Talking Books Collection Development Policy

Introduction

Nevada citizens who are registered to receive service from Nevada Talking Book Services (NTBS) should have access to the same books and information made available to citizens through Nevada's public libraries. NTBS should offer standard, classic and informative titles plus works of popular interest which reflect the diverse needs of the readership. NTBS adheres to the selection criteria and guidelines stated in the Library of Congress National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LC/NLS) Selection Policy for Reading Materials. NTBS also adheres to the Revised Standards and Guidelines of Service for the Library of Congress Network of Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (American Library Association, 1984) which states: "Regional and sub-regional libraries shall produce special format materials emphasizing user demand and titles of regional and local significance."

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide selection guidelines for materials to be recorded by volunteers and to furnish a retention policy for the entire collection.

NTBS has an audio recording program which uses volunteers to record materials pertaining to Nevada and the High Sierra/Comstock area and materials related to the Legislature and state government as needed for use by citizens.

Responsibility

The responsibility for the selection and retention of materials rests with the Regional Librarian in conjunction with the State Librarian and Records Manager. To aid in selection, the NTBS administrator will designate members of the Nevada State Library and Archives and NTBS staff to assist in specific subject areas.

Selection Criteria for Locally Produced Audio Recordings

	1.	Books and magazines focusing on Nevada and the High Sierra/Comstock region. This includes all areas of non-fiction and fiction with a Nevada or High Sierra/Comstock setting.
	2.	Books written by authors closely identified with Nevada or the High Sierra/Comstock region.
	3.	Materials including, but not limited to, books, documents and magazine articles for the use of the Legislature and state government agencies.

Considerations for Selection

	1.	The quality of the writing will be considered when determining whether or not the material will be recorded. One measure will be favorable reviews in standard reviewing sources whenever possible.
	2.	Normally NTBS will not record materials available from LC/NLS or other readily accessible sources. If the item is only available in a format the requestor cannot use, an exception may be made.
	3.	The materials must be within the capability of available volunteer narrators. The complexity of the text, the difficulty of translating charts or illustrations into narrative, the use of foreign language words and phrases and other elements in the text will be considered.
	4.	A commitment to record any magazine will only be made if such transcription can be done in a continuous and timely fashion and of a continually acceptable quality.

Retention

NTBS will keep at least one copy of each LC/NLS mass produced title unless the title has been withdrawn by LC/NLS. Extra copies of titles will be disposed of when the demand for them abates. Disposal will be through the LC/NLS program.

NTBS volunteer produced collection will be evaluated on a regular basis. Titles will be removed if they are later found to be readily available from other sources. Titles will be removed if the materials are obsolete or if the quality of the transcription or the physical condition of the materials is poor.

Gifts

NTBS reserves the right to decide which gifts will be accepted. It also reserves the right to give to other libraries or otherwise dispose of gift materials that are not added to the collection. All gift materials selected must meet the criteria of this Collection Development Policy Statement. Physical condition and quality will be considered when accepting gifts.

Review

This policy will be reviewed on a regular basis.