The libraries purchase, within budgetary limitations, the best materials of both permanent and current interest in all subjects. The selection of library resources is a prime activity of the libraries and is based on the needs and requests of the communities that they serve.

Final responsibility for selection of all library materials rests with the Library Directors, who operate within the framework of policies determined by the Federation Board.

However, the Library Directors will delegate to the librarians involved in selection the authority to interpret the policy in making day-to-day decisions. Librarians at the main Centre County Library facility are responsible for selecting, evaluating and weeding materials for the branches and the bookmobile. Problems will be referred to the Directors for resolution. Suggestions from other staff members and library users are encouraged and seriously considered.

Those librarians selecting books and audiovisual materials draw upon their experience and knowledge of the available resources, the existing collection, and the community (its needs, demands, and other library holdings). The overall value of the material to the collection is the chief criterion for selection.

Factors considered in recommending library materials for purchase are:

1. The author’s authority and competence.

2. Importance of the subject matter to the collection.

3. Scarcity of material on the subject.

4. Timeliness or permanence of the item.

5. Appearance of the title in standard bibliographies or indexes.

6. Clarity and accuracy of presentation.

7. Reputation and standing of the publisher.

8. Budgetary considerations and price.

9. Suitability of format and price.

10. Availability of the material in other library collections in the area.

Printed reviews play an important role in the selection process. Since the libraries can afford only a small proportion of the books and other materials published each year, it is vital that the libraries select those items that best serve the needs of the community.

Some important reviewing sources are:

Booklist

Publisher’s Weekly

Kirkus Reviews Review

Kliatt

Library Journal

Multicultural Review

New York Times Review

Voice of Youth Advocates

Bulletin of Center for Children’s Books

Horn Book

School Library Journal

Video Librarian

Ingram Ipage Professional

And other professional literature as appropriate

1. Children

The children’s department serves children from birth through the 5th or 6th grade. It maintains a broad juvenile collection, including materials ranging from standard titles to high-interest items.

Special considerations in selecting children’s materials:

a. Series which do not meet the selection criteria are not considered. Each title in a fiction or nonfiction series is evaluated individually.

b. Abridgements will be selected only when the story and concepts are considered suitable for children, but the writing of the original is too involved for the average child. Generally, the libraries do not buy adaptations. Only the best retelling of folk tales will be considered.

2. Young Adults

A separate collection of hardbound fiction and paperbacks is maintained for young adults (grades 6-12). Nonfiction books especially suited for young adult needs and interests are distinguished by a “Y” in the call number and are shelved with the adult collection.

It is recognized that there is a great range of maturity between children and young adults, and that all materials selected might not be equally suitable in subject and vocabulary for all ages. Final responsibility for children’s and teenagers’ choice of library material rests with their parents or legal guardians.

3. Adults

Centre County Federation of Public Libraries has developed the adult collections to serve the interests of the general reader. Resources for patrons engaged in serious and extensive researches are available from the academic and special libraries in the area. The libraries also recognize the special needs of some adults for materials such as large print, closed caption videos, audiobooks, adult new reader books, and English as a second language material.

1. Reference material

Although most any item in a library can be used to provide reference service, the libraries maintain a specific collection of print and electronic reference materials. As a general rule only the latest edition of a reference title is kept in the reference area. Older editions are transferred to the circulating collection or withdrawn.

2. Local History

The Schlow Centre Region Library maintains some local history material covering the Centre Region and Centre County. Included are yearbooks of the State College High School, and Friends of the Library oral history tapes and transcriptions. The collection also contains, on a limited scale, bound and unbound publications and vertical file material about Centre Region and Central Pennsylvania history.

Schlow Centre Region Library does not attempt to collect primary materials (private papers, diaries, manuscripts, and church, society, or company records). Genealogical and in-depth local history requests are referred to the Centre County Library, the Penn State Room of the The Pennsylvania State University Libraries, or the local historical or genealogical societies.

The purpose of the Centre County Library and Historical Museum Pennsylvania Room collection is to collect and preserve primary and secondary source materials that document the history of Bellefonte and Centre County with an emphasis on genealogy materials, and to make them available to researchers and the general public. In addition, the Centre County Library and Historical Museum will maintain a general collection of Pennsylvania state history materials.

The Pennsylvania Room materials are physically located in the Historical Museum building, but are considered part of the reference collection of Centre County Library, and as such are not a circulating collection. The history portion of the collection includes county histories and atlases, and state and regional histories chosen on the basis of scholarly reputation and/or permanent value and interest to Pennsylvania Room patrons, such as histories of the towns and townships of Centre County by local authors. Standard works on Pennsylvania-related subjects such as railroads, arts and crafts, folklore, and industries also are in the Pennsylvania Room core collection. The genealogical portions of the collection are geographically defined, relating primarily to Centre County and the counties that are directly adjacent (Clinton, Clearfield, Huntingdon, and Union), and secondarily to other areas of Pennsylvania. The collection also includes some general reference works on the hobby of genealogy.

The Pennsylvania Room collection also includes historic Centre County records, Centre County newspapers on microfilm and some in original paper form; and numerous indexes and card files relating to local history and genealogy.

See Appendix (approved 2/11/2021) for further detail.

3. Local Authors

Materials written or produced by local authors are not automatically added to the collection. Textbooks and research-oriented materials by local residents and faculty members will be added only if they are of general interest.

4. Best Sellers

Multiple copies of books likely to be in high demand are ordered in advance of publication, and additional copies are added when the number of reserves per copy exceeds a predetermined ratio. It is important to have sufficient copies available within the county to fill pending reserves in a timely manner since best sellers may not be requested on interlibrary loan. Unneeded copies are withdrawn when the demand declines.

5. Material for school assignments

Students’ school-related needs are served with supplementary reading and reference materials, but the libraries do not attempt to undertake the curriculum-support function of the school library. It is expected that each school will meet its own curriculum needs with adequate books and other materials.

The libraries do not supply textbooks used in the schools and colleges of this area. Textbooks are purchased only when they provide the best coverage of a subject, are the best sources of information available, and are of use to the general public.

6. Schlow Centre Region Library - Materials to serve district libraries

Materials may be purchased for the clientele of the libraries in the Central Pennsylvania Library District, as well as for the use of patrons in Schlow Centre Region Library’s service area. This could include rotating collections, reference materials, and/or shared electronic resources. Any material in the Schlow Library collection is available to the Central PA population through interlibrary loan.

7. Digital resources

The libraries additionally seek to provide library users with access to electronic materials in a variety of formats. Due to the high cost of electronic resources, digital collections do not serve the same purpose as collections in print, and the libraries are limited in what they can both purchase and maintain access. Rather than working to develop a broad collection, the libraries seek to meet demand for currently popular titles. This may include the purchase of multiple copies of trending or bestselling titles in digital formats, the purchase of subscriptions to particular collections, or the addition of titles with no wait times.

1. Weeding

Weeding is the systematic withdrawal of items which are outdated, no longer needed or damaged. This process is an integral part of collection development and maintenance. In general, the criteria used in selecting new materials also apply to weeding. Materials that fall into the following categories should be withdrawn:

a. Materials which contain outdated information;

b. Superseded editions;

c. Worn or defaced items;

d. Material that is no longer timely.

e. Material that no longer circulates.

2. Duplication and multiple copies

Multiple copies of titles are purchased where there is an expressed need. Duplication is kept to a minimum, but materials must be in sufficient supply to make the libraries dependable sources for the people they serve. Because of over-lapping interests and reading abilities, titles occasionally appear in more than one circulating collection (adult, young adult, or children’s). Such duplication is made at the discretion of the librarians in charge of these collections.

3. Replacement

Titles for which the last copy has been withdrawn are considered for replacement. The same criteria that apply in original selection apply to replacement with particular attention given to the following:

a. The continued value of the particular title;

b. The demand for the specific title based on circulation records;

c. The extent of adequate coverage of the field in the existing collection;

d. The availability of newer or better material in the field.

e. The availability of the title for reordering.

4. Binding, Rebinding and Mending

Decisions must be made continuously on how to handle worn books -- whether to mend, bind, or withdraw them. Each decision is based on:

a. The actual condition of the item;

b. The number of duplicate copies in the collection;

c. The current validity of its contents;

d. Availability of the title for reorder; and

e. The cost of mending or binding versus the cost of replacement.

f. New paperbacks are sometimes bound to prolong their life.

1. Paperbacks

Paperback editions are added to the collection for reasons of economy and because this format appeals to many readers. General selection policies and criteria apply to the purchase of paper bound materials.

Paperbacks are purchased if:

a. There is no other edition available.

b. It is an original title appearing only in this form;

c. Duplicate copies are needed.

d. The hardback edition is too expensive.

2. Large Print Books

Books in large type are purchased for patrons with partial vision. The collection is shelved separately.

3. Newspapers

Local newspapers, plus a representative selection of major newspapers of national coverage, are purchased for the following purposes:

a. To provide current news coverage;

b. To satisfy recreational reading needs;

c. To provide a unique source of local information.

4. Periodicals

Periodicals are chosen for the following purposes:

a. To supplement the book collection as an additional source of information - especially current information;

b. To satisfy recreational reading needs;

c. To serve as book selection aids and professional reading for the staff.

Periodicals indexed in EbscoHost are given first priority. All magazines at the main libraries are kept at least two years plus the current year. Back issues for many periodicals are available in full text in EbscoHost.

5. Vertical file material – Schlow Centre Region Library

Maps and local history, including oral histories, are maintained in vertical files for public use. Information previously presented in pamphlet form is now widely available on the Internet.

1. Sound Recordings

The recorded sound collection consists of compact discs, cassettes and digital downloadable files. Selections include classical, jazz, folk, and popular music. Other important sections are audiobooks and other non-musical recordings, especially children’s stories, language learning, and other instructional recordings.

2. Electronic Resources

Reference and informational CD-ROMS, software and electronic databases are selected to supplement the collection. In many cases these resources are available to patrons both inside and outside the library. Each decision is based on:

a. Ease of use and accessibility for patrons

b. Available space for the print copies

c. Cost of the resource

d. Subject matter

e. Ability to serve patrons quickly

3. Educational toys, games and puppets

Toys, games and puppets are chosen to foster developmental skills primarily among preschool children. Eye-hand coordination, color differentiation and self perception are some skills which these materials teach young children. Puppets also encourage verbalization, and creative dramatics, and can be used effectively with picture books. Toys and games which reinforce reading and math skills for school age children are also included.

4. Multimedia kits

Kits of book-cassette or book-CD combinations are available mostly for preschool and elementary age children. Kits can foster reading skills, expose children to quality literature, and provide an added dimension to the learning experience. Many kits for adults focus on language skills (English, English as a second language, and other languages). Some kits for teachers, youth leaders and parents provide a variety of material on a specific theme. Both fiction and nonfiction subjects are included in this collection.

5. DVDs and Videocassettes

The library maintains a collection of videocassettes and DVD’s primarily for the home use of adults, youth and/or children, although some titles also have public performance rights. The library acquires these materials to serve recreational and informational purposes. Informational DVDs and videocassettes take advantage of the film’s ability to present ideas and information in ways superior to print (such as cooking, exercise, sports, and nature tapes). Broad popular appeal is the main criterion for selection for this material.

7. Microforms

The Centre County Library & Historical Museum maintains a collection of microforms to support the Pennsylvania Room’s research collections.

The Schlow Centre Region Library does not own microforms. Patrons desiring extensive back files of periodicals or other information on microforms are referred to The Pennsylvania State University Libraries.

8. Other non-print media

Other non-print media will be purchased if they represent the most suitable, useful and effective format in which to present a subject. While there are special considerations in the selection and use of these non-print materials, the same general philosophy expressed in regard to print materials applies.

9. Equipment

The libraries have media equipment available for patron use and library programming. Selection of media equipment is based on the following criteria:

a. Quality of performance

b. Ease of operation

c. Durability and design, with emphasis on safety features;

d. Portability;

e. Ease of maintenance and repair;

f. Reputation of manufacturer;

g. Cost, in comparison with other models.