Collection Development Policy

Approved 03-16-2026

1. Overview

a. Purpose of Policy

The primary goal of the Lake Bluff Library’s collection is to meet the diverse informational and recreational needs of the Lake Bluff community. To help meet that goal, a collection development policy is written to establish standards and frame works to guide the ongoing maintenance and development of the Library collection. These standards and frameworks are intended to be useful for Library patrons, the Board ofTrustees, and the Library staff. To ensure that the policy remains relevant, accurate and in accordance with 75 ILCS 16/30-60, the Board will review this policy at least every two years.

b. Parameters of the Collection

The Library offers access to physical and digital materials. The collection includes materialsfor adults, teens, and children in a variety of genres and formats.

The Library participates in the Digital Library of Illinois consortium and shares access todigital titles. The Library also purchases digital titles for the exclusive use of Lake Bluffcardholders.

2. Selection

The Library Board of Trustees approves the Collection Development Policy and the materialsbudget as proposed by the Library Director. The Library Director is responsible for theimplementation of the Collection Development Policy and oversees the selection of materials.The Library Director is assisted by professional librarians and other staff who have been trainedin accepted principles of materials selection, including methods for meeting the needs,interests, and abilities of Library patrons. No employee may be disciplined or dismissed for theselection of Library materials when the selection is made in good faith and in accordance withthis policy (75 ILCS 16/30-60).

Staff who oversee collection development are responsible for reviewing, evaluating, andselecting materials for their assigned collections. This includes the addition of new titles, as wellas the replacement of damaged or missing items. Materials are selected and evaluated based onthe following criteria:

• Relevance to the educational, recreational, and informational interests and needs of the community
• Current or potential demand
• Local significance of the subject or author
• Cost of the item and funds remaining in the collection budget
• Availability of item for purchase
• Reputation of the author, publisher, or producer (no material will be excluded becauseof the race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, political or doctrinal beliefs,or personal history of an author, artist, or publisher)
• Suitability of format for Library circulation and use
• Space considerations

Staff who oversee collection development use a variety of selection tools to evaluate materialsfor purchase, including professional review journals and reputable online sources. Although thereputation of the author, publisher, or producer is considered as part of the selection process,this does not preclude the Library from acquiring self-published or independently publishedtitles, particularly if the title happens to be of local interest or significance.

Materials for children and teenagers are subject to the same selection criteria, but have theadditional goal of providing materials appropriate for a wide range of ages, learning styles, anddevelopmental phases. The Library does not assume the role of parents, guardians, or caregiversto guide children’s use of the Library or its materials, but instead strives to provide free andequitable access to a diverse range of library resources that is inclusive regardless of content,approach, or format.

3. Purchase Suggestions

Lake Bluff Public Library cardholders may suggest that the Library purchase specific titles for thecollection. Such suggestions are subject to the same selection criteria as other Library materialsand are forwarded to the appropriate collection manager for review.

4. Gifts

The Library may accept restricted monetary donations for the purchase of items in a specificsubject area or a specific title. Such donations are subject to the same selection criteria.

Monetary gifts are acknowledged with a letter from the Library Director on behalf of the Boardof Library Trustees. The letter will acknowledge that the specific gift or donation was given to anon-profit institution and that no goods or services were given in exchange for the gift. TheLibrary does not provide valuations of gifts or donations for tax deduction or other purposes.

5. Collection Maintenance

In order to ensure the continuing relevance and overall quality of the collection, withdrawal orde-selection is conducted on an ongoing basis throughout the year. Collection managers areresponsible for identifying materials to be withdrawn from the collection. Items are weeded andremoved based on the following criteria:

• Circulation statistics, including the last time the item circulated and overall frequency of use
• Space considerations
• Relevance to existing community interests and needs
• Poor condition or damage that impacts, or may prevent, usage
• Obsolete, inaccurate, or misleading information
• Availability of new editions or updated titles
• Duplicate copies of titles with less demand
• Availability through Interlibrary Loan
• Subject coverage in the collection

Withdrawn materials are redistributed or discarded in alignment with the Materials DisposalPolicy, and may be donated to local organizations, distributed via Little Free Libraries, or sold.Materials may be disposed of it they are damaged, moldy, or unusable

6. Intellectual Freedom

The Library’s collection is a community resource. It was created and developed to meet theunique needs of the Lake Bluff community. In order for the Library collection to thrive, itsmaterials must be freely accessible to all members of the community. Upholding intellectualfreedom in the Library collection is essential to this mission.

The Library affirms and upholds the principles established in the Freedom to Read and Freedomto View statements, and adopts the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, whichindicates that materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinaldisapproval. Pursuant to the Illinois Library System Act, 75 ILCS 10/1, et seq., and regulationspromulgated by the Illinois Secretary of State, 23 Ill. Adm. Code 3035, the Lake Bluff PublicLibrary has the freedom to acquire materials without external limitation and to be protectedagainst attempts to ban, remove, or otherwise restrict access to books or other materials. Theselection of materials cannot be restricted because of the possibility that someone may find atitle or topic objectionable. Similarly, an individual’s right to access the materials in the Librarycollection cannot be restricted or revoked because of another person’s definition of suitability.The Library does not restrict access to materials, nor does the Library act in loco parentis.

An individual or group may question the inclusion of a particular item in the collection or itsavailability to Library patrons. The Library welcomes the opportunity to address concerns andencourages open dialogue on such matters. However, the Library is opposed to the removal orcensorship of materials that meet the selection criteria for the collection as well as coercion toadd or purchase items that do not meet selection criteria.Individuals or groups with concerns about a particular title in the Library collection may fill out arequest for reconsideration form, which is available at the Library. This process is furtheraddressed in the Library’s policy manual, Request for Reconsideration policy.