Collection Development Policy:
Fiction
Fiction is selected to meet the current and anticipated interests of the library's adult readers. The primary aim of the Popular Library collection is to serve the recreational needs of its patrons. Expected use by readers is the most important selection principle in each area of the fiction collection.
The collection is, secondarily, an educational source for informal or formal students of literature. The Library does not purchase every work by an author unless present and foreseeable use justifies this. The Library buys only English language fiction; the main emphasis is on American and English literature with selective purchases of translations from other languages.
The intrinsic merits of fiction titles are considered in selection decisions, but expected use by readers is still the paramount consideration. The diversity of readers' widely varying backgrounds and interests are reflected in the range of novels from classics to current best sellers.
Library staff use reviews from a variety of professional and popular magazines and newspapers as guides to selection. Patron requests and their past responses to an author's works, book club selections, books featured in local stores or heavily advertised may be considered when selection is made prior to published reviews. Titles nominated for literary prizes or award winners are also considered. Every effort is made to purchase works by local authors or titles of regional interest, which are appropriate to the collection.
The Popular Library collection has a number of sections; no single standard of literary merit is set for the different forms of novels. Each type, such as mystery novels, has unique qualities and characteristics. The overriding selection considerations in all areas remain the demonstrated or anticipated audience.
Mysteries
This genre is in a separate collection in the Popular Library
collection because of the reading preferences of the community.
The genre is generally defined by the presence of a murder and
a detective. Series by authors are collected as long as there
is substantial interest. Retrospective purchases and gifts may
be added as gaps are identified in this collection.
Westerns
The western collection at the Duluth Public Library includes classic
authors of the genre, such as Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour. Many
titles that once would have been shelved in the Western collection
are now considered historical fiction and shelved in the general
fiction collection. There are a limited number of titles that
fit the western genre criteria available for purchase; the Library
selects many of these titles.
Science Fiction
and Fantasy
Science Fiction
deals with scientific topics, space travel, alternate history,
time travel or movement that is not magical, aliens and recognizable
earth variant worlds or life forms that have not been touched
by magic. Fantasy includes sword and sorcery, dungeons
and dragons, magical alternative worlds and characters with paranormal
powers.
The numbers of titles available from publishers in these genres continue to grow in both hardcover and paperback formats. Once a title has been selected and has been well received, subsequent titles in the series will generally be purchased. A limited number of retrospective purchases are made to fill in gaps in some series.
Short Stories
The short story collection contains anthologies of stories by
more than one author. Collected stories by a single author are
shelved in the general fiction area. Anthologies on topics with
known reader demand and regional interest are purchased. The Library
purchases selected annual series which are considered representative
of the best stories published that year.
Large Print
Large print publishers appear to have researched well the interests
and tastes of their audience, judging by local readers' response
to these titles. Within budget constraints, the Library purchases
a significant number of the large print titles available. Standing
order plans by publishers are used for the majority of this collection.
Paperbacks
Mass market paperbacks make up an increasing proportion of the
total fiction purchased annually. Categories such as romance,
TV and movie tie-ins, and science fiction, vary in response to
readers' interests. Gift additions are frequently made. Most of
the paperback collection is now cataloged. Some romance series
novels, e.g. Harlequin, are not individually cataloged. The library
does not take reserves for the uncataloged paperbacks in this
browsing collection.
Multiple
Copies
The Library will acquire additional copies of titles in high demand.
Every two weeks a list is generated of the titles with reserves
on them. The list is in the order of highest number of reserves
to lowest number stopping at 5 reserves. As the budget allows,
additional copies are ordered to maintain a ratio of 1 copy for
every 5 reserves.
Weeding
The Popular Library collection is a dynamic one in which all staff
are involved in selection and weeding of the collection. The Library
is not a last copy depository for fiction titles. Not every title
in a branch collection is in the Main Library collection. The
collection size is maintained at a level which allows the most
used and the most important titles to be easily accessible. In
reviewing books for removal or replacement, physical condition,
past use, anticipated future use and literary merit are weighed
against the limitations of available storage in accessible shelving.
Titles not in the collection may be requested through interlibrary
loan.
Gift Books
Gift books are considered for addition to the Popular Library
collection on the same basis as those selected and purchased with
library funds.
Browser Best
Seller Collection
Donations from the Duluth Library Foundation and the Friends of
the Duluth Public Library have allowed the Library to establish
Browser Best Seller Collections at the Mt. Royal and West Duluth
Branch libraries in 2004. Copies circulate for one week and circulate
from the branch collection in which they are placed.
Adopted September 28, 2004
Duluth Public Library Board
