Collecting at the minimal level means few selections are made beyond very basic works. The basic level is a highly selective collection which serves to introduce and define the subject and to indicate the varieties of information available elsewhere. The Director delegates the authority and responsibility for collection development and management to the professionally-educated department heads. The attached Collection Management Plan for Rocky River Public Library describes the selection, development, and maintenance plans for the library's various library collections. Research materials and resources, whether for self-directed learning, informational purposes or educational purposes, are collected for preschool through community college levels.
Recreational material is collected for life-long enjoyment.
The library does not purchase, provide access to, or accept as donations for the collection, specialized, scholarly, or highly technical materials used for graduate or postgraduate study or limited research needs. The library acquires standard textbooks used in local schools and community colleges only if such textbooks are useful to the general public rather than merely meeting the demands of class assignments. An exception is a reference collection of Rocky River public school textbooks. Works of established Rocky River authors, printers, or publishers are collected, whenever economically feasible. Rocky River Public Library recognizes the variety and wealth of resources of the many libraries within its proximity and wants to avoid unnecessary and costly duplication of physical library items easily obtainable by its patrons within the geographical area.