How we decide what to buy

How we decide what to buy

Our Aims:

To provide stock (printed, electronic and audio visual) which will enable all members of our communities to gain unbiased access to resources for recreational and educational purposes
To make available a balanced and appropriate range of stock to cater for the diverse educational, recreational, social and information needs and wants of the whole community
To make available, promote and encourage the creation of a range of resources in the indigenous and community languages and dialects spoken in The Highland Council area

Methods of Stock Selection:

There are several ways in which Highland Libraries buy materials for stock:

Forthcoming fiction and non-fiction titles are ordered on-line via our main supplier, on average, 3 months in advance of publication. DVD and Music stock is also ordered on-line from our specialist supplier (Music is purchased on request).
Material for school libraries is selected by each establishment to reflect the needs of the curriculum and to support pupils’ educational and recreational requirements. Primary schools select their own library material. Librarians working in secondary schools select resources for the school library.
Area Libraries Officers and the Stock Co-ordinator regularly review relevant publications such as The Bookseller, publishers’ catalogues, websites, newspapers and other literary journals
Standing Orders are in place for particular categories of stock such as Large Print, Audio Books, Romances and Westerns
Customer feedback and suggestions for purchase – library customers can do this by contacting their local library, by emailing libraries@highlifehighland.com, or by using the feedback form via the online catalogue
Suggestions for titles for our Reading Group collections are made by group members, considered for suitability, and purchased on a regular basis.
Library stock profiles (detailing levels and kinds of stock held in every library) are reviewed annually

Additions to Stock:

Highland Libraries continually reviews the range of stock available and makes acquisitions within the financial resources available to it, taking into account the Council’s prevailing priorities and financial position
Highland Libraries actively encourages access to stock by all special needs groups, people who are disadvantaged socially or through disability or impairment
We will acquire and provide appropriate access to materials which support Adult Learners, learners of English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL), and other members of the community pursuing lifelong learning opportunities
When a library user requests an item which is not currently in stock, Area Libraries Officers will assess its suitability for purchase or pursue an Inter Library Loan from another library service
We will actively seek to purchase novels by first-time authors (regardless of geographic origin) and all material which is relevant to the Highlands (covering the history and geography of the region and all languages and dialects spoken in the area, such as Gaelic, Doric, the Caithness dialect, etc)

Withdrawals from Stock:

Highland Libraries constantly reviews its stock for withdrawal. Criteria for withdrawal includes poor physical condition, level of use, currency, appropriateness of content, etc
Where an important text is no longer required in a specific Library collection, it will considered for addition to the Network Reserve Stock
Withdrawn stock will be made available for sale across the Libraries’ network. Damaged books are withdrawn and sent for recycling

Further Information:

Please contact the Senior Librarian, Stock Co-ordinator on 01463 251255 or email libraries@highlifehighland.com For information about our Reference and Local History Stock Policy (including information on electronic resources), please see our separate policy document, or contact the Library Support Unit on 01463 251269 or email joyce.watson@highlifehighland.com For suggestions for books to try, why not visit the following website for some ideas?

Scottish Readers - a national Scottish site for reading suggestions