Materials Policies

The selection of materials will be governed by the Mission statement and support the library’s areas of emphasis. To enable citizens to form their own opinions, the library will attempt to provide materials that present a variety of points of view. Due to the vast number of titles published and the limits of the library’s budget, Glen Ellyn Public Library cannot possibly purchase all materials published. Materials will be selected with consideration of the following factors.

• Interest to cardholders
• Relevancy and timeliness
• Readability and style
• Popularity of the author
• Authenticity of the information
• Authority of the author
• Physical features and formats
• Price
• Copyright date of the material

Opinions and judgments of experts, as well as of qualified book reviewers in library selection guides and national magazines, will provide a basis for selection.

Selection policies for specific collections are included in Collection Development Plans maintained by the Youth and Adult departments.

Requests to withdraw or restrict access to any library material or program shall be referred to the director of the department responsible for the material or program. If a discussion with the department director does not result in a satisfactory outcome, the requestor should be referred to the Executive Director.

If a discussion with the Executive Director does not produce a satisfactory outcome, a Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials or Programs may be submitted. The Executive Director will present Requests for Reconsideration of Library Materials or Programs to the Board of Trustees for consideration, and the Board will formally notify the requestor as to their action.

Because the Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials or Programs identifies the individual associated with the specified materials or programs, all information provided on the form will be maintained as confidential by the Glen Ellyn Public Library.

The determination of the library Board shall be final.

An up-to-date, attractive, and currently useful collection is maintained through a continual discarding and replacement process. Materials may be discarded when they have outlived their usefulness through one or more of the following factors.

• Physical deterioration
• Obsolete information
• Publication of superior materials on the same subject
• Lack of use

Additional Weeding criteria are defined by the Collection Development Plans maintained by the Youth and Adult departments.