Collection Maintenance Standards for MORE

Approved by MORE Resource Sharing/Collection Development Committee
February 24, 2021

Criteria for selection

Because all libraries in MORE are dedicated to serving their own communities, the criteria for selection reflect the need for flexible and broad standards. All libraries should have their own specific collection policies to use as guidelines for purchasing all formats of materials. MORE recommends using the standards below when considering new materials. It is strongly suggested that these standards be applied to all gifts and donations.

1. Identified, expressed, or anticipated demand
2. Availability
3. Contemporary significance, popular interest, or permanent value
4. Attention of critics and reviewers
5. Prominence, authority, significance, and/or competence of author or creator
6. Timeliness and accuracy of material
7. Relation to existing collections, such as titles in a series.
8. Statement of challenging, original, or alternative point of view
9. Authenticity of historical, regional, or social setting
10. Inclusive content

Withdrawing items

Regular, planned weeding of library materials is especially important in a system of shared catalogs. Patrons rely on factual materials to be timely and accurate. Materials that no longer meet the stated objectives of the MORE libraries, including items that are damaged or obsolete, should be removed from library collections according to the accepted professional practices described in the publication, CREW: A Weeding Manual for Modern Libraries.: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/pubs/crew/index.html