Collection Development Policy

Policy Statement

Rampart Library District (RLD) selects and makes available library materials in a variety of formats in order to educate, inform, and entertain. The collection is organized to provide efficient, free, and open access to patrons within the constraints of space and budget. RLD prioritizes service to people within the library’s service area.

By providing free access to the marketplace of ideas, information, and creative experience, the library gives patrons the opportunity to receive materials that support lifelong learning and entertainment. RLD also makes efficient use of financial resources by working with other Colorado libraries to facilitate access to a wide array of materials through shared collections. This collaboration allows RLD to meet community needs better.

RLD’s collection development policy and practices operate in accordance with CRS 24-216-1(2) declarations as follows:

SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly finds and declares that librarians are highly trained and educated and that they intentionally and thoughtfully select library resources for their specific communities to educate and entertain public library patrons.

(2) The general assembly further finds and declares that:

  • (a) A full range of books and other library resources should be provided for the interest and enlightenment of all people in the communities that public libraries serve;
  • (b) The opportunity to be exposed to a wide variety of perspectives and experiences via books and other library materials engenders empathy and understanding;
  • (c) Recent challenges to library materials have targeted various protected classes, including individuals based on their race and sexual orientation, constituting dangerous discrimination and limiting some individuals from adequate representation and participation in institutional public life;
  • (d) Community members have challenged the inclusion of library resources in public libraries and have successfully demanded the removal of library resources;
  • (e) Removing library resources prevents others from examining, enjoying, and learning from the removed library resources; and
  • (f) It is important that public libraries’ policies for the acquisition, retention, display, reconsideration, and use of library resources and for the use of public library facilities comply with standards that identify the priorities and mission of public libraries.

RLD’s collection development policy and practices operate in accordance with CRS 24-90-122 standards, as added by CRS 24-216-2(2), and as follows:

  • (a) A PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVES AS A CENTER FOR VOLUNTARY INQUIRY AND THE DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION AND IDEAS;
  • (b) THE PUBLIC HAS THE RIGHT TO ACCESS A RANGE OF SOCIAL, POLITICAL, AESTHETIC, MORAL, AND OTHER IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES THROUGH A PUBLIC LIBRARY;
  • (c) EACH LIBRARY RESOURCE IS PROVIDED FOR THE INTEREST, INFORMATION, AND ENLIGHTENMENT OF THE COMMUNITY AND SHOULD
  • (d) A PUBLIC LIBRARY SHALL NOT EXCLUDE A LIBRARY RESOURCE BECAUSE OF THE ETHNIC ORIGIN, ETHNIC BACKGROUND, OR GENDER IDENTITY OF THOSE CONTRIBUTING TO THE CREATION OF THE LIBRARY RESOURCE OR BECAUSE OF THE TOPIC ADDRESSED BY THE LIBRARY RESOURCE OR THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THE LIBRARY RESOURCE;
  • (e) A PUBLIC LIBRARY SHALL NOT PROSCRIBE OR PROHIBIT THE CIRCULATION OR PROCUREMENT OF A LIBRARY RESOURCE BECAUSE OF PARTISAN OR DOCTRINAL DISAPPROVAL OF THE LIBRARY RESOURCE;
  • (f) IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF A PUBLIC LIBRARY TO CHALLENGE CENSORSHIP IN THE FULFILLMENT OF ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE INFORMATION AND ENLIGHTENMENT;
  • (g) A PUBLIC LIBRARY SHALL CONSIDER THE PERSPECTIVES OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS, INCLUDING THOSE IDENTIFIED IN SECTION 22-1-104 (1)(a);
  • (h) FOR A PUBLIC LIBRARY THAT PROVIDES FACILITIES TO THE PUBLIC, THE LIBRARY SHALL MAKE THE FACILITIES AVAILABLE ON AN EQUITABLE BASIS, REGARDLESS OF THE BELIEFS OR AFFILIATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS REQUESTING THEIR USE; AND
  • (i) A PUBLIC LIBRARY SHALL PROHIBIT DISCRIMINATION BASED ON AGE, BACKGROUND, POLITICAL OR RELIGIOUS VIEWS, ORIGIN, DISABILITY, RACE, COLOR, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY, GENDER EXPRESSION, MARITAL STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, OR ANCESTRY IN THE SELECTION, RETENTION, DISPLAY, USE, OR RECONSIDERATION OF LIBRARY RESOURCES AND PUBLIC MEETING SPACES.

Rampart Library District supports intellectual freedom and serves the public in accordance with the following American Library Association (ALA.org) statements:

  • Library Bill of Rights
  • Freedom to Read
  • Freedom to View

In light of these tenets and laws, RLD does not allow requests for reconsideration of physical or electronic materials in any format.

Responsibility for Selection

The authority and responsibility for the selection of library materials is the purview of the Library Director. Under their direction, trained and qualified library staff acquire materials in a variety of formats.

Additional Criteria for Selection

RLD endeavors to provide a balanced collection, which reflects a variety of perspectives. Content and perspectives contained in acquired materials are not endorsed by RLD. The following general criteria are used to evaluate potential selections:

  • Relevance to community needs and interests
  • Attention of critics, reviewers, and the public
  • Popular demand, even if not enduring in value, interest, or accuracy
  • Contemporary significance
  • Artistic merit, literary value, or awards
  • Reputation and qualifications of author, artist, publisher or producer without regard to political, religious or other affiliations
  • Clarity, accuracy and organization; comprehensiveness
  • Date of publication
  • Suitability of physical form for library use (size, paper, print, binding)
  • Relationship to current holdings
  • Cost
  • Availability of information elsewhere within region or electronically
  • Author or illustrator is well-known or local

An item need not meet all of these criteria to be selected.

Items generally excluded from selection:

  • Textbooks and curriculum-related work
  • Scholarly and technical materials that are carried by academic or special libraries.
  • Puzzles or workbooks that encourage filling in blanks
  • Materials that are publicized solely through infomercials or personal websites and where there is no authoritative or evaluative information available
  • Self-published materials, unless they are reviewed in established publications or they are of interest in the local community

Collection Maintenance

In order to ensure a current collection that is relevant to the community, materials that have outlived their usefulness will be withdrawn. RLD removes or replaces materials on a systematic and continuous basis.

Potential criteria for removal of materials includes, but is not necessarily limited to:

  • Wear and tear
  • Shelf space
  • Outdated information
  • Availability of other newer or relevant works for acquisition
  • Availability of materials by request through Colorado library partners
  • Items that circulate very little or not at all during a time period determined by the Director

Deselected materials may be discarded, repurposed, donated, or sold at the discretion of the Director. The Director reserves the right and responsibility to select or deselect materials for any reason.

Concerns about the Collection Development Policy must be presented in writing with specifics to the Library Director. Please provide your name and contact information. The Library District Board may amend or supplement this policy from time to time and reserves the right to do so.

Approved 07/12/2005. Revised 03/12/2019, 07/11/2023, and 06/11/2024