Collection Development

VPL is committed to supporting learning and action for Truth and Reconciliation by providing strong Indigenous collections. VPL is committed to sharing Indigenous voices and culture at every library branch, in alignment with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action on Education for Reconciliation; UNDRIP Articles 15 and 21; and relevant objectives from the City of Vancouver’s UNDRIP Strategy and VPL’s Indigenous Rights and Reconciliation Strategy.

VPL is committed to working with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and local Indigenous community groups to inform the materials that are selected and de-selected from library’s Indigenous Collection.

1. General
1.1. Strong collections of books and other resources are at the core of excellent library service. The Vancouver Public Library is committed to developing robust and diverse collections to best serve and inspire our public. We embrace the power of knowledge to change lives.

1.2. VPL’s collections must be of considerable scope and variety to fulfill our mission to:

• Enrich and empower lives and build community by providing universal access to the world’s information and ideas.
• Promote lifelong learning, discovery, enjoyment and the realization of potential.
• Inspire the love of reading and the exploration of ideas, culture and knowledge.
• Meet the diverse needs and interests of individuals.
• Respect and reflect communities of various cultural, ethnic, religious, and philosophical backgrounds.
• Recognize and accommodate varied educational levels, abilities and disabilities, English and non-English speaking users.
• Meet the needs of the residents of Vancouver and supply resources for residents in the province through InterLINK and resource sharing agreements.
• Meet demonstrated needs in a rapidly evolving information world while also considering our responsibilities to posterity, and our role in providing access to the local human record.
• Support VPL’s commitment to learning and action for Truth and Reconciliation.

1.3. Collection development is an ongoing process requiring professional judgment and experience to balance competing needs and demands, striving for optimal use of the human and fiscal resources entrusted to us.

1.4. The Vancouver Public Library values all the communities it serves. Community and individual input is encouraged and collaborative, community led approaches are used to identify unmet needs and interests.

1.5. Collection Guidelines, as well as more detailed profiles for specific subject areas are maintained to guide Library staff in the selection of material.

1.6. We actively collect Canadian authors and subjects and build comprehensive collections on British Columbia and Vancouver history and culture.

1.7. The Central Library maintains collections to meet a wide range of needs, and acts as a support resource for branches across the system, as well as being available as a provincial resource.

1.8. The Library must balance the demand for availability of popular and recreational material with the responsibility to build appropriately comprehensive collections to meet the many and varied information needs of our users.

1.9. The Library will provide a broad range of topics and ideas for children at a developmentally appropriate reading level, interest, and comprehension level.

1.10. It is vital for the Library to monitor and respond to developments in content provision technology. Content is our primary consideration; we select formats that provide for communities that require alternate formats as well as facilitate the most convenient access for the majority of our users.

1.11. The Library must also track social and demographic trends in order to build collections responsive to the needs of our users as they change over time. This includes maintaining an awareness of emerging languages and cultures, economic impacts on information needs, and broader changes in work and recreational habits.

2.Deselection
Deselection is a vital part of building and maintaining a living and responsive collection. We actively and continuously track and appraise the performance of our collections, to balance both immediate demand and long term user needs. Removal of items from the collection through active weeding is integral to this process. Material of local historical importance and interest is retained where the content has enduring worth or documents the development of a subject for in-depth research.

3.Intellectual Freedom
3.1. The VPL Board endorses the Canadian Federation of Library Associations’ Statement on Intellectual Freedom and Libraries. The Vancouver Public Library selects materials based on the belief that individuals have the right to access all expressions of knowledge, opinion and creativity. Such freedom of access to information is essential to the health and development of a democratic society.

3.2. We acquire and make available a wide range of materials, representing all significant points of view, including those which express controversial or unpopular ideas. Inclusion in the collection does not constitute endorsement by the Library.

3.3. While recognizing the right of individuals and groups to criticize selections, we must not allow the freedom of choice within the Library to be limited by the personal views of any group or individual.

4. Reconsideration of Library Materials

Library staff will review the selection of any specific materials upon written request from any member of the public. A completed copy of the form, "Request for Reconsideration of Library Material" is reviewed by the appropriate librarian(s) in light of the criteria outlined in this policy. A written response will be sent to the person or organization making the request.

Library employees who contravene this policy may be subject to discipline up to and including termination of employment.

• Digitization and Lending of Print Books (Board Policy)
• Inclusive Library Services Policy (Board Policy)
• Canadian Federation of Library Associations Statement on Intellectual Freedom