1. Mission

The Moorpark City Library (“Library”), operated by the City of Moorpark, provides information, lifelong learning, inspiration, and enjoyment to people of all ages through access to reading and technology. This Collection Development Policy (“Policy”), reviewed by the Moorpark Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department in conjunction with the City Attorney’s Office, establishes print and electronic material collection development, management, selection, de-selection, and reconsideration guidelines for Library staff. The Library maintains this written and publicly accessible Policy, which has been adopted and submitted to the State Librarian pursuant to “California Freedom to Read Act” (newly added Education Code sections 19800-19802) established under Assembly Bill (“AB”) 1825. 

2. General Governing Factors 

The library materials selection process is governed by the following considerations: 

1. The needs of the individual and community; 
2. The individual merits of each work without reference to topic, views, ideas, or opinions therein; 
3. The Library’s existing collection, budget, and services; and 
4. Intellectual freedom principles, including those outlined in the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights,” a copy of which is available at the Moorpark Library Circulation Desk and City Clerk’s office. 

The Library serves as a “center for voluntary inquiry and the dissemination of information and ideas.” The collection reflects the community’s broad and diverse interests; provides for the “interest, information and acknowledgement of all people[;]” presents diverse viewpoints; and respects both the Library’s autonomy and specific community needs. Finally, the Library acknowledges the public’s right to “receive access to a range of social, political, aesthetic, moral and other ideas and experiences.” Accordingly, the Library establishes a process for community members to share concerns about materials and request reconsideration for inclusion, as discussed below. 

3. Principles of Selection 

The Library’s selection process is guided by the following principles:

1.  The Library aims to obtain and make readily accessible materials, including books, and other print, non-print, digital or online materials, that fulfill the cultural, educational, and recreational needs of City residents. The Library shall further ensure that the collection reflects and is sourced from the diverse backgrounds, identities, viewpoints, and lived experiences of the Moorpark community, in both physical and digital formats. 
2. The selection criteria for any library material includes, but is not limited to: 
   • The level of demonstrated or potential interest to the community served 
   • Availability and cost of the material
   • The availability of similar material in the existing collection 
   • The availability of the material elsewhere in the community 
   • The physical makeup of the material 
   • Opinions expressed by critics or reviewers regarding artistic or literary merits or technique, excluding substantive critiques of topics, opinions, viewpoints, and ideas espoused in the material 
   • Local interest or demand in, or relevance of the material
3.  In selecting materials to reflect the diverse needs and interests of Moorpark residents, it should be recognized that materials may generate varied responses in readers. The selection of a wide range of books that reflects diverse ideas and experiences does not constitute an endorsement of all opinions expressed in the materials in the collection. 
4. Materials shall enhance public access library materials to the extent possible. In certain circumstances, the Library may limit access based on strictly time, place, and manner restrictions or where necessary to preserve the safety or security of such materials for all Library patrons. The Library does not serve as censor of the reading of any person. The Library recognizes the importance in an open and democratic society of allowing individuals to form their own opinions on issues and, therefore, acquires materials that may be deemed controversial in nature. 
5. Responsibility for the selection of Library materials by minors rests with their parents or legal guardians. The selection of materials for the Library will not be governed by the possibility that these materials may come into the possession of minors. 

4. Responsibility for Selection

1. Library staff is primarily responsible for selecting library materials and will consider recommendations and requests from Moorpark residents or other Library patrons. 
2. Library staff shall select materials based on certain objective criteria and shall favor inclusiveness and variety to the extent possible. 
3. The Moorpark Library City Representative shall be the City Manager or City Manager designee (“City Representative”), who shall oversee the development of the Library collection by the City Librarian according to the principles set forth in this Policy. The City Librarian shall execute best practices in librarianship when developing the Library collection and shall be responsible for collection development. 
4. The Moorpark City Librarian and City Representative shall present an informational item to the Library Board on an annual basis identifying suggested allocation of collection budget resources to various types of materials for the Fiscal Year beginning July of that same year. Community input and emerging format trends will be considered during this process. Collection statistics for the prior Fiscal Year shall be included within the Moorpark City Library Annual Report presented to the Library Board at the subsequent September meeting. The Library Board will provide suggestions to the City Librarian and City Representative who have final decision-making authority on collection development.

5. Public Access to Materials in the Library

1. The public has free access to all Library materials consistent with this Policy. 
2. No person shall be denied Library resources solely due to personal characteristics, age, background, or views. 
3. All persons have a right to privacy and confidentiality in materials borrowed from the Library. 
4. Decisions on placement of materials within the Library will be made by the City Librarian based on: 
   • Assigned Classification 
   • Format 
   • Susceptibility to loss or damage 
   • Rarity or cost 
   • Digital licensing restrictions or platform availability (for electronic resources) 
5. The Library staff labels materials for placement only, not to predispose the patron for or against any materials. 
6. The Library may not prohibit the circulation, procurement of, or access to, any materials in the Library due to a particular topic, view, idea, or opinion at issue, in addition to other grounds outlined under Education Code section 19802. 

6. Bindery / Book Mending

Only those materials of local significance or long-term importance to the collections, or heavily used items will be bound, rebound, or mended as needed. 

7. Gifts – Funds

Donations of funds are welcome and must be documented by the City. Donated funds must be immediately sent to the City of Moorpark Finance Department for deposit and accounting on the day received or the next business day if received on a weekend or after 5:00 pm. The City Representative reserves the right to make the final decision on use of donations of funds towards library enhancements. 

8. Gifts - Materials

Donations of materials to enrich the collection are welcome. Donated materials are typically received by the Moorpark Friends of the Library, a non-profit volunteer community organization that supports the Moorpark Library. Library staff reserves the right to review all donated materials to determine if any of the materials are to be added to the collection. If the donated materials do not meet the selection criteria to be added to the library collection, the materials become the property of the Moorpark Friends of the Library.

9. Withdrawal of Materials

Damaged, worn, obsolete, superseded, or unused items may be withdrawn from the Library upon the written recommendation of the City Librarian with the written approval of the City Representative. Withdrawal decisions will consider both print and digital resources, following professional weeding guidelines (e.g., CREW method). Weeding and/or disposal of library materials shall be at the discretion of the City Representative. The City Librarian will make any recommendations regarding resale, donation, or disposal of weeded material, which will then be approved by the City Representative prior to undertaking the following procedural options: 

1. Materials determined worthy of re-sale or donation shall be offered to the Moorpark Friends of the Library for the purpose of sale(s) with all proceeds to benefit the Library. Items that remain unsold are the responsibility of the Moorpark Friends of the Library who will dispose of the material. 
2. If the Moorpark Friends of the Library do not accept the discards worthy of re-sale or donation, the City, at its sole discretion, shall discard or donate the material to non-profit, charitable organizations as determined by the City Representative.
3. The City will discard any books determined unworthy of re-sale or donation by the City representative. The City shall recycle any recyclable materials. 

10. Reconsideration of Materials

Moorpark residents and other Moorpark Library cardholders (collectively referred to as “patrons”) requesting reconsideration (i.e. withdrawal or removal) of materials in the Library must follow the Library’s formal reconsideration procedure. Patrons requesting the removal of a library material from the Library collection must complete a “Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials” form, a copy of which is publicly available at the Library, as well as on the City of Moorpark website at the following link: Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials

Any request for reconsideration will be acknowledged in writing within ten (10) business day of receipt. The City Librarian will review the material at issue in consultation with the City Representative or designee, considering the patron’s concerns, circulation data, professional reviews, and the Library’s objective selection criteria as stated in this Policy. Consultation with Library staff or subject matter experts may be included as part of the process.

A formal written response will be issued summarizing the contested material, the concerns raised, relevant Library Policy, and the review process. The Library’s final determination regarding retention, relocation, or withdrawal of the material will be issued no later than thirty (30) business days after the initial request was received. The decision of the City Librarian shall be final. Once a title has been considered, it will not be reviewed again for a period of two (2) years.

11. Personnel Policy

Library employees or contractors, including librarians, shall not be subject to termination, demotion, discipline, or retaliation for refusing to remove library materials before proper review in accordance with above-referenced reconsideration policy or making decisions that the individual believes in good faith are in accordance with AB 1825 requirements.