I. Purpose and Objectives of the Auglaize County Public District Library

The mission of the Auglaize County Public District Library is to provide modern library resources and services necessary to meet the evolving educational, recreational, and informational needs of the public, thus enhancing the individual and community life. Materials should be selected and services and programs planned that satisfy residents’ needs as individuals and as members of groups with concern given for all ages, backgrounds, interests, abilities, and levels of education. The library must consider not only the present needs of the community but must anticipate the future needs in order to give timely service. Though the library attempts to give the best service possible to its regular users, it also has an obligation to collect materials and search for methods of service that will satisfy the needs of those in the community who have not traditionally been library users. It is vitally important that every citizen today have ready and free access to the world of ideas, information, and creative experience.

The Auglaize County Public District Library selects, makes available, and promotes the use of library materials, whatever the format, which:

1. Meet the information needs of the community.
2. Meet the recreational needs of the community.
3. Supplement formal and informal study.
4. Reflect a variety of opinions (minority and majority) on a subject.
5. Support business, cultural, recreational, and civic activities in the community.
6. Stimulate self-understanding and growth.
7. Enhance job-related knowledge and skills.
8. Increase knowledge of and participation in the affairs of the community, the country, and the world.

II. Authority and Responsibility for Collection Development

The authority and responsibility for the selection of library materials is delegated by the Library Board of Trustees to the Library Director and, under his/her direction, to the professional staff who are qualified for this activity by reason of education, training, and experience. The advice of specialists in the community is requested in fields in which staff members do not have sufficient expertise. Suggestions from readers are welcome and are given serious consideration within the general criteria. The final decision for purchases rest with the library.

III. Criteria for General Collection

The evaluation of materials is characterized by flexibility, open-mindedness, and responsiveness to the changing needs of the citizens of Auglaize County. Materials are evaluated as a whole and not on the basis of a particular passage or passages. A work will not be excluded from the library’s collection because it presents an aspect of life honestly or because of frankness of expression.

All acquisitions, whether purchased or donated, are considered in terms of the following standards. Clearly, however, an item need not meet all of the criteria to be acceptable. In some instances, materials may be judged primarily on artistic merit, or because of scholarship, or as valuable human documents, or as critical to the information needs of the community. In other instances, the criterion may be substantial demands.

The following general criteria are used:

1. Present and potential relevance to community needs.
2. Suitability of subject, style, and reading level for the intended   audience.
3. Insight into human and social conditions.
4. Importance as a document of the times.
5. Appropriateness and effectiveness of medium to content.
6. Reputation and/or significance of the author.
7. Demand for the material.
8. Critics’ and staff members’ reviews.
9. Reputation of the publisher or producer.
10. Relationship to existing materials in the collection on the same subject.
11. Availability and accessibility of the same materials in the surrounding area.

* Responsibility for the choice of minors’ reading material rests with their parents and legal guardians. Selection will not be inhibited by the possibility that controversial materials may come into the possession of minors.

Materials no longer useful will be systematically weeded from the collection and withdrawn from the library. The following considerations are recommended before discarding any item in the library collection:

1. Frequency of circulation.
2. Overall condition of the title.
3. Inclusion of title in standard catalogs.
4. Potential future use if kept in storage.
5. Dated material.
6. Value to total library collection.
7. Availability of information or copies elsewhere.

 V. Special Collections Management

A. Non-Print Formats

A.1. Audiovisual materials are those materials in the following formats: videocassette, DVD, compact disc, and audio cassette.

Neither the Library Director, the library staff, nor the Library Board can be expected to view every purchased item in the audiovisual format. For these reasons, the selection of these materials is made through reliable sources such as professional library magazines, audiovisual reviewing sources, and audiovisual reviews in magazines and newspapers. In addition, the following criteria are used:

1. Popular demand by the community.
2. Quality of audio and video presentation.
3. Price.
4. Availability.

A.2. Book cassette selection will follow the criteria of selection for audiovisual materials and print materials.

B. Electronic Resources

The Auglaize County Public District Library recognizes the increasing significance of electronic resources in locating and acquiring knowledge in today’s society. All recommendations and acquisitions of web sites and computer software are considered in terms of the following standards.

B.1. For software:

1. Ease of use, in consideration of the intended audience.
2. Educational use.
3. Entertainment value.
4. Appropriateness and effectiveness of medium to   content.
5. Authorship or source.
6. Value.

B.2. For web sites:

1. Authorship or source.
2. Point of view or bias.
3. Documentation.
4. Intended audience.
5. Currency and frequency of site maintenance.
6. Structure and elements of site.

C. Vertical File

Items to be placed in the Vertical File will be selected using the following criteria:

1. Format precludes storage on regular bookshelves (i.e., newspaper articles, pamphlets, brochures).
2. Information is dated.
3. Regional information (i.e., genealogy, local history, regional history, state history).
4. Statistical information.

1. Patrons are assessed overdue fines for days which materials have been charged out past the due date. If placed in the book deposit or at the circulation desk without payment of fines, the fine amount will stop accruing, but is not erased. Therefore, patrons are responsible for paying all fines.

2. Videos, CD ROMs, & DVDs accrue fines at a rate of $1.00 per day per item. All other library materials accrue fines at a rate of $ .10 per day per item.

3. Items returned in the depository after the library closes will be regarded as being returned the next library business day.

4. Due to structural differences in the book depositories at each library, it may be necessary for a particular library to charge a fine of $5.00 for audiovisual materials found in the depository. If charged, the patron is notified within one day.

5. The patron may charge out materials with fines accrued up to and including $1.00. With accrued fines of more than $1.00, the patron may NOT be allowed to charge out materials until the fines are paid.

6. Maximum Overdue Fines (per item):
      Hardback books (adult or children) - $5.00
      Audiocassettes - $5.00
      Videos - $5.00
      Compact Discs - $5.00
      CD ROM - $5.00
      Paperbacks (adult or children) - $5.00
      Magazines - Price of the magazine

7. When paying fine monies, the patron must sign the fine sheet. Library staff must initial the receipt of payment on the fine sheet.

8. Replacing a library card will cost $1.00. The money collected is combined with fine monies and the fine sheet must be signed and noted.

9. Teachers will not be assessed fines on items less than 28 days overdue, that have been charged out as part of a teacher’s collection. After materials are 28 days past due, teachers will be fined according to the fine schedule.

B. Lost and Damaged Materials

1. When a patron reports that materials are lost, he/she is granted a grace period (in which the material is renewed for the number of days that the material was originally circulated, i.e., 28 days for books, 14 days for books on tape, 7 days for CD’s, 3 days for videos & DVDs), from the date of notification to attempt to locate the material(s). If the material remains lost after 28 days, a replacement fine is assessed.

2. Once an unreturned item has reached the maximum overdue fine allowable, the item will be considered lost and the patron may be changed the fee to replace the item. 

3.  If library materials are damaged in circumstances that do not constitute normal wear and tear, the patron will be responsible for the replacement cost of the item.

C. Replacements

Patrons will be charged the full price* for the replacement of any lost or damaged items.

*Full price is determined by MARC record, BIP, shelf list card, or current pricing catalogue

D. Refund Policy

1. Patron will be charged a $2.00 administration fee (per incident) for any refund that is issued for materials that has been deemed lost and paid for. NO REFUND will be given after a six (6) month period has elapsed. If the price of lost article was less than $2.00, no refund will be given. Refunds must be returned by the Clerk-Treasurer.

2. Procedures for Recording Refunds:
When a patron pays for lost materials, do not record it on the fine sheet. Take the patron’s name, address, card number, title of lost materials, and date paid on the outside of an envelope. Place money in envelope and give to Clerk-Treasurer.

E. Interlibrary Loan (I.L.L.)

1. Lost or damaged materials obtained through I.L.L. outside the Auglaize County system will be the responsibility of the patron. The patron will be assessed a replacement fee.

2. When a patron requests I.L.L. item(s) which must be delivered or returned through another method other than ACPDL's contracted delivery service, the patron must pay for all expenses incurred to obtain the item(s).

VII. Gift Policy

          A. Donated Items

1. The library accepts gifts of books, pamphlets, periodicals, films, music recording, etc., with the understanding that they will be added to the library collection when needed, or will be disposed of if the materials are not of value to the library’s collection at the time.

2. To be added to the collection, gift materials must meet established selection criteria.

3. No condition or restriction on gifts can be honored unless agreed upon by the Director and donor in advance of the delivery of the gifts. The library cannot legally appraise gifts for tax purposes. Gifts of money, real property, and/or stock will be accepted if any conditions attached to them are acceptable to the Library Board.

4. If the materials are deemed to be of no value to the library collection, the materials will be placed on the "Book Sale" cart or shelf to be sold at the customary "Book Sale" prices, as determined by the Library Director or branch supervisor. Materials which are in poor condition will be placed in the recycling bin.

5. Determination of the condition of donated items is at the discretion of the branch supervisor or Library Director.

6. If materials are accepted for placement in the collection, cataloging guidelines will be adhered to as to the final classification.

B. Book Memorial

1. Individuals or clubs must contribute a minimum of $20 toward the purchase of a book memorial. If the cost of the book is less than $20, the individual or club must contribute 75% of the total purchase price of the book. If the cost of the book exceeds $50, the individual or club must contribute 50% toward the purchase price of the book memorial. These donations will be acknowledged with a book plate.

2. Smaller donations will be acknowledged by the library with a thank you card.

VIII. Reconsideration Procedures

The choice of library materials by users is an individual matter. Responsibility for the reading of printed materials and use of non-print materials, including Internet access, by children and adolescents rests with their parents and legal guardians. While a person may reject materials for him/herself and for his/her children, he/she cannot exercise censorship to restrict access to the materials by others.

The Auglaize County Public District Library supports intellectual freedom and endorses the following intellectual freedom statements: "Freedom to Read" (American Library Association), "Freedom to View" (Educational Film Library Association), and "Library Bill of Rights" (American Library Association).

The Auglaize County Public District Library recognizes that within the county area there are groups and individuals with widely separate and diverse interests, backgrounds, cultural heritages, social values and needs and that any given item may offend some patrons. Selection of materials will not be made on the basis of anticipated approval or disapproval of their contents, and no library material will be sequestered, except to protect it from injury or theft.

Complaints from patrons on library materials will be dealt with in the following manner:

1. The initial complaint will be handled informally by the library assistant on duty or, in the case of a branch library, by the branch supervisor. If the patron requests further discussion, an informal discussion may be requested with the Library Director, Youth Services Coordinator, or Assistant Director. The selection policy will be explained to the patron. Materials in question will not be removed or restricted at any point unless an official determination has been made to do so.

2. If the patron is not satisfied with the informal discussion, a "Request for Reconsideration" form will be given to the patron to fill out and return.

3. Such requests concerning adult materials will be directed to the Library Director, and requests concerning juvenile materials will be directed to the Youth Services Coordinator. Upon receiving the request form, the Library Director or Youth Services Coordinator will make a decision whether to maintain the material at its current status, to make a change in location or reading level, or to remove the item. In the case of the Youth Services Coordinator’s recommendation, the Library Director will be apprized of the recommendation before the patron is notified.

4. The patron will be notified of the Library Director’s or Youth Services Coordinator’s recommendation and given a full explanation of the decision.

5. If the patron is not satisfied with the recommendation from the Library Director, the patron may file a written appeal to the Library Board.

6. Upon receiving the written appeal, the Board President will appoint a review committee, consisting of two board members, the Library Director, and two staff members. If the questioned materials are from the juvenile collection, the Youth Services Coordinator will be included.

7. In considering the complaint, the Committee shall:
    a. read, view, or listen to the material in its entirety;
    b. read reviews and consult recommended lists;
    c. judge the material for the strengths and values as a       whole, and not in part, and apply all appropriate substantive selection criteria to the work.

8. The Committee will report its recommendation to the Library Board. The Library Board will act upon the recommendation. Then, the Library Board will notify the complainant of its decision in writing. No further appeals will be heard.*

* If an Internet site is challenged, the recommendation may be appealed to OPLIN. Once the Library Board has informed the complainant of its decision, if the patron is not satisfied, a complaint form may be filled out by the patron and mailed to the Executive Director of OPLIN.

Appendices

I. Library Bill of Rights

II. Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights

III. Freedom to Read

IV. Freedom to View

V. Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials Form

VI. Internet Complaint Form