It is the function of the Joshua Hyde Library to serve all residents of the Town of Sturbridge. Books, periodicals, and audio-visual materials are provided for information, for general educational advancement and for the enrichment and recreation of borrowers. For rare, specialized and out-of-print materials, the library depends on the Central Massachusetts Regional Library System inter-library loan service.
Book selection is performed by the Children's Librarian for the Children's Department and by the Head Librarian for the other areas of the Library (i.e. Young Adult, Reference, Adult, etc.) The Head Librarian is responsible overall to the Library Trustees for the development of the collection. Factors which may limit the selection of materials include primarily, the availability of funds, and whether or not the cost of an item outweighs its value to the overall community.
Books and other materials are selected according to the following policy:
n Materials selected must meet high standards of quality in content, expression and format. These standards are not determined by any one individual, but rather from a consensus of well-known journals and critics (i.e. Library Journal, Booklist, New York Times Book Review, etc.)
n Materials of local history and for local business and professional needs will be purchased.
n The library will purchase works written by authors whose views, though they may be widely rejected, have affected the shaping of world events.
n The library is responsible for providing materials on controversial issues, and whenever possible, to represent many shades of opinion on these issues.
n Serious works are not necessarily excluded because of unpleasant language or frankness. If a work, overall, has artistic merit or provides important information, it has a place in our collection.
n Criteria essential to the selection of non-fiction for both the Children's and the Adult collection include authoritativeness, accuracy, objectivity, timelessness, clarity of presentation, and community need. An attempt is made to limit purchases of specialized research materials for which there might be demand from only one or two members of the community.
n An up-to-date, balanced and useful collection will be maintained through a continual discarding and replacing process. Worn but basic titles will be replaced and obsolete or infrequently used material withdrawn.
Gifts of books to the library may be accepted if they meet the standards of the Book Selection policy as outlined above.
The library is opposed to the removal from its shelves, at the request of any individual or group, books or materials which have been chosen according to the Library Book Selection Policy. Furthermore, the library will oppose coercion on the part of an individual or group seeking to have books or materials added to the shelves contrary to the Book Selection Policy.
Because they represent an ideal which the library is trying to maintain, the Board of Trustees endorses the "Freedom to Read" statement of the American Library Association, and the "Library Bill of Rights" adopted by the American Library Association.
INTERNET USE POLICY
The Internet allows users to connect to networks of resources outside the library. Library patrons are encouraged to take advantage of this free Internet service.
The Joshua Hyde Library does not monitor and has no control over the information accessed through the Internet, nor does the library have complete knowledge of what is on the Internet. Information on the Internet may be reliable and current or it may be accurate, out-of-date, or unavailable at times. Patrons access the Internet at their own discretion. The Joshua Hyde Library cannot be held responsible for the content of the Internet. As with other library materials, a child's use of the Internet is the responsibility of the parent/legal guardian.
Staff will assist patrons with Internet use as time permits but cannot offer personal instruction.
Adopted August 12, 1996
Note: Some search engines provide a filter option. Patrons who would like to filter their search on the World Wide Web should ask a librarian for assistance. Patrons should understand, however, that filters can only reduce, not totally eliminate, material that users may find objectionable and may, at the same time, block access to some legitimate and useful resources.
the Internet and Children
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