Collection/Materials Policy
Postville Public Library strives to provide books and other library materials of value and interest for information and enlightenment, for all the people of the community. The library attempts to maintain a collection of carefully selected representative book and non-book materials that are of both current interest and permanent value. It attempts to serve the children, young-adults, adults, and elderly.
Library materials will never be excluded because of the race or nationality, or the social, political, or religious view of the authors. The library will try to provide materials representing all points of views concerning current problems and issues at the local, national, and international levels. However, materials on controversial issues that present only one side of a question and are written in a violent, sensational, and inflammatory manner will ordinarily not be selected.
It is the responsibility of the library to give full meaning to the freedom to read, and will attempt to do so by providing books that enrich the quality of thought and expression.
The Librarian acts as the agent of the Board of Trustees in book selection. Selection procedures shall follow the principles set forth in the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement of the Library Association, and in accordance with federal and state laws.
It is further the obligation of this Library to keep the current policies of the Librarian for book selection or rejection in a written form, subject to change, as necessary, upon approval of the Board of Trustees.
Current Approval Policy for Library Materials
1. No highly specialized material in the fields of law, medicine, science, etc., is purchased. An effort is made to select titles of merit as indicated by recognized book reviews.
2. The Library does not favor nor discriminate against any religious group. Purchase of religious books is limited to those of a general nature or to recognize classics and standard reference items.
3. An effort is made to purchase fiction of some literary merit. The problem of selecting fiction involves a variety of types of novels and the need to satisfy readers of differing tastes, interest, purposes, and reading levels. We will, in the majority of cases, purchase books on best sellers’ lists to make them available to the public, even though some may be considered to be ephemeral in nature.
4. All library materials will be cataloged in the Dewey Decimal system in accordance with ALA standards.
5. The library has a variety of books in large print and will continue to add to these materials.
6. Children’s and young adult materials will follow the same guidelines as states; however, special consideration is given to appropriateness. The Library cannot assume the responsibility of deciding what a child may or may not read. That responsibility must lie with the home and the parent.
7. It is necessary to weed our collections regularly. The “CREW” method of evaluation and weeding will be the authority used. In doing so, consideration will be given to the following: • Age of material based on copyright • Usage circulation • Physical appearance • Literary merit or accuracy of material • Value to the community.
Revised April 2015
Reviewed January 2019
Reviewed September 2025