Revised and re-adopted by the Louisville Public Library Board of Trustees,
May 19, 2011.

The purpose of the Louisville Public Library is to provide effective delivery of library and information services that meet the informational, educational, and recreational needs of the community.

Responsibility for Selection

The authority and responsibility for the selection of library materials are delegated to the Library Director and professional staff. Purchase suggestions from the general public and staff are encouraged and are given serious consideration within the framework of policies determined by the Louisville Public Library Board of Trustees.

Criteria for Selection

The Library provides a wide variety of materials, including books, periodicals, DVDs, musical CDs, books on CD, downloadable audio books and e-books, and electronic databases. Selection of all library materials shall be made in consideration of the following:

• Contemporary significance or permanent value
• Popular demand, even if not enduring in value, interest, or accuracy
• Purpose and quality of the material
• Representation of important viewpoint, trend, or cultural movement
• Author's reputation, skill, and significance
• Authority of the publisher
• Listing in professionally recognized selection aids
• Favorable reviews in professional, literary, or general periodicals
• Suitability of physical form for library use (size, paper, print, binding)
• Price, format, and ease of use
• Scarcity of information in subject areas
• Size and extent of the current materials budget
• Size and extent of the existing collection
• Holdings of other libraries within the region
• Materials of regional interest
• Present and potential needs of the community

Materials are neither excluded nor proscribed because of the race, nationality, political, social, or religious views of the author, or because of diverse views of individuals or groups within the community. The Library seeks to obtain presentation of all points of view and all sides of issues. Inclusion does not constitute endorsement of any particular viewpoint.

Areas of Limited Acquisition

Selection of materials in certain areas is limited to very general or basic works which are not too specialized or considered beyond the province of public library service. These areas include:

• Textbooks: The Library will not attempt to supply textbooks and other materials required for school coursework, but will provide materials supplemental to, or correlative with, various courses of instruction. Textbooks will be purchased only when they supply the best or only source of information on a subject.
   
• Genealogy: The Library does not supply specialized genealogy sources but will purchase general guides and electronic resources to help patrons learn how to trace their ancestry..
   
• Religious Materials: The Library endeavors to build religious collections which offer a broad spectrum of information on the texts, doctrines, history, and leaders of all major religions and religious philosophies. Materials which proselytize, propagandize, or foster intolerance toward other religions will not be included in the Library’s collection. Materials published by church-owned or church-sponsored organizations will be accepted as gifts or be purchased only when they meet selection criteria.

Gifts

Gifts added to the collection shall meet the same selection criteria as purchased materials. Gifts become the property of the Louisville Public Library Foundation and are accepted subject to the following limitations: (1) the Library Foundation retains unconditional ownership; (2) Library staff makes the final decision on acceptance, use, or disposition.

When the Library Foundation receives a cash gift for the purchase of materials, whether as a memorial or for any other purpose, the general nature of subject area of the materials to be purchased will be based upon the wishes of the donor. Selection of specific titles, however, will be made by the library staff in accordance with the needs and selection policy of the Library.

Withdrawal of Materials

To ensure a vital collection of continued value to the community, materials which have outlived their usefulness will be withdrawn. An up-to-date, attractive, and useful collection is maintained by retaining or replacing essential material, and removing, on a systematic and continuous basis, those works that are worn, outdated, of little historical significance, or no longer in demand.

Challenged Materials

The choice of library materials by users is an individual matter. While anyone is free to personally reject the viewpoints expressed in books and other materials, he or she may not restrict the free choice of others.

Responsibility for the use of library materials by children rests with their parents or legal guardians. Selection decisions are not influenced by the possibility that materials may inadvertently come into the possession of children.

The Louisville Library and its Board of Trustees support and adhere to the American Library Association's guidelines for public access to information as described in:

1. The Library Bill of Rights
2. The Freedom to Read statement
3. The Freedom to View statement

Citizen requests for reconsideration of specific materials or subject matter shall be made in writing and submitted to the Library Director. The Library’s written consideration procedure will be followed and the Board of Trustees will review the complaint and render a final decision no later than the Board’s next meeting following the challenge’s initial Board hearing.