Corpus Christi Public Library

Collection Development Policy

Mission:
The mission of the Corpus Christi Public Libraries (CCPL) is to improve literacy, enhance knowledge,
and create a sense of community by making useful information easily accessible to the Corpus Christi
area.

Purpose:
To articulate the principles, policies, and criteria that guide the staff in selecting materials to develop
responsive collections for the library system and to inform the public on these principles and selection
standards used by the Library.

Commitment:
We are committed to providing easy access to books and information for all ages through responsive
professionals, engaging programs, and state-of-the-art technology in a safe and friendly environment.

Corpus Christi Public Library (CCPL) prioritizes a commitment to equity ensuring that all members of
the Corpus Christi community have equitable access to library services and programs. Diversity and
inclusion are about respecting, understanding, honoring, and welcoming all members of the staff and
community into the library. Decisions about hiring, collection development, policies, and programming
are made with a lens of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

CCPL remains committed to providing the entire Corpus Christi community with access to books, ideas,
and knowledge, and to fostering a Library for All.

Principles
The Corpus Christi Public Library Collection Development Policy is based on the following principles:

A. Materials are selected which provide for the interest, information, enlightenment, entertainment,
education, development, and enrichment of all library patrons, within budgetary constraints and
availability of materials.
B. The freedom to read, along with the freedom to hear and to view, is protected by the First
Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. This freedom, essential to our democracy,
will be upheld, supported, and defended in the selection and accessibility of all library materials.
In this regard, the library upholds the principles of the American Library Association's Library
Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read, Freedom to View, Statement on Labeling, and Free Access to
Libraries for Minors as well as to the Texas Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Statement.
C. Selection of materials does not constitute or imply agreement with or approval of the content,
viewpoint, implications, or presentation of the materials.
D. The library staff does not serve in loco parentis. It is the parent(s), and only the parent(s), who
may restrict their children, and only their own children, from access to library materials.
Responsibility for children's reading rests with their parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s). Selection

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 will not be inhibited by the possibility that materials may inadvertently come into the possession
of children.
E. The library is not a judicial body. Laws governing obscenity, subversive materials, and other
questionable matters are subject to interpretation by the courts. Consequently, no challenged
material will be removed from the library for complaints of obscenity, pornography,
subversiveness, or any other category covered by law until after receipt of an independent court
order. Conversely, materials previously judged unlawful will not knowingly be selected.

Policy
In accordance with the above principles, the following policies apply in regard to materials selection and
accessibility for the general library collection. While CCPL provides extensive collections for all
audiences including adults, juveniles, and teens, access and use of the entire collection is a right of all
residents.
• Materials move from location to location to fulfill community needs and requests.
• With limited exception, the collection is maintained on “open shelves” and is available for
browsing and loan to all patrons using their library card.
• Limiting a minor’s (under 18 years of age) access to or utilization of the collection is
entirely within the purview of and is solely the responsibility of the minor’s parent or
guardian.
• Materials missing or withdrawn from the Library’s collection are not automatically
replaced.

Selection
The selections made follow the aforementioned principles while attempting to maintain diversity,
quality, and responsiveness to patron interest patterns. As such, selections are made on the basis of any
one, several, or all of the following considerations:

A. Budgetary constraints limit the purchase of materials.

B. Diversity is pursued by attempting to meet the needs of all ages, backgrounds, and educational
levels, by providing as many subject fields as possible, and by providing alternative perspectives
on unpopular or unorthodox as well as popular materials. The collection represents various
opinions and viewpoints on all issues of general concern and should broadly reflect the various
ethnic and social groups in the City.
C. The collections contain materials that represent people of diverse populations such as ages, races
and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, religions, cultures, gender, and sexual orientation. Some
material presents alternative or minority viewpoints, ideas, issues, and lifestyles, special insight
into human and social conditions, or their experience and contributions.
D. Patrons are free to choose what they want from the collection, and to reject what they don’t like,
but not to restrict the freedom of others to choose. It is our goal that within the collection
everyone can find something that brings them joy but we are aware that it won’t be the same thing
for every one of our users. Decisions about what materials are suitable for particular children
should be made by the people who know them best – their parents or guardians. The selection of
materials for adults is not constrained by possible exposure to children or teenagers. Library staff
is available to assist children and parents in finding the materials that are best suited to the
individual child.
E. Quality is pursued by applying professional discretion and standards established by the library
profession and through the use of appropriate selection aids, including book reviews, bestseller
lists, etc.

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 F. The Library staff responds to community interests by careful consideration of the following:
patron requests for purchases, use patterns for existing materials, purchase trends of similar
materials from retailers, and any other source of information indicating community interests. The
Library collection serves, to the degree possible, the interests of a diverse community without
exclusion. Responsiveness to the interest of one individual or group is not restricted on the basis
of dislike or objection of another individual or group.
G. Undue duplication of materials is avoided, either in the library itself, or with other institutions in
the community. Esoteric or very technical works, and materials available elsewhere to special
interest groups, are generally excluded from the collection. Materials may also be excluded if the
existing collection already covers the field.
H. Materials with formats that do not conform or lend themselves to library use are usually excluded.
I. Gifts, unsolicited materials, and patron suggestions for purchases are all evaluated under the
same policies, principles, and selection criteria as regularly purchased materials.

Criteria
Library materials, whether purchased or donated, are subject to the criteria listed below. An item need
not meet all of these standards to be included in the Library’s collection:

o Public interest or demand

o Relevance to the community
▪ Contemporary significance
▪ Enduring value
▪ Readability and style
▪ Treatment of subject for intended audience
▪ Physical durability, and attractiveness
▪ Suitability of the format for library use
▪ Creative, literary, or technical quality
▪ Cost
▪ Availability from our contracted vendors
▪ Reviews in the professional journals
▪ Reviews in popular media
▪ Professional or literary reputation of the author, publisher, or producer
▪ Circulation of similar material
▪ Relation to existing collection and other materials on the subject

Materials missing or withdrawn from the Library's collection are not automatically replaced. The
decision to replace items is based on the following criteria:

• Not every subject gap will be filled

• Availability of other copies or editions in the collection
• Public interest
• Adequacy of coverage in the subject area
• Circulation of withdrawn or missing item
• Cost
• Availability from our contracted vendors

Formats collected include books, periodicals, newspapers, maps, audio and video recordings, graphic
novels, online eBooks and audiobooks, online databases, and “library of things” such as MakerSpace
tools, baking pans, crochet hooks, etc. New and/or emerging formats will be considered when

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appropriate. The collection does not include pop-up books, coloring books, workbooks, cutout books, or
fragile, multipart items that will not withstand circulation.

Periodicals and newspapers are selected to include current information not available in book format.
Back issues are retained in paper, microform, or electronic formats considering reference usefulness,
customer interest, and space limitations.

CCPL is not responsible for materials available through databases or consortiums.

The Corpus Christi Local History Room at LaRetama Central Library, a special collection of the library,
collects, preserves, and manages information about Corpus Christi and Nueces County. Due to the
nature of the materials collected, the Corpus Christi Local History Room has its own collection
development policy.

Reconsideration
CCPL believes in freedom of information for all and does not restrict a user’s right to read, view, or listen
to Library materials. As such, CCPL collects and makes available a wide variety of information resources
and materials representing the range of human thought and experience. With such a broad spectrum of
ideas and information available, it is inevitable that people will occasionally encounter resources they
believe to be inappropriate or offensive. The materials held in the Library’s collection are controversial
and reflect differing viewpoints.

Library Staff will listen politely and respectfully to any questions and concerns of Library patrons and
informally explain the policy. Only City Resident who has been an active CCPL cardholder in good
standing for one year or more, may request removal or relocation of items from the collection through
the Request for Reconsideration of Materials form. Prior to submitting the Request, the requester must
have read the work in its entirety. The Request for Reconsideration of Materials form must be filled out,
signed, and dated to be accepted. The material will remain available during the reconsideration process.
No materials will be removed without following the full reconsideration process.

The Library Director or designee will assign a committee to review the Request in a timely, professional
manner. The committee will evaluate the item to determine if it meets the criteria established in the
Collection Development Policy. The Library Director or designee makes the final decision regarding
Requests for Reconsideration. An appeal to the Director’s decision can be made to the Library Board
within 30 days. No subsequent reviews will be allowed. The Library Board’s decision will be final.

Weeding
CCPL will evaluate its collections on an ongoing basis in response to the changing nature and needs of
the community. CCPL will withdraw materials based on the elimination of outdated materials, materials
no longer of interest or in demand, duplicates, and worn or mutilated items.

Professional Librarians use the Integrated Library System (ILS) to obtain various views of collection
performance. These and other guidelines are from CREW: A Weeding Manual for Modern Libraries

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from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Frequency of circulation, community interest,
and availability of newer and more valid materials are considered.

The processes of inventory and maintenance are continuous. CCPL maintains an active practice of
systematic weeding to keep the collection responsive to patron’s needs, to ensure its vitality and
usefulness to the community, and to make room for newer materials. Local History and Genealogy
Room materials are an exception.

Weeding is an integral part of collection development. Weeded materials will be disposed of through
means determined by the Library. The Library retains those materials in good condition that continue to
have enduring or permanent significance to its mission and overall collection goals.

Displays and Programs

Library-initiated programs and displays support the mission of the Library by providing patrons with
additional opportunities for accessing information, education, and recreation. CCPL believes in
promoting the collection through a variety of programs and displays representing the diversity of genres,
formats, ideas, and expressions with a multitude of viewpoints and cultural perspectives that reflect the
diversity in our community. Library displays increase awareness of programs, resources, and services.
Some programs or displays may incorporate sensitive issues of civic engagement and explore diverse
ideas. CCPL believes in the ability to transform controversy into a learning moment of the nature of
diverse opinions and experiences.

Library sponsorship of a program does not constitute an endorsement of the program content, or the
views expressed by the participants or speakers, any more than the purchase of resources for the library
collection or curation of a display constitutes an endorsement of the resources’ content or its creator’s
views. CCPL vigorously defends the First Amendment right of speakers and participants to express
themselves.

CCPL creates programs for an intended age group or audience based on educational suitability and
audience interest; however, restrictions on participation based solely on the gender, chronological age,
or educational level of patrons violate this right and should be enforced only when not doing so would
adversely impact the safety of the participants or interfere with the intended purpose of the program.
Parents and guardians may restrict their own children’s access to library programs, but no person or
organization can interfere in others’ access and participation.

Concerns, questions, or complaints about library-initiated programs and displays are handled according
to the Request for Reconsideration process.

Revised October 1, 2021; August 2023.

Board Approved: August 2023.

Next review: August 2025.

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 Request for
Reconsideration
Name Telephone

Address, City, Zip

Email

Library Card Number

Material on which you are commenting:

Title or program or display

Author

Format

1. What brought this title to your attention?

2. Did you read/view the entire item/program?
3. What do you believe to be the purpose of this item/program?
4. To what specifically do you object and why?
5. For what age group do you recommend this item/program?
6. Have you read any reviews of this item?
7. How do you feel this item does not conform to CCPL Collection Policy?
8. What would you like CCPL to do about this item/program?
In the place of this item, please recommend other materials/programs which you consider to be
preferable for the purpose intended.

___________________________________________________________________
Signature and date

Thank you for your interest in the Corpus Christi Public Libraries! Updated: 11/23

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