
one cannot restrict the freedom of others to read, view, or inquire. Parents have the
primary responsibility to guide and direct the reading and viewing of their own minor
children. The Library does not stand “in loco parentis”. *
The Library Advisory Board recognizes the right of individuals to question materials in the
Library collection. A library customer questioning material in the collection is encouraged
to talk with designated members of the staff concerning such material. To formally state
his/her opinion and receive a written response, a customer must reside in Placer County
and may submit the Action Request Form provided for that purpose. Material that has
been questioned will remain in the active collection until the Library has made a
determination of its status. If the customer is not satisfied with the library staff response to
their concern, they may request that the Library Advisory Board address it. The Library
Advisory Board’s ruling is the final arbiter.
This policy shall relate only to materials retained by the library, including print,
audiovisual, digital, and electronic formats. Other information and materials available
on the internet are not part of the library collection.
*In place of a parent
_______________
Adopted by the Library Advisory Board 7/21/2004
Revised and Adopted by the Library Advisory Board 6/14/2007
Revised and Adopted by the Library Advisory Board 5/21/2025