Collection Policy State Library of Iowa February 1996 I. Introduction A. Purpose of the Collection Policy This Collection Policy for the State of Iowa establishes the scope and purposes of the library’s collections and collection access services. It is intended for the use of library staff and clientele, administrators, state government, and the citizens of Iowa. This policy: 1. defines the intended coverage and clientele of State Library of Iowa collections and collection access services; 2. establishes collection management and selection policies; 3. provides staff with the means to ensure consistency, responsiveness, and wise use of funds in the development and management of collections and collection access services; 4. assists in the development of performance measures by defining the intended use, scope, and collection level goals of the collections; 5. establishes priorities to guide budget allocations and cataloging and preservation decisions; and 6. documents the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom. B. The State Library of Iowa The State Library of Iowa was established as a territorial library of Governor Robert Lucas in compliance with an 1838 Act of Congress. When Iowa became a state in 1846, the territorial library became the State Library of Iowa. The original mission of the State Library, to provide library services to state government, has grown to include provision of library services and support statewide. The State Library of Iowa provides extensive library development services to public, academic, school, and special libraries; maintains a state-wide union catalog and a state-wide electronic information network; operates the state State Library of Iowa Collection Policy February 1996 Page 2 interlibrary loan network, and funds direct sharing of library resources with patrons; and provides direct information services and collections to state government, the state’s legal, medical, and library communities, and Iowa citizens. C. State Library Mission Statement “The State Library advocates for Iowa libraries and promotes excellence and innovation in library services in order to provide statewide access to information for all Iowans.” State Library collection services support the mission of statewide access to information by providing electronic network services, encouraging and directly offering shared resources for libraries, and directly meeting the information needs of state government and Iowa’s medical, legal and library communities. D. Primary Clientele The collections and collection access services of the State Library of Iowa have been established to serve the educational, cultural, intellectual, and economic needs of the citizens 0of Iowa, and all collections and collection services are abailable for personal use by Iowa citizens. Although personal use by citizens is encouraged, the primary direct clientele for State Library collections and collection services are institutions and individuals who in turn serve the citizens of Iowa. These clientele are: Iowa State Government Iowa Legal Community Iowa Medical Community Iowa Library Community E. Access to Information State Library of Iowa collections and collection access services are designed to provide effective access to the full range of information needed by the library’s clientele in promoting the well-being of the citizens of Iowa. The underlying purpose of the State Library’s collections and services is access to needed information, rather than direct ownership or preservation of information resources. Comprehensive access is provided in two ways: The State Library acquires basic collections designed to meet the routine information needs of the library’s primary clientele. State Library of Iowa Collection Policy February 1996 Page 3 Collection access services facilitate use of the basic collections, and expand and enhance access to information beyond basic needs through electronic networking, remote databases, interlibrary loan, and other document delivery options. The primary clientele of State Library collections have specialized needs, and the collections are focused on meeting those needs. Most State Library collections, through specialized, are developed to meet the core information needs of the primary clientele, rather than to provide support for extended or archival research. The State Documents collection, however, serves as the comprehensive, archival depository of Iowa State documents. F. Primary Collections The State Library of Iowa services the citizens of Iowa through the following primary collections: 1. Medical This collection was established by statute to directly serve the medical community of Iowa. 2. Law This collection directly serves the legislature, state government, and legal community of Iowa. 3. Government Documents The Sate Library is a partial federal documents depository and serves as the comprehensive depository for Iowa state documents. These collections primarily serve the legislature, state government, legal and medical communities, and library communities of Iowa. The library is also a federal patents depository and maintains a collection of federal census information and other demographic resources relating to Iowa. These collections primarily serve state government, business, and the general public. Much of the census material is integrated into the general library collection. a. Federal Documents Depository b. State Documents Depository c. Patent Depository d. Census Information State Library of Iowa Collection Policy February 1996 Page 4 4. Public Management The public management collection, including general reference and journal collections and a selective topical collection of monographs, primarily serves state government agencies and employees. 5. Shared Resources/Information Gateway The State Library directly provides collections and collection access services to enhance statewide shared library resources. Examples include a backup audiovisual collection used primarily by public librarians a library science collection to support library development in all types of libraries/and local and remote databases made available through information gateway services. G. Primary Collection Access Services The primary State Library of Iowa collection access services are: 1. Reference The State Library offers medical, legal, and general reference services to ensure effective bibliographic access to State Library collections, directly provide requested information, and assist library clientele in connecting with more specialized resources that meet their information needs. 2. State Documents Depository Program The State Library operates the State Documents Depository Program, which provides primary statewide access to state government publications. The Depository Program acquires, catalogs, archives, and distributes multiply-produced publications; regardless of format, which are issued by state agencies and supported by public funds. The program produces catalogs and finding guides for the material, and services a network of depository libraries to provide convenient geographic access to state government information and materials. The depository program directly serves other libraries and state agencies. 3. State Data Center The State Data Center identifies, analyzes, and distributes information about Iowa’s population, housing, agriculture, business, industry, and government. The Center responds to direct inquiries, arranges for custom analysis of data, and provides training in the use of data resources and State Library of Iowa Collection Policy February 1996 Page 5 presentations that highlight current trends. The State Data Center enhances access to Federal Census data, state agency data, and similar resources for state agencies, libraries, local and regional agencies and governments, and businesses and other end-users. 4. Information Gateway The State Library of Iowa encourages networking of electronic information resources through statewide programs and initiatives. These programs and initiatives provide the resources to make available electronic information resources, such as: the online catalogs of Iowa libraries; library union databases; commercial databases; state and federal government information; and State Library databases. H. Intellectual Freedom and Censorship The State Library of Iowa affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas. Materials are not excluded from State Library of Iowa collections because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. The library provides materials and information presenting all points of view on issues within the scope of the library collections, and materials are not proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. A person’s right to use the library is not denied or abridged because of that person’s origin, age, background, or views. Electronic information, services, and networks provided directly or indirectly by the library are equally, readily and equitably accessible to all library users. The State Library of Iowa subscribes to the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights (Appendix I), the Freedom to Read (Appendix II), the Freedom to View (Appendix III), and Access to Electronic Information, Services, and Networks (Appendix IV). Concerns about materials in State Library of Iowa collections may be addressed to the person responsible for selecting the particular collection. The selector will prepare a timely, written response that outlines the library’s stance on intellectual