The Carpinteria Community Library Materials Selection and Maintenance Policy supports the library’s mission to cultivate community and advance equity and social justice by welcoming all people to experience the shared joys of literacy and learning.
The public library serves as a center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas. Library materials are provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment all people, and present diverse points of view in the collection as a whole. The Carpinteria Community Library celebrates the diversity of our community regardless of race, religion, creed, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, citizenship, or housing status, by providing library materials and services that reflect and strengthen that diversity. Exposure to the diversity of human experience can expand a person’s capacity for understanding and acceptance. To this end, the library commits to continually building a collection that reflects and amplifies the mosaic of human identity and experience.
Our library actively addresses changing community needs by providing equitable access to topical and relevant materials and information services for children and adults in a professional, helpful manner. In support of this mission, the library selects and organizes materials to provide maximum accessibility, to anticipate and meet the diverse and complex needs of community members, and to encourage new users to partake of Library services.
Our library has a positive approach to selection and acknowledges the right of the public to receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral and other ideas and experiences even though the content may be controversial, unorthodox, or unacceptable to others. The library adheres to and supports the principles of intellectual freedom as stated in the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Riqhts.
Guidelines
- The library considers all acquisitions in terms of community demand and interest, depth and breadth of the collection, ability to meet the needs of the community, timeliness, importance to the collection, enduring value, cost, format, availability of identical or similar material elsewhere in the geographical area and/or Black Gold Cooperative Library System, and published or staff reviews.
- The collection meets the broad and diverse interests of the community and respects the library’s autonomy and their specific community needs.
- Selection of library materials responds to changing social values, inequitable access to technology within the community, and cultural differences and values, as well as the reading and language abilities of the community.
- The library purchases materials in a variety of physical and digital formats, including those that make the collection more accessible to people with disabilities.
- The library acknowledges the experience of historically marginalized people and groups in response to discrimination in its many forms over time, and the library supports the goals of uplifting community voices. An inclusive and representative library collection is one means of advancing those ideals. The library seeks to provide materials that represent the diversity of perspectives within and across these populations.
- The library purchases materials in languages spoken by a significant portion of community residents, with an emphasis on English and Spanish, with other languages purchased as needs are identified and resources are available.
- The library welcomes purchase suggestions from community members, and purchases suggested items whenever possible, depending on budget limitations, availability, and competing community demands.
- The library does not approve or disapprove of views expressed in materials in the collection, or endorse items included in the collection. The library makes selections based on their merits in relation to building the collection and serving the needs and interests of community members, and in accordance with this policy.
- The library affirms both the right and the responsibility of parents and legal guardians to guide their children’s reading / viewing access in accordance with individual family beliefs. The library does not act in the place or role of a parent or guardian in the supervision or restriction of children’s use of Library materials.
- The library appreciates gifts of materials and of money to purchase materials. Gifts of books and other items are accepted with the understanding that they may be used or disposed of as the library determines is appropriate. Before adding gifts to the collection, they will be evaluated according to the same criteria as purchased materials.
- The library regularly removes materials that are outdated, worn, no longer used, or updated by newer editions. Any materials that are in unusable condition will be recycled. Selected materials are donated to The Friends of the Carpinteria Library, to raise funds through book sales to support the library’s collection and programs.
- The City Librarian is responsible for the selection and maintenance of library materials and may, at their sole discretion, delegate specific selection and maintenance functions to other library staff.
Collection Review
As part of Carpinteria Community Library’s commitment to reflect the information needs of the community in its collection development process, the library recognizes the right of individuals to question the inclusion of materials in the library collection. The library will give serious consideration to each local resident’s opinion.
- lndividuals with concerns about material in the library collection may ask Library staff about such material. Library staff will give the patron a copy of this policy and provide them the opportunity to express their concerns to the staff person in charge or the City Librarian.
- lndividuals who wish to formally express concern about library materials may state their opinion in writing on a form provided by the library. In order to maintain focus on local community needs and perspectives, forms will only be accepted from residents in the Carpinteria Community Library service area.
- The form must be sent to the City Librarian.
- The City Librarian will review the concern, determine whether the material was appropriately selected and made accessible under this policy, and communicate the final determination to the concerned individual in writing. Once a decision is made to retain or remove a particular title, the library will not review that title again for a period of five years.
Updated: January 2025