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Collection Policy
The County of Los Angeles Public Library serves one of the nation's most culturally, economically and socially diverse regions. The Library selects materials which best serve the needs of its varied and complex public.
The Library makes available a broad and relevant collection of materials for information, education and recreation. Our collection currently includes over 8,500,000 books, magazines, DVDs, audiobooks and CDs. We make a positive effort to provide materials of interest to people of differing ages, ethnic groups and lifestyles, in English and other languages.
The Library affirms the public's right of access to a broad spectrum of reading, listening and viewing materials. In compliance with the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement, the Library makes available sound factual data and honest opinion representing various points of view on topics of public interest and importance.
Method
The County Library selects materials that are pertinent, representative of divergent needs, and responsive to customer demand. We provide current materials as well as standard authors, titles and subjects. Resource centers and special collections enhance the Library's ability to serve its community’s needs.
Selection of materials is based on the subject knowledge and expertise of library staff, along with recommendations from the public, reviews in the media, and review copies from publishers. No materials are excluded or removed from the library on the basis of the author's race, nationality or political, social or religious beliefs. Materials dealing with controversial views are judged as entire works, not on isolated passages or sections.
Criteria
The County Library staff considers these and other factors in selecting materials:
- Popular interest or demand
- Currency of information, social significance
- Accuracy and impartiality, readability and style
- Cost
- Appropriateness for age
- Physical durability, attractiveness, technical merit of the format
- Reviews in the professional media
- Reputation of the author, publisher or producer
- Relevance to the community
Formats
The Library purchases many types of materials:
- Books
- Magazines and Newspapers
- Audiobooks
- DVDs
- CDs
- Microforms
- Electronic databases
- Downloadable audiobooks and ebooks
January 2009
