Pembina City Library Policy Objectives

Pembina library’s materials collection is developed and managed to meet the majority of the cultural, informational, educational, and recreational needs of the library’s service area. The Collection Development Department builds and maintains a patron-oriented collection by anticipating and responding to needs and expectations.

Collection decisions are made to the patrons preferred reading

Selecting material that covers multiple areas.

Develop a variation of material forms to encourage reading

Library Acquisitions Procedures

Item selection is done by librarians selectors. Each selector is responsible for recommending material for purchase in their assigned subject areas. Selectors may work with their respective faculty members to identify material and make purchasing decisions that best meet the curriculum goals.

Public Library Gifts and Donations

Accepting gifts and donations is an important way for the public library to benefit from the generosity of the community it serves. Gifts and donations of materials are reviewed using the same criteria as purchases. The library reserves the right to dispose of any gifts that are given to the library. The library will determine how to best incorporate such materials into the existing collections. Materials not added to library collections may be used for programs or given to school or Friends of the Library group.. The proceeds from the sale shall accrue directly to the benefit of the library, in a fashion consistent with accepted library policies and services as determined by the Board of Trustees. Any items unsold by the Friends of the Library may then be donated to another organization or discarded.

Funds may be given for the purpose of acquiring materials recommended by library staff as prescribed in this policy, or for purchase of specific items suggested by the donor. When the library receives a cash gift for the purchase of materials, the library staff must make the selection with the general selection principles set forth in this policy.

Public Library Collection Maintenance and Weeding Policy

The library continually withdraws items from the collection, basing its decisions on a number of factors, including publishing date, frequency of circulation, community interest, and availability of newer or more valid materials. Items dealing with local history are an exception, as are certain classics and award-winning children’s books. Fiction that was once popular but no longer in demand and non-fiction books that are no longer useful are withdrawn from the collection,

Withdrawn books are donated to the Friends of the Library for book sales. The proceeds from such sales are used for the benefit of the library. Books that are not sold will be disposed of at the discretion of the Friends of the Library

Public Library Reconsideration Policy

All public libraries contain materials that some patrons may find objectionable. Libraries may omit from the collection materials that some patrons feel are important. In either case, the library has procedures that patrons may use in requesting the reconsideration of materials.A library needs a wide variety of library materials that satisfy the diverse interests of our community. The library upholds the right of the individual to secure these resources, Pembina City Library is connected with the school library this may influence some of our selection choices. The library has a varied collection available to all.

Informal Complaints

Individuals who are concerned about the appropriateness of library resources may make informal complaints in public and to library staff members. In schools, the complainant may voice the objection to the school librarian, a teacher, or the principal. In some cases, the individuals simply want their objections heard and have their concerns acknowledged; while in other situations, the person making the complainant asks public, academic, or school staff to restrict or remove the library resource. Although listening to a person’s complaint is sometimes as far as an oral complaint goes, it is necessary for every library to have a process for handling informal patron concerns. A formal complaint process often follows a verbal discussion with a library staff member, teacher, or school principal and acknowledges the right of the individual to express a concern and have their objections formally reviewed.

Procedures for Handling Formal Complaints

The following steps will be used when an individual feels that further action is necessary to address concerns about a library resource. For the duration of this process, the material in question will remain in circulation in the library collection.

A concerned patron who is dissatisfied with earlier informal discussions will be offered a form to submit..
Patrons are required to complete and submit a reconsideration form to the library director.
The director, with appropriate staff, will review the reconsideration form and the material in question, to consider whether its selection follows the criteria stated in the collection policy.
Within 15 business days, the director will make a decision and send a letter to the concerned person who requested the reconsideration, stating the reasons for the decision.
If the individual is not satisfied with the decision, a written appeal may be submitted within 10 business days to the Board of Trustees.
If the board plans to address the appeal at their board meeting, the individual will be notified of when and where the meeting will be held.
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to limit the length of public comments.
The decision of the board is final.