Collection Development Policy
The citizens of Denver represent a diversity of age, background, religion, ethnicity, culture, education, socioeconomic level and lifestyle. This diverse citizenry in turn creates a diverse clientele for the materials that comprise the collection of the Denver Public Library. Denver’s population has a high percentage of library cardholders and makes heavy use of the collection.
Customer use is the most powerful influence on the Library’s collection, and much of the Library’s use is from new and popular adult books, children’s materials and items in audio-visual and electronic formats. Circulation, customer purchase requests and holds (reserve) levels are all closely monitored, triggering the purchase of new items and additional copies of high demand items to be included in the collection.
In addition to customer demand, selections are made to provide depth and diversity of viewpoints to the existing collection and to build the world-class Western History and Genealogy collection.
Inherent in this philosophy is an appreciation for each customer of the Denver Public Library. The Library supports each individual’s journey with materials and the tools to find them, without placing a value on one customer’s needs or preferences over another. The Library upholds the right of the individual to secure information, though the content may be controversial, unorthodox, or unacceptable to others.
View the entire Collection Development Policy.
Denver Public Library Online ©
Updated: June 06, 2007
