This collection statement is a reflection of the Colfax Public Library’s long range planning process. The 2005-2008 Long Range Plan assumes an ongoing commitment to provide a basic collection to the community of Colfax and surrounding townships. With limited funding from both the Dunn County and the Colfax municipal, the emphasis on the Colfax PL’s collection is primarily popular and educational materials. The basic collection will cover a large range of subjects to help patrons find the information that they are looking for. The Collection Development Policy will cover objectives and background of the library collection, along with policies for selection and maintenance of the collection. This document is needed to provide the structure for building and maintaining an excellent collection for the Colfax community.

 

The purpose of the Long Range Plan is to guide present and future selectors in developing the collection to meet the needs of the Colfax community, as well as to explain the collection building principles and processes to staff and to the public. The LR Plan also outlines responsibilities of persons involved in selection and provides guidelines for special contingencies. It describes each area of the library’s collection and advocates specific future developments for them.

 

The estimated 2004 population for the village of Colfax in Dunn County is 1,153. Approximately 874 of the estimated population for the village of Colfax are of voting age. The village of Colfax is 17 miles southeast of Eau Claire and 15 miles southwest of Menomonie. Colfax elevation measures at 942 feet, while land area covers 1.4 miles. The median residential age is 40 years, while the median household is $31,118 and median house value is $65,700. Racial background includes White Non-Hispanic (97.7%), Hispanic (1.3%), two or more races (0.7%) and American Indian (0.5%).   Ancestries background for Colfax includes Norwegian (42.4%), German (35.9%), Irish (5.1%), English (4.3%), United States (3.2%), and French Canadian (2.6%). 

 

The Colfax School District currently serves 1,726 students, with a teaching/administrative staff of 70 and support staff of 34. There are two Universities in the Chippewa Valley, University of Wisconsin – Stout, Menomonie and University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. The Chippewa Valley Technical College is also located in both locations.

The county seat for Dunn County, Menomonie, is a flourishing community with an increasing industrial area. Median household income for Dunn County is $32,088, compared to the state level at $36,583. Listed on page 2, the population breakdown according to the 2000 U.S. Census data for Dunn County.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Colfax Public Library is the community center for educational resources, popular editions and AV materials for individuals of all ages. The library is a dependable source of reliable information and of challenging ideas that enlighten and enrich. Materials of assorted formats are available to the public to enhance leisure time and expand knowledge of current events. The library promotes and encourages the love of reading in children, young adults and adults and offers assistance to people in the areas of reference, computer skills, electronic resources, and recreational reading.

 

The general goals of the Colfax Public Library shall be:

 

 

The Director of the Colfax Public Library is responsible for the selection of library materials and resources chosen to fulfill the library goals (above), and also as outlined in the Long Range Plan. On some occasions the library staff may make selections for particular collections, but the Director delegates the authority to interpret and guide the Collection Development Policy selection decisions. Unusual problems are referred to the Director for resolution.

0    The selection of any material or resource does not constitute an endorsement.

0    The library recognizes that many materials and resources are controversial and could offend some patrons.

0    Selection decisions are not made on the basis of approval or disapproval, but on the merits of the work, collection needs and interest of a diverse public.

0    Selection decisions are not influenced by the possibility that material may be accessible to children. Responsibility for children’s use of the library materials and resources lies with their parents, legal guardians, or caretakers.

0    The Library selects materials of varying complexity and format because it serves a public embracing a wide range of ages, educational backgrounds, interests, sensory preferences, and reading skills.

 

The selector must consider each type of material in terms of its own kind of excellence and the audience for whom it is intended. No single standard can apply to all acquisition decisions. Some material may be selected primarily for artistic merit, value to humanity, while others may be chosen to satisfy the recreational and entertainment needs of the community.

 

Some library materials are subject to widespread and/or heavy local demand. These high-demand items may or may not meet the general and specific criteria contained in this policy. The selector gives serious consideration to the volume and nature of requests by members of the public. In addition, as the social and intellectual climate of the community changes, materials, which were not originally recommended for purchase, may become of interest. Such materials will be reevaluated as the need arises.

 

General Criteria

 

 

The Colfax Public Library selects materials for the collection based on demographic trends of the service population. The collection may change as the community changes, so this will assure patrons a variety on a regular basis. 

 

Collection development is concentrated in the following formats:

0    Books in print, including large print

0    Audio visuals, including cassette, compact discs, videocassettes in VHS format, DVD’s

0    CD-ROM, reference only

0    Periodicals

0    Newspapers

0    Limited governmental documents

 

This collection consists of selected best sellers and popular fiction chosen by the Director using patron requests or suggestions, reviews in professional journals, along with suggestions from library staff.

 

Wisconsin authors are purchased because of anticipated long-term circulation. Wisconsin authors are judged to be of long-term interest to library patrons not only for literary value, but for cultural and historical values as well.

 

Duplicate copies are rarely purchased because of space limitations. Once library patrons accept a new author’s works, the library will continue to purchase that author’s work, and consider purchasing earlier works. Paperbacks are generally not purchased, but rather are accepted by donations from the public. Only paperbacks in good clean condition will be accepted for the collection.

 

The same criteria and limitations are used for adult fiction. The Colfax Public Library has a strong collection in the following areas:

Gardening

Cookbooks

Home crafts & Home Decorating

Native Americans

Wisconsin Travel Guidebooks

 

The library uses EBSCO Periodical services to receive a collection of magazines for adults and children. The collection is carefully selected to reflect the interest of the Colfax community. The EBSCO contract is reviewed on an annual basis in order to make changes to magazine titles. Customer request are always accepted, but decisions of subscriptions must be approved by the Library Director, and in some cases, the Library Board. The library will accept donated magazine subscriptions, however, the magazine must be listed under the Colfax Public Library, and the donor must make annual payments directly to the magazine publisher. The library has the right to request cancellation of the donated magazine subscriptions due to lack of interest.

 

Back issues of magazines are kept by the library for 6 months and no longer, due to lack of shelf space or storage. Patrons interested in checking out earlier back issues can do so on the M.O.R. E website by placing a request and having the back issues sent to the library of their choice.

 

 

The library currently subscribes to the following newspapers:

Colfax Messenger

Dunn County News

USA Today

Leader Telegram

 

The library has a collection size of 600 + videos and DVDs. The collection is separated into three selections: Adult’s, Family and Children’s. Since storage space is limited, the video & DVD collection is weeded twice a year to make room for new titles. Movie ratings are listed on each title to help patrons make their selections. The library has a policy that states children under the age of twelve will not be allowed to checkout movies unless with a parent. Librarians will question younger children when movie choices are beyond their age appropriate level. The library staff will accept parent requests for their children’s movie selection, which can be noted on the child’s library account. For example; if a parent request their young child only checks out rated G or PG movies, the librarian will note this information on the child’s library card account. The library staff will do its best to abide by the parent requests, but under certain circumstances, the library staff will not be responsible for mistakes on behalf of the child. The public library is currently not required to lawfully stop anyone from checking out movie selections, but the library will make an attempt to redirect children’s selections when needed.

 

This collection mainly consists of fiction titles of various genres, with some non-fiction titles of interest. Children under the age of 12 will not be allowed to checkout audio books. In situations where a cassette or CD is damaged while checked-out to the patron, the library will assess the damage and may charge a fee if mistreatment of the material is apparent. When the patron borrows the item from another library, it is the owning library’s choice to bill the patron. In most cases the owning MORE member library will charge a replacement fee. It is the responsibility of the patron to pay the replacement fee to the owning library, or payment can be made to the Colfax Public Library, where as, the Colfax Public library will send the payment directly to the owning library.

 

The Colfax Public library has a small collection of diverse music CDs, with earlier selections donated to the library by the music industry through a lawsuit settlement in 2004. Music purchases will be made based on community interest. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to checkout music CDs.

 

Materials in the Reference collection do not circulate due to material costs and availability to customers on a daily need. Reference materials are also used by the library staff to help answer reference questions on a daily bases. Patrons are welcomed to use reference materials in the library for as long as they need. Items of interest in the Reference selections are as follows: Encyclopedia sets (published within 10 years),

Almanacs, fact books, statistics, local telephone directories, medical guide books, Dunn County history, plat maps, atlases

 

The library has a large collection of Colfax history dating back to the late 1800’s. These materials consist mainly of old newspaper clippings, photographs, and locally published books. The library also has a large selection of photographs of the 1958 Colfax Tornado, along with audiotape of a live radio station broadcast, copied to a CD. All of these items may not leave the library or circulate to other libraries. These items are also not currently cataloged, but mainly stored in boxes, easily accessible to patrons. 

 

The children’s collection consists of storybooks for children ages 1 to 6 years old. Materials are selected according to author works, literary and artistic merits, content and vocabulary intended for young children. This collection of children’s books is listed with an E, denoted Easy Reader. For this specific collection, the library participates in the Libri Book grant program for small rural libraries. This grant foundation awards free children’s books to public libraries that meet the qualifications. The Colfax Public Library may submit a Libri grant by the Library Director, every third year.

 

The Juvenile collection consists of both fiction and non-fiction titles located in the Juvenile area, with an + indicating a Juvenile book, along with the first three letters of the authors name listed on the spine label. The Juvenile collection is selected for children ages 7 to 12 with selections and purchases based on interests, backgrounds, reading skills and developmental levels.

 

The Young Adult collection consists of reading materials for teenagers between the ages of 13 to 18 years old. Books in this collection will be listed with a ‘YA” on the spine label. This collection of books is located in a separate area away from Juvenile materials. The Young Adult collection is popular with the area high school students and consists only of popular fiction titles. The YA area was created by the Teen Advisory Board to promote a leisure area for high school students that enjoy reading and spending time with friends.

 

The large print collection consists of books for adults with vision impairment. Text size is large and easier to read with a choice of hardcover and softcover. The titles in the library’s large print collection are primarily fiction. Selection and purchases are based on genre interest and discounted prices from booksellers. Since this collection is costly to build upon, books are ordered on a limited schedule. Monetary donations are frequently used to purchase new large print titles.

 

Library materials are not marked or identified to show approval or disapproval of the contents, however, some library items will be labeled to illustrate issues, such as, parental ratings for movies. Signage is used throughout the library to help find the many different collections.

 

The library will reconsider any material in its collection upon written request of a patron, who follows the steps below:

 

 

The Library accepts gifts of materials, but reserves the right to evaluate them in accordance with the criteria applied to purchase materials. Gifts, which do not comply with the Library’s objectives and policies, may be refused. Materials not added to the collection will be placed in the Library’s ongoing book sale in the hallway of the Municipal building. The Library does not accept gifts of used textbooks, Reader’s Digest Condensed Books, Encyclopedia sets, National Geographic magazines and damaged or dirty materials.

Donated gifts such as photographs, artwork, historical items, office equipment, furniture or children’s items will be accepted or rejected on the basis of suitability to the library’s mission, décor, and availability of space for display, as well as the understanding that the library has the authority to make whatever disposition is deemed advisable, which may include sale, transfer to another agency, and so forth. Once donated, items become the property of the Colfax Public Library.

 

A receipt will be given to the individual donating approved items to the library. 

 

Requirement of special housing or special handling of any item proposed as a gift may render it unacceptable. 

 

 

Monetary gifts for materials are welcome. Suggestions will be accepted from the donor for purchase of materials in designated areas of interest. Gifts of money or materials may be designated as memorials or honorariums. The Library may impose no other conditions relating to any gift either before or after its acceptance.

 

An agreement was established with the Colfax Woman’s Club that any of their donated library items pulled from the Colfax Public Library collection would be offered back to the Colfax Woman’s Club. This applies only to the Colfax Woman’s Club.

 

The purpose of Interlibrary Loan is to make available to users a wide range of materials and information, which cannot be provided on site. The Colfax Public Library will frequently analyze its collections to determine if there are gaps in particular areas

 

The Colfax Public Library recognizes the need for continuous evaluation of its collections in response to the changing nature and needs of its community; this collection maintenance is accomplished through the weeding, replacement, rebinding, repair, and duplication of its titles. Maintenance of the collection requires the same study and attention as initial selection.

 

Materials that no longer meet the stated objectives of the Library will be discarded according to accepted professional practices. The following will be considered when withdrawing materials: physical condition, dated information, availability, permanent value, roles of each Library agency, and user demand. Materials withdrawn from the library collection may be offered to other libraries, to the Friends of the Library, book sales or may be disposed of by other means. 

 

 

The Library Director and library staff examines on a weekly basis items identified by the customers as worn and/or in need of mending. After examination and after consideration of collection needs and circulation rates, the Director or staff designates each item for mending, rebinding, withdrawal, or withdrawal and replacement. These designations are also necessary in the weeding process. Generally, action is necessary for items that have missing parts or pages, loose bindings, obvious spoilage odors, torn cassette tapes, torn covers and packaging, or split cover edges. 

 

Titles in any format withdrawn because of loss, damage, or wear are not automatically replaced. Replacement is considered according to this selection policy and in relation to adequate coverage in a specific subject area, availability of more current or better titles, demand for the title, and number of copies held. Gifts, including memorial items, are subject to this same replacement policy.

In the case of repeated theft and damage, certain materials may be housed behind the Circulation desk when the Library Director has determined necessary. The Library Director may designate titles as Vulnerable after a minimum of two known thefts. When an item has been stolen more than twice, the Library Director may make the decision at her or his discretion whether to remove the item from the collection or not.

 

The Library does not attempt to acquire textbooks or other local curriculum-related materials except when such materials would also serve the general public. In some situations adding elementary or secondary textbooks best develops the collection in such subject areas as math, physics, chemistry and psychology, since there may be little material in any other format and may add substantially to the collection. In this case, the Library Director will make this decision.

 

The Library Board will review this policy at least every two years.

 

The Library Board Trustees serve on the board for a length of three years. Trustees receive no compensation, except for mileage or authorized expenses incurred in performing their duties. The Library Board, however, will honor long-standing Trustees who choose to resign their library board position after their three year term or longer, with a $40.00 gift certificate. Library Board Trustees, who serve less than a three-year term, will be given a thank-you card as recognition for years served.

 

 Appendix A

 

 

Wisconsin Public Library Standards define four recommended service targets, representing four levels of effort-basic, moderate, enhanced and excellent. The Colfax Public Library has chosen to strive for the Moderate level in the library collection. Future funding from both Dunn County & the Colfax Municipal will help determine our success in achieving the desired collection level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Appendix B

The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.

 

 

Adopted June 18, 1948. Amended February 2, 1961, June 27, 1967, and January 23, 1980, inclusion of “age reaffirmed January 23, 1996, by the ALA Council

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A joint statement by: American Library Association & Association of American Publishers

 

Subsequently endorsed by:

 

 

 

The FREEDOM TO VIEW, along with the freedom to speak, to hear, and to read, is protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In a free society, there is no place for censorship of any medium of expression. Therefore these principles are affirmed:

This statement was originally drafted by the Freedom to View Committee of the American Film and Video Association (formerly the Educational Film Library Association) and was adopted by the AFVA Board of Directors in February 1979. This statement was updated and approved by the AFVA Board of Directors in 1989.

 

As members of the American Library Association, we recognize the importance of codifying and making known to the profession and to the general public the ethical principles that guide the work of librarians, other professionals providing information services, library trustees and library staffs.

 

Ethical dilemmas occur when values are in conflict. The American Library Association Code of Ethics states the values to which we are committed, and embodies the ethical responsibilities of the profession in this changing information environment.

 

We significantly influence or control the selection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information. In a political system grounded in an informed citizenry we are members of a profession explicitly committed to intellectual freedom and the freedom of access to information. We have a special obligation to ensure the free flow of information and ideas to present and future generations.

 

The principles of this Code are expressed in broad statements to guide ethical decision-making. These statements provide a framework; they cannot and do not dictate conduct to

cover particular situations.

 

 

I. We provide the highest level of service to all library users through appropriate and usefully organized resources; equitable service policies; equitable access; and accurate, unbiased, and

courteous responses to all requests.
II. We uphold the principles of intellectual freedom and resist all efforts to censor library resources.
III. We protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted.

IV. We recognize and respect intellectual property rights.
V. We treat co-workers and other colleagues with respect, fairness and good faith, and advocate conditions of employment that safeguard the rights and welfare of all employees of our
institutions.
VI. We do not advance private interests at the expense of library users, colleagues, or our employing institutions.

VII. We distinguish between our personal convictions and professional duties and do not allow our personal beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims of our institutions or the provision
of access to their information resources.
VIII. We strive for excellence in the profession by maintaining and enhancing our own knowledge and skills, by encouraging the professional development of co-workers, and by fostering the
aspirations of potential members of the profession.

Adopted by the ALA Council June 28, 1995 1