The following sections are taken from the library collection development policy. The full text of this and other policies are available at the Library Policies page.
The Collections
Library materials are organized into various collections. The following is a description of these collections, stating the purpose and scope of each collection and selection criteria specific to that collection.
Adult Collections
Fiction
The fiction collection is designed to serve the reading interests of a highly diverse community. It includes classics, bestsellers and critically acclaimed works as well as representative works of new authors and works from a variety of national and cultural traditions. Genre collections shelved separately are mystery, science fiction/fantasy and westerns. Multiple copies are purchased based on popularity of the title and patron demand.
Nonfiction
The nonfiction collection contains circulating materials in a wide range of subjects supporting the learning and information needs of library users. Included are books on job skill enhancement, self-help and individual growth, cultural awareness, business and consumer information, community affairs, recreational pursuits and general knowledge. Materials for the nonfiction collection are selected by subject specialists and are organized using the Dewey Decimal Classification System. Duplicates of popular titles are purchased when indicated by demand.
Reference
The reference collection provides timely, accurate and useful information to library users. These materials are intended to remain in the library to be readily available to the librarians and all library users.
Reference materials include bibliographies, indexes, directories, dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, atlases and statistical compendia. Heavy use is made of electronic databases and periodicals that support the reference collection. Selection criteria of particular importance to reference materials are: currency, accuracy, arrangement, uniqueness of information, authority, documentation and level of indexing.
The Business Reference Collection serves all facets of the business community. It contains national and local company directories, industry surveys, trade and association directories, and national and local manufacturing directories.
The Sunnyvale Collection provides historical and current information about the city and community of Sunnyvale. It includes books, newspapers, city documents, photographs, pamphlets and audiovisual materials.
Non-English Language
The Non-English Language collection provides recreational and information materials to meet the needs of community members who use materials in languages other than English. Resources include books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and sound recordings. Most of these materials circulate.
The library currently collects materials in Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Each language collection varies in breadth and depth depending on public needs and availability of materials and resources.
The library is committed to developing and maintaining this collection in order to respond to the changing demographics in the population served. New languages may be added to reflect community needs. Inclusion of languages in the collection is based on annual patron surveys and local demographic data.
Large Print
The Large Print collection serves the visually impaired. The majority of the collection is popular fiction with an emphasis on romance, mystery, and suspense. The few non-fiction titles are biographies, travel books and personal narratives.
College and Careers
The College and Careers collection provides test preparation materials for students and job seekers preparing for a broad range of employment and school entrance examinations. Examples of examinations represented are GED, SAT, SAT II, TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, College AP tests and civil service examinations.
READ
The READ collection provides material in print and audiocassette formats to support adult new readers or new readers in English as a second language. Some materials are suitable for use in teaching or tutoring situations, while others can be used for individual study and recreational reading. The materials, consisting of both fiction and non-fiction, are written on a first to fifth grade reading level. In addition to reading, the collection also supports other areas of interest to learners of English, such as pronunciation, conversation, vocabulary, and grammar.
Children's and Teen Collections
The Children’s Collection is intended to encourage children to become lifelong readers and information seekers. It includes materials in a variety of formats and a number of languages with a broad range of reading levels, including books, magazines, audio tapes, CD’s, videos and DVD’s. The primary users of the collection are children from infancy through 6th grade, their parents and caregivers, and their teachers.
Librarians select materials that children enjoy and which satisfy curiosity, stimulate intellectual development and support emotional growth. The collection contains materials that are the best available for children, as well as items selected for popular appeal. Curriculum related materials are purchased which duplicate and supplement materials available in school libraries. Textbooks are not purchased. Librarians review the collection continuously for currency and relevance to a changing community.
The Teen Collection is a browsing collection of popular materials for students in grades 6-12. It is designed to encourage teens to be readers and library users, as well as to attract other teens who have not frequented the library. Popular Young Adult titles in paperback, as well as classics included on school reading lists, form the core of the fiction collection. The nonfiction collection is not intended to be inclusive, but rather to cover subjects of interest to teens and topics frequently assigned for school projects. “Hot topics” of instantaneous but short-lived interest are a strong influencing factor in purchasing for this collection. Other factors are patron demand, ethnicity of the community, and input from middle school and high school teachers.
Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL)
The Sunnyvale Library maintains a special research collection providing information about patents and trademarks. As part of the Patent and Trademark Depository Library program, the library receives copies of U.S. patents, patent and trademark materials and provides access to the USPTO web sites. Training is also offered by the library. In addition, the library purchases additional reference materials about intellectual freedom and copyright issues.
Nonbook Collections
Periodicals
The Periodicals collection provides current and retrospective information on a wide range of special interests in the areas of health, hobbies, business and finance, education, sports, entertainment and current events. It includes newspapers, magazines and newsletters for adults, teens, and children. Periodicals are retained for varying periods of time. Included in the adult and teen collections are a number of periodicals in languages other than English.
Although certain long-established titles remain staples of the collection, others change frequently in response to community demand, publishing trends, and lifestyle changes. Indexing in standard sources also influences inclusion in this collection.
Recorded Books
The Recorded Books collection contains audio books for adults, teens, and children. Titles in this format are chosen for their appeal to a wide variety of interests. The collection contains abridged and unabridged fiction and non-fiction. Audio language learning materials are also part of this collection. The availability of replacement pieces for multi-item sets is a factor in selecting materials for this collection along with durability of the product and its packaging.
Music Sound Recordings
The adult music collection consists of works by major classical and contemporary composers, as well as popular genres. It is comprised primarily of compact discs due to their popularity and availability. The children’s music collection includes folk music, popular children’s songs and introductions to classical music. Music recordings are selected based on popularity and patron demand. Careful attention is given to selecting popular international music as well as music from this country. The library recognizes that some music lyrics can be controversial. Selections will be made on the merits of the work according to general selection criteria.
Videocassettes and DVD’s
The library’s videocassette and DVD collection is primarily a browsing collection and includes both feature and nonfeature films in a variety of languages to appeal to children, teens and adults. Films are selected for their intellectual and imaginative content and to reflect the varied ethnic backgrounds and other demographic and social issues of the community. Multiple copies of the most popular items are purchased to increase patron access.
Factors influencing purchase decisions for the videocassette and DVD collection include patron demand; popularity of the film (based on theater box office figures and sales rankings of commercial video/DVD vendors); and film reviews. An effort is made to select films from other countries, time periods and genres; and to provide films about topics that are enriched by a visual presentation such as travel, the arts, performance tapes, and natural history.
The library purchases films with United States Motion Picture Association of America ratings of G, PG, PG13 and R. X-rated films are not purchased.
Films from other countries that have not been rated by the MPAA are also purchased for the collection. Films containing extremes of sex and violence will be excluded when these experiences are an end to themselves, rather than part of the movie theme. The library recognizes that many films are controversial. Selections will be made on the merits of the works according to general selection criteria.
Adult Vertical File
The general adult vertical file provides concise or specialized information in four principal areas: health and medicine; geography and travel; social and political issues; and various practical topics. It contains print and map materials in non-book formats, including booklets, pamphlets, brochures, maps, information sheets, newsletters, and other uncataloged items that are not duplicated elsewhere in the library’s collection.
Map File
The map collection includes world maps of various regions, countries, and major cities, as well as state and major city maps. It contains an in-depth collection of maps of California counties, major cities, local Bay Area cities, and topographic maps. Also included are Santa Clara County flood maps and regional earthquake maps of special use to home-builders, homebuyers, or city planners.
Electronic Database Collection
The Electronic Database Collection serves the information needs of library users and librarians alike, providing easy, Web-based access to databases covering a wide range of subjects, including business and finance, health, current events, consumer information and a variety of popular and academic topics. Library members may gain remote access to a number of these subscription databases.
The databases provide indexing and often full-text for numerous magazines, journals, newspapers, and reference sources, many of which are held by the library. They also offer access to articles, reports, and listings that may not otherwise be available in the library’s print collections. The majority of the databases are in English. Full-text Spanish-language periodical and newspaper coverage is also offered.
Collection Maintenance
The Library’s collection is systematically evaluated to ensure that the materials remain current and in good condition and continue to reflect the needs of the Sunnyvale community. Statistical tools such as circulation reports, collection turnover rates, and customer surveys help the selectors determine how the collection is being used and what items are candidates for discard, repair or replacement.
Library materials are discarded based on the following criteria:
1. The information is obsolete or inaccurate
2. The number of copies is no longer in demand.
3. The material is not being used.
4. The material is damaged or in poor condition.
As an alternative to discarding or replacement, some materials are repaired or rebound.
Materials that are discarded are given to the Friends of the Library. They decide whether an item should be recycled or sold at the Friends of the Library booksale.