Click here for a pdf version of this policy.
Policy approved by the Board of Trustees, November 1989
Policy revised and approved by the Board of Trustees, March 1996
Policy revised and approved by the Board of Trustees, December 1999
Policy revised and approved by the Board of Trustees, June 2006
Policy revised and approved by the Board of Trustees, March 2012
Policy revised and approved by the Board of Trustees December 2020
Policy revised and approved by the Board of Trustees November 2022
Bethlehem Public Library provides free, open and equal access to ideas and information for all members of the community. The library recognizes its responsibility to carefully select and maintain library resources in support of its mission to make its collection available to every patron. Expanding areas of knowledge, changing social values, technological advances and changing demographics of a diverse and evolving community require flexibility, open-mindedness and responsiveness in the selection, evaluation and reevaluation of library items and resources.
Responsibility
Authority and responsibility for the selection of library items and resources are delegated to the library director by the board of trustees. The director may delegate related responsibilities to qualified staff.
Removal
Library resources may be removed from the collection due to damage or technological obsolescence, routine evaluation, or Request for Reconsideration.
Resources removed from the collection may be sold to the general public, donated to the Friends of Bethlehem Public Library, donated to other libraries or non-profit organizations, recycled or discarded.
Policy review
This collection development policy is available to the public at the library or on the library website. It will be reviewed by the library director and the board of trustees every five years.