Policies have several functions in today’s complex organizations. Their statements help define the values of the organization, and they help managers and staff translate those values into service priorities. Policies establish a standard for services that can be understood by users of the service and providers. Policies ensure equitable treatment for all, and polices provide a framework for delivery of services. When policies have been adopted by a library’s governing agents in a formal process and are consistent with local, state, and federal laws, they will be enforceable.
This resource guide provides basic first steps on developing a library policy, as well as directories for policy guidance organizations, resources on sample policies, and a selected bibliography on policy development.
Below are some recommended steps to create an enforceable policy for your library:
Compiled by the Small Library Committee of the Wisconsin Association of Public Librarians, 2nd Edition, Revised by David L. Polodna, 1999 Converted to HTML by OWLS and posted with permission. Adapt the information to suit your needs.
A brief collection of library policies shared by members of United for Libraries, a division of ALA.Many units of the American Library Association have developed documents that give advice to librarians on various aspects of library service. These documents may be called "standards " or "guidelines".
The ALA Policy Manual includes brief statements of policies adopted by the ALA Council. Where ALA has made a position statement applicable to the operation of libraries, ALA accepts that statement for its own relevant operations.
All types of libraries are urged to draft, adopt and/or revise privacy and confidentiality policies. This document offers guidance for public, academic, research, school, and special libraries, as well as library systems. Special considerations are raised for school and academic libraries and for public library services to minors because each are affected by laws and practices unique to those particular contexts. Other considerations may also apply. When drafting a policy, library administrators should check with their parent institutions to ensure compliance with those institutions’ norms and policies. Some elements of this guidance may not pertain to all libraries.
Compiled by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, this directory lists the 50 state libraries.
To ensure the effective delivery of service and to provide full access to library resources, libraries should develop policies and procedures to address user behavior that may interfere with others’ use and enjoyment1 of the library. The American Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee recommends that publicly supported libraries use these guidelines to develop policies and procedures governing the use of library facilities.
The official positions tacked by the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) on matters related to the school library profession.
This is a list of state library agency websites, including a clickable map, compiled by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
Written by the Office for Intellectual Freedom at ALA. A good policy on the selection of materials will be relevant to your particular system and include basic sections on objectives, responsibility, criteria, procedures for selection, reconsideration of materials, and policies on controversial materials.
