Selection Criteria

Inevitably, there are more books and materials we want to purchase than there are dollars in a budget for us to spend. So how do you choose? Use the following criteria when making selections:

  • Does it fit within the guidelines of my library’s Collection Development policy?
  • Does this material reflect our community members? 
  • Does it meet our community’s needs?
  • Will it be popular and appealing?
  • Does this item fill a gap in the collection? (For example, materials in another language, books featuring Indigenous peoples, highly requested best seller, etc)
  • Is the material of high quality and effectively presented?
  • Do the illustrations appropriately fit the subject and age of the audience and are they accurate?
  • Are there insensitive or outdated depictions/stereotypes in the materials?
  • Is the information presented well researched?
  • Has the material received positive reviews in reviewed sources?