Table of Contents
1. Mission Statement
2. Purpose
3. Collection Values
4. Scope of Collection
5. Selection Criteria
6. Recommendations
7. Collection Management
8. Requests for Reconsideration
Appendix I – ALA Library Bill of Rights
Appendix II – PA Confidentiality of Library Records
Appendix III – Recommend a Title Form
Appendix IV – Request for Reconsideration/De-selection Form
The Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL) within the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) supports, develops, and provides library services for learning and advancement.
POWER Library is a service of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, Pennsylvania Department of Education, and is hosted by Hosting Solutions and Library Consulting (HSLC). This policy exists to define the framework for development and maintenance of the electronic collection presented in POWER Library.
The Office of Commonwealth Libraries is committed to supporting access to literacy, information, and educational materials for all Pennsylvanians.
The Office recognizes the need for equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging within the communities we represent and serve.
Selection of a given item for the POWER Library is not an endorsement of a particular viewpoint. No material is excluded because of the race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation, political or social views of the author. In following this policy, the Office of Commonwealth Libraries does not endorse every thought, expression or belief represented in POWER Library.
The collection provides an impartial environment in which individuals and their interests are brought together with the universe of ideas and information spanning the spectrum of knowledge and opinions. The Office of Commonwealth Libraries affirms the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to View, and Freedom to Read policy statements in support of acquiring and managing collections.
The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in POWER Library do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services or the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
E-Materials
The POWER Library e-materials collection will evolve as new formats become widely accessible. It may include e-books and other downloadable media to read, listen to, and watch.
The e-book collection comprises fiction, non-fiction, and reference titles for a broad range of ages, selected according to the criteria defined in Section 5 – Selection Criteria.
Textbooks are generally excluded.
POWER Library aims to supplement content that is available in public or school library collections. As such, the collection does not focus on best-selling items and popular fiction.
E-resources
POWER Library offers access to a variety of e-resources containing full text articles, abstracts, graphs, charts, audio files, video files, and photographs that support academic programs, workforce development, and lifelong learning opportunities.
Resources within a database may be interdisciplinary or subject specific in nature. POWER Library includes only electronic resources that are web-based and that can be made available to POWER Library users from any Internet connected device.
The following criteria – in no particular order are used to assess suitability of resources for inclusion in POWER Library. The general criteria for selection listed below applies to the selection of all materials. Not all titles or collections will meet all the criteria listed below, but will fall into at least one or more of these categories:
- Cost and available funding
- Availability of unlimited access and perpetual long-term licensing
- Accuracy and authoritativeness of the author and/or publisher
- Reviews in industry journals
- Need for coverage in subject area
- Date of publication
- Relation to the collection
- Relevance to interests, demands and needs of Pennsylvanians, individuals and community groups.
No cost titles, information sites, and resources may be added when provided by a state or national government agency.
The following criteria is used to determine whether resources are to be removed, maintained or updated in POWER Library:
- Currency (Age of the material)
- Accuracy
- Relevance
- Availability of newer or more accurate titles or e-resources
Removal considers the following criteria:
- No longer relevant to the needs and interests of the Pennsylvania community
- Infrequent use and lack of demand
- Factually inaccurate content
- Superseded by a new edition or a better source
Suggestions for purchases are welcome and encouraged. Recommendations go through the same criteria check as all selection decisions.
How to recommend an e-book or e-resource:
Pennsylvania residents may request e-book titles or e-resources not already included in the POWER Library.
To recommend a title or e-resource please contact:
Hosting Solutions and Library Consulting
3600 Market Street, Suite 550
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Fax: 215-222-0416
Email: help@hslc.org
Submit Online: https://powerlibrary.org/recommend-a-title/
Only recommendations that fit the selection criteria will be added when funding is available.
See also Appendix III
8. Requests for Reconsideration
In order to represent the diversity of thought within the Commonwealth, it is important that the POWER Library’s e-book collection contains materials representing different points of view and serving all ages. The Office of Commonwealth Libraries (OCL), part of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), approves content selected for POWER Library. OCL does not endorse particular beliefs or views, nor does the selection of an item convey or imply an endorsement of the viewpoint expressed by the author. There may be occasions when a member of the Pennsylvania user community objects to a particular item in POWER Library. If a user wishes the Office of Commonwealth Libraries to reconsider material that is in the collection, please refer to the Collection Development Procedure for the process.
See also Appendix IV
American Library Association: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill
Library Bill of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services.
I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.
IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.
V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.
VI. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
VII. All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use. Libraries should advocate for, educate about, and protect people’s privacy, safeguarding all library use data, including personally identifiable information.
Adopted June 19, 1939, by the ALA Council; amended October 14, 1944; June 18, 1948; February 2, 1961; June 27, 1967; January 23, 1980; January 29, 2019.
Inclusion of “age” reaffirmed January 23, 1996.
Although the Articles of the Library Bill of Rights are unambiguous statements of basic principles that should govern the service of all libraries, questions do arise concerning application of these principles to specific library practices. See the documents designated by the Intellectual Freedom Committee as Interpretations of the Library Bill of Rights.
Appendix II
PA Confidentiality of Library Records
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/CT/HTM/24/00.093.075.000..HTM
24 Pa C.S. § 9375. Privacy of circulation records. Records of the following institutions which relate to the circulation of library materials and contain the names or other personally identifying information of users of the materials shall be confidential and may not be made available to anyone except by a court order in a criminal proceeding:
- The State Library.
- A local library established or maintained under the provisions of this chapter.
- The library of a university, college or educational institution chartered by the commonwealth.
- The library of a public school.
- A library established and maintained under a law of this Commonwealth.
- A branch reading room, deposit station or agency operated in connection with a library described in this section.
Appendix III
Recommend a Title Form
