Purpose:
A core function of Chapel Hill Public Library is to collect, curate, and make accessible library materials in a wide variety of formats that respond to community interests and demographics. The Collection Development policy defines the criteria and resources used by staff in selecting, weeding, and maintaining our collection.
Policy:
The library’s goal is to maintain a popular, up-to-date collection attuned to and reflective of the diversity of our community. Collection formats, subject matter, and target audiences will be reflective of community demand. The library places emphasis on highlighting and amplifying the voices of historically marginalized populations.
If you want us to consider an item that's not in our collection, please feel free to send us a suggestion.
Selection & Weeding
How do we decide what enters or leaves the collection? Here are some of the factors that we consider:
Popular demand
Circulation statistics
Critical reviews from the industry
Established authority of an author or their publisher
Current or long-term significance of a work
Publication date
Accuracy and timeliness
Authentic reflection of diverse ideas, information, stories, and experiences
Relationship to existing collection
Price, format, condition, and ease of use
The library director has ultimate authority for the collections. That responsibility is shared with our staff of professional librarians.
Donations
Monetary donations for the purchase of materials are welcome and appreciated. In choosing how to spend gift donations, we follow the guidelines on this page and consider feedback from the donor.
Donated materials are handled by the Friends of the Chapel Hill Public Library organization and are sold to help generate money to support the library.
Local authors may contact the Acquisitions & Collections or Youth & Family Experiences Managers to request their work be considered for the collection. Donated works by local authors may be accepted if the material meets collection guidelines. We do not return donations or track their status once donated.
Intellectual Freedom
We fully subscribe to the principles adopted by the American Library Association in its Library Bill of Rights and interpretive statements. We also endorse the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement.
Requests for Reclassification or Removal of library materials by Orange County residents will follow the process outlined below:
Reach out to the Acquisitions & Collections Manager (kblack@townofchapelhill.org) and ask for a ‘Request for Reclassification or Removal’ form.
Fill out the form and return to the Acquisitions & Collections Manager.
A group of library staff will review the request based on our criteria for selection and weeding (see above criteria).
Library staff will make a recommendation to the Library Director who will make the final decision.
The Library Director will follow up with the patron regarding the decision.
References
American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights
American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement