Collection Development Policy
Bridges is a consortium of libraries that subscribe to a service for downloadable books, including both audio and e-books. The consortium service is provided through the vendor OverDrive and overseen by The State Library of Iowa. The goal of the Bridges Consortium is to develop a collection that is useful to a broad range of patron interests.
Material selection is done by the Bridges Selection Team. The Bridges Selection Team members are chosen from Bridges libraries to represent a variety of population sizes statewide and State Library staff.
Materials will be selected on the basis of their value in meeting the informational and recreational interests of the people in communities served by Bridges libraries. Factors in selection will include: interest, demand, timeliness, audience, diversity of viewpoint, availability of materials in appropriate formats, information obtained from professional and user reviews, and budget.
The Bridges Selection Team will be responsive to patron requests for materials, taking into account the breadth of the collection and the materials budget.
No material that meets the consortium’s selection criteria shall be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of the author or those contributing to its creation. Not all materials may be suitable for all members of the community. Not all materials may be suitable for all audiences.
All selection criteria will be evaluated annually in an effort to provide the best possible downloadable collection to Bridges.
Guidelines:
Selections will be made across a variety of genres and topics, including general fiction, romance, mystery, science fiction/fantasy, and nonfiction on a wide range of subjects. Selectors will be instructed to select materials in all genre areas each month, as titles are available.
Each month purchases will include new materials, patron requests and multiple copies of items on hold. Selection percentages will be evaluated annually by the State Library Team and changed as necessary-see addendum 1.
Selection will include titles for adults, teens, and children using percentages as found in addendum 2.
Budget allocation for audiobooks and eBooks will be approximately 65% audiobook and 35% eBook. Audiobooks will be purchased in unabridged format whenever possible.
Patron requests will be reviewed at least monthly and will be added when appropriate for the collection, according to the collection development policy, and if budget and availability allow. The consortium might not purchase all titles by an author, even if requested, if those titles do not meet the criteria for breadth of the collection and the budget.
Each year, a budget will be allocated for special collections to be purchased. Examples of special collections include but are not limited to travel, testing materials, language, manga, graphic novels, etc.
A representative of the State Library (or designee) will purchase multiple copies of popular titles in an effort to reduce wait times for patrons. Hold ratios will be determined by the available budget.
A representative of the State Library (or designee) will evaluate titles that are expiring and purchase based on budget available.
A representative of the State Library (or designee) will purchase titles each month for adult fiction authors on the standing order list. Authors on the standing order list will be determined by the Bridges Selection Team and evaluated on a regular basis.
Procedures:
There will be a minimum of 18 volunteer selectors, chosen from within the Bridges consortium’s participating libraries. Each selector will compile an order list for the consortium for two months of the year. Each selector will serve for 3 years. Terms will begin on July 1.
Selectors will develop monthly order lists containing new titles for the consortium. The total dollar amount of the order must be within the budgetary limitations provided by the State Library. The selector(s) will submit the selection list to the designated State Library team member who will submit the order to Overdrive. Selectors will be given a monthly budget allocation by the State Library.
Simultaneous Use (Always Available) subscription titles, patron requests, and multiple copies based on hold ratios will be selected by designated Bridges Team members.
Reconsiderations:
Once an item has been selected, it will not be removed from the collection at the request of persons or groups who disagree with its contents unless it is in violation of the principles set forth in the collection development policy. Bridges patrons of member libraries who wish to object to materials in the Bridges collection may do so by requesting and completing a "Citizen’s Request for Reconsideration of Materials” form (available from a participating consortia library or from the State Library website). The State Library of Iowa welcomes such interest in its downloadable collections and assures patrons that all written requests for reconsideration will be given serious attention. Completed "Request for Reconsideration” forms will be evaluated by a five-person Review Committee consisting of the following individuals:
- One representative of the library from which the reconsideration originated (the complainant’s home library);
- One representative of The State Library of Iowa;
- One representative of the materials selection committee of the consortia;
- Two representatives from two different participating libraries in the consortia.
The Review Committee will examine the request for reconsideration and the challenged material, and will respond in writing to the complainant and the complainant’s home library within six weeks of receipt of the reconsideration form. Challenged materials will not be removed from public access while awaiting resolution of a request for reconsideration.
The decision of the Review Committee is final. An item will only be evaluated for reconsideration once within a two-year period.
ADDENDUM 1
Each month purchases will include new materials, patron requests, multiple copies of items on hold and renew expired licenses on hold.
Addendum 2
| Adult Fiction | 53% |
| Adult Fiction Standing Order | 12% |
| Adult Nonfiction | 22% |
| Youth | 13% |
- July 2012
- Revised June 2015
- Revised May 2017
- Revised June 2023
- Revised August 2023