Collection Development Policy
A. Introduction
The Freeman Public Library provides free services to residents of Freeman and surrounding areas, partnering with local libraries and the South Dakota State Library to offer a diverse range of resources. This policy supports our mission to meet the community's informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs.
B. Selection Statement
1. General Statement
The library aims to acquire high-quality, lasting, and relevant materials within budget limits, guided by community needs.
2. Responsibilities
The library director oversees resource selection within policies set by the board of trustees, incorporating input from board members and users.
3. Criteria for Selection
In compliance with South Dakota law, the library does not collect materials found to violate Section 22-24-27(11).
Resources are chosen based on:
Key review sources include Booklist, Library Journal, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, and School Library Journal. Bibliographies like Public Library Catalog also guide selection.
5. Age of Clientele
D. Library WebsiteThe Freeman Public Library website provides access to "South Dakota Titles to Go," our online catalog, electronic resources, and curated subject-focused sites recommended by our staff. While linked sites meet our selection standards, the Library has no control over their content and does not endorse them. We also cannot guarantee that our website, its server, or any external links are free of viruses or harmful components.
E. Intellectual Freedom and Controversial MaterialThe Library supports the right of all members of the community to have free and equal access to the entire range of library resources, regardless of content, approach, format, or amount of detail. The Library upholds and affirms the right of each individual to have access to constitutionally protected materials and also affirms the right and responsibility of parents/guardians to determine and monitor their children's use of Library materials and resources.
F. Requests for Material Addition or Removal
Patrons may formally request material addition or removal. The library director reviews requests per policy, with appeals directed to the Library Board.
Criteria for Requesting Reconsideration of Library Materials:
The Freeman Public Library provides free services to residents of Freeman and surrounding areas, partnering with local libraries and the South Dakota State Library to offer a diverse range of resources. This policy supports our mission to meet the community's informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs.
B. Selection Statement
1. General Statement
The library aims to acquire high-quality, lasting, and relevant materials within budget limits, guided by community needs.
2. Responsibilities
The library director oversees resource selection within policies set by the board of trustees, incorporating input from board members and users.
3. Criteria for Selection
In compliance with South Dakota law, the library does not collect materials found to violate Section 22-24-27(11).
Resources are chosen based on:
- Author authority and subject relevance
- Collection value and demand
- Timeliness or lasting significance
- Budget and availability
- Format suitability and existing library availability
Key review sources include Booklist, Library Journal, Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, and School Library Journal. Bibliographies like Public Library Catalog also guide selection.
5. Age of Clientele
- Children: For preschool–grade 2; includes easy readers, board books, and audiobooks.
- Juvenile: For grades 2–5; includes non-fiction and chapter books.
- Young Adults: For grades 6–12; fiction tailored to adolescent needs.
- Parents/guardians oversee minors' choices.
- Adults: Diverse resources for general interests, with additional academic resources accessible regionally.
- Weeding: Outdated, damaged, or low-demand items are systematically removed.
- Duplication: Limited to high-demand materials across collections.
- Replacement: Considered for highly-used items based on demand and new availability.
- Binding/Rebinding: Determined by item condition, relevance, and cost efficiency.
- Paperback, Large Print, and Periodicals: Selected to meet community needs.
- Interlibrary Loan: Available for items not in our collection, with associated costs borne by patrons.
- Non-Print Materials: Includes DVDs, CD audiobooks, and educational resources.
- Electronic Resources: Selected with the same criteria as the general collection.
D. Library WebsiteThe Freeman Public Library website provides access to "South Dakota Titles to Go," our online catalog, electronic resources, and curated subject-focused sites recommended by our staff. While linked sites meet our selection standards, the Library has no control over their content and does not endorse them. We also cannot guarantee that our website, its server, or any external links are free of viruses or harmful components.
E. Intellectual Freedom and Controversial MaterialThe Library supports the right of all members of the community to have free and equal access to the entire range of library resources, regardless of content, approach, format, or amount of detail. The Library upholds and affirms the right of each individual to have access to constitutionally protected materials and also affirms the right and responsibility of parents/guardians to determine and monitor their children's use of Library materials and resources.
F. Requests for Material Addition or Removal
Patrons may formally request material addition or removal. The library director reviews requests per policy, with appeals directed to the Library Board.
Criteria for Requesting Reconsideration of Library Materials:
- The person submitting the request must be a Freeman taxpayer. Those residing outside the city limits must hold an active library card with the Freeman Public Library to be eligible to submit a Request for Reconsideration.
- Reconsideration may be requested only once per title.
- Individuals are limited to submitting requests for up to three titles per calendar year.