Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 16 - History, Humanities and Arts › Part 160 - LIBRARY SERVICES › Chapter 1 - Collections - Scope › Rule 16-160.1.1 - Collection Development Policy

Current through June 25, 2024
A. Intellectual
				Freedom. The library is historically understood to be an unbiased repository
				for the recorded expression of human thought. It must, therefore, accept
				responsibility for providing access by the public to all points-of-view
				contained therein. The addition of an item to the collection does not represent
				an endorsement by the Library Commission of any theory, idea, or policy
				contained in the item. The Library Commission collection strives to represent
				differing sides of controversial issues to the extent that budget constraints,
				space limitations, and availability of materials allow. The race, religion,
				gender, nationality, or political views of an author, individual, or group in
				the community shall not result in items being automatically included in or
				excluded from the collection. The Library Commission subscribes to the
				principles of the American Library Association's "Library Bill of Rights" and
				"The Freedom to Read" and "Freedom to View" statements.
B. Acquisition of Materials.
1. Primary Resource Collection - The Library
				Commission acquires library materials through purchases and gifts. The Board is
				authorized by §
										39-3-111
				to accept in the name of the State gifts of books, periodicals, or other
				property for the purpose of promoting the work of the Library Commission.
				Selections of library materials are made by professional staff designated by
				the Executive Director. Selection of library materials is based on scope, need,
				format, purchase price, storage cost, efficiency and effectiveness in imparting
				information, and suitability for use by staff and eligible users. Selectors
				take into consideration critical evaluations in review media, journals, and
				standard bibliographies, as well as the selector's knowledge of the collection
				of the Library Commission and other libraries, communities served, and existing
				library and information resources.
State documents shall be deposited with the Library
				  Commission in accordance with §
											25-51-1
				  to
				  25-51-7,
				  which designates the Library Commission as the State depository for the
				  publications issued by any State government agency for public distribution and
				  requires all agencies of State government to furnish copies of public documents
				  to the Library Commission. Acquisition of Patent and Trademark Depository items
				  shall follow the requirements established by the U.S. Patent and Trademark
				  Office.
Materials donated to the Library Commission shall be added to
				  the collection only in accordance with the general collection policy.
2. Blind and Physically
				Handicapped Collection - The Library Commission acquires materials, at no
				charge, through the Library of Congress, National Library Service (NLS) for the
				Blind and Physically Handicapped program. Other formats not provided by NLS or
				acquired through purchases and gifts follow the Library Commission acquisition
				guidelines established for the Primary Resource Collection in Section
				II.A.2.b.1.