Collection Development Policy

Mission of the Swansea Free Public Library

The Swansea Free Public Library is a strong community partner providing programs and services that bring people together, foster creativity, and encourage lifelong learning.

Collection Development Policy Statement

The Swansea Free Public Library strives to provide library materials that are a reflection of Swansea. Materials and services are chosen to reflect the diverse educational, informational and recreational needs and interests of library users. 

In addition to the collection’s subject content, the Swansea Free Public Library recognizes that all types and formats of media, including but not limited to print, non-print and digital resources, are an important part of the collection. As the library and its users function in a rapidly changing society, the library is flexible about changes in material formats, both in form and style of expression.

The Swansea Free Public Library upholds the professional standards of the American Library Association, including but not limited to the Freedom to Read, the Code of Ethics and The Library Bill of Rights (see appendix) . The board recognizes its rights and responsibilities to provide worthwhile materials of interest to its readers, including those of a controversial nature, without judgement.

The library does not advocate particular beliefs or views. The selection of any given item is not an endorsement of the viewpoint expressed. Access to library materials shall be controlled only to the extent necessary to protect them from danger or theft. Selection of materials is not restricted by the possibility that young people may obtain materials their guardians deem inappropriate.

Responsibility for Selection

In accordance with MGL Chapter 78, Section 11, the Board of Trustees of the Swansea Free Public Library has custody and management of the library and contents within. The board authorizes the library director to administer the function of enforcing the collection development policy

Selection

Swansea Library staff use a variety of tools to aid in selection of materials, including but not limited to, sources such as professional review journals, print and broadcast media, bookstores, publishers’ catalogs, purchase alerts and recommendations from library users.

Trained library staff exercise professional judgement and local experience in the application of materials selection criteria, including an assessment of the work’s overall contribution to the collection. Factors such as budget, space availability and interlibrary loan availability also shape selection decisions.

Criteria:

• Level of funding for materials
• Relevance to Library’s mission and service roles
• Relevance to existing collection’s strengths and weaknesses
• Local demand
• Current usefulness or interest
• Informational and recreational needs of community
• Authority and accuracy
• Importance as a record of the times
• High standards of quality in content and format
• Price and availability
• Suitability of format, durability and ease of use
• Relevance to the history of Swansea and Southeastern Massachusetts

In the development of the collection, the library recognizes that it is difficult for a mid-sized public library to provide a comprehensive collection that is strong enough to meet all community needs. As a member of an automated resource sharing network (SAILS) and a state supported library system (Massachusetts Library System), the Swansea Free Public Library supplements its resources with materials borrowed from other libraries through these larger entities.

All public libraries contain materials that some patrons may find objectionable. Libraries may also omit from the collection materials that some patrons feel are important. In either case, the library has procedures that patrons may use in requesting materials to be added to the collection as well as the reconsideration of materials.

The race, religion, nationality or political views of an author or creator; offensive language; depictions or descriptions of violence or sexually explicit activity; controversial content of an item; or endorsement or disapproval by an individual or group in the community does not cause an item automatically to be included or left out from the library’s collection.

Responsibility for supervising children’s use of the library and library materials rests with parents or legal guardians. At no time will the library staff act in loco parentis. Selection of library material will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may come into the possession of children.

Gifts and Donations

Accepting gifts and donations is an important way for the library to benefit from the generosity of the community it serves. Gifts and donations of materials are reviewed using the same criteria as library purchases and are subject to the Gift Policy of the Swansea Free Public Library.

Collection Maintenance

In order to maintain a collection that is current, reliable, useful, in good condition, and relating to the needs and interests of Swansea residents, materials are withdrawn on a systematic and continuing basis. This function is necessitated by limitations of space and acquisition of new materials.

Each title is judged individually, and it is considered from the standpoint of value to the entire community, as well as in relation to other items in the collection. Materials may be withdrawn when they are seldom used, in poor condition, dated, inaccurate, superseded by a new edition or better resource on the subject, or in opposition to the selection criteria, as allowed by Massachusetts General Law. 

The Board of Trustees of the Swansea Free Public Library approves the disposal of library surplus or unwanted property as permitted under MGL Chapter 78, Section 11 and MGL Chapter 30B, Section 15.

Special Collections

The Swansea Free Public Library maintains a local history collection based on important figures and events in Swansea history. The Local History collection policy guides selection criteria of this collection. 

The Swansea Free Public Library maintains a Local Authors collection. 

Reconsideration

The choice of library materials by a library user is an individual matter. While a person is free to reject materials for oneself, they may not restrict the freedom to choose those materials by other users.

The Swansea Free Public Library recognizes that certain materials are controversial and that any given item may offend some library users. Library users have the right to express concerns about library resources and have the objection taken seriously.

A library user who has concerns with library materials is encouraged to discuss them with library staff. If the library user is not satisfied with informal conversation with library staff, a Formal Statement of Concern About Library Resources may be made. 

Disposal of Library Property

Massachusetts General Law allows the library to donate items at less than fair market value to non-profit organizations. Print and non-print materials that are withdrawn from the collection according to the Collection Maintenance guidelines are offered by the Friends of the Swansea Free Public Library [a 501(c)(3) organization for re-sale. The board authorizes the library director to administer this function as permitted under MGL Chapter 30B Section 15(g). The director is also authorized to develop and enforce rules and procedures to dispose of this property.

The Board of Trustees shall vote annually to renew authority for the disposal of withdrawn library materials for the subsequent year.

Approved by the Swansea Free Public Library Board of Trustees, August 20, 2025