DONATING RESOURCES FOR THE LIBRARY

The Holy Family High School College Preparatory Library accepts gifts and donations (including publisher’s gift copies) for the library’s collection that fall within needed subject categories, as determined by the Principal, Library Director and the staff. Gift additions must meet the same selection criteria as purchased materials and are subject to the following limitations.

  • The library retains unconditional ownership of the gift.
  • The library makes the final decision on the use or other disposition of the gift.
  • The library reserves the right to decide the conditions of display, housing and access to the materials.

Monetary gifts to the collection are welcome and may be designated as memorials.

  • Donations of money designated for the periodicals and newspapers collection are accepted in lieu of actual subscriptions. These contributions offset the high cost of periodical subscriptions and maintain the continuity of subscriptions from year to year.
  • Donors of the funds may suggest subjects or titles to be acquired with their donation, but the library reserves the right of final decision.

The library will accept for evaluation gift materials only in designated areas as listed below. All gifts must be in excellent condition.

  • Art and Architecture
  • Business, Science and Technology published within the last five years
  • New Media
  • Fiction and Non-fiction published in the last two years
  • Fiction by classic authors
  • Paperbacks

Library materials are discarded for one or more of the following reasons:

  • Obsolescence: subject matter is no longer timely, accurate, or relevant
  • Damage or poor condition
  • Space limitations
  • Insufficient use

The last copy of a work in the HFHSCP library system is evaluated in terms of its value to the school community, with consideration to the following:

  • Local interest
  • Reputation of author, publisher, producer, illustrator
  • Significance as identified in standard bibliographies
  • Quality of graphics
  • Uniqueness of information for research

Replacement

Replacement of materials withdrawn is not automatic. The decision to replace is influenced by:

  • Availability of copies in the system
  • Popular interest
  • Adequacy of coverage in the subject area
  • Significance in subject area
  • Cost and availability

Binding

The decision to bind materials is made with consideration to the same factors involved in replacement. In addition, the following should influence the decision to bind:

  • Adverse impact on circulation because of appearance
  • Feasibility of binding
  • Cost of binding vs. cost of replacement

This collection development policy will periodically be evaluated and revised as times and circumstances require.