Library Collection Development Guidelines

The City of Canning Libraries strive to foster a culture of lifelong learning and community connection by providing resources, spaces, programs and experiences that create opportunities for the community to read, learn and connect with each other and the world.

The City of Canning Libraries are committed to upholding the vision outlined in our Enriching Your World Learning City Strategy 2020-2024 which states:

“The City of Canning will support the community to adapt to change with resilience, grasp opportunities with ingenuity and respond to challenges courageously and innovatively. We will work collaboratively to facilitate access for all community members to a range of learning initiatives, fostering social harmony through inclusion, connection and celebration of our diversity.”

The City of Canning recognises the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands in Canning and pays respect to Noongar Elders past, present and future. The City also recognises the strong and enduring connection the Noongar peoples have to the beautiful Djarlgarro Beelier (Canning River).

The City of Canning Library Collection Development Guidelines intend to:

• Provide guidelines and framework for the management and evaluation of the City of Canning’s Library Collection.
• Document the processes for developing and managing the City of Canning’s Library Collection.
• Inform the community of the City of Canning’s Library Collection Management principles.
• Ensure the collection remains unbiased and uncensored.
• Highlight the overarching goals that the City of Canning aims to achieve in regard to its library collection.

There are three libraries, one Community Hub, and one Eco Education Centre located within the City of Canning:

• Canning Eco Education Centre (CREEC)
• Cannington Library
• Hillview Intercultural Community Centre
• Riverton Library
• Willetton Library.

Each library varies in its size, layout, location, collection, and community demographics, and has a collection that caters to the demographics of its patrons.

The City of Canning Library Collection Development Guidelines extend to all library materials held within the City of Canning library collections and includes all electronic resources available through the City of Canning’s website. This framework provides an overarching guideline for collection development over all the City of Canning library locations.

The Collections Team in collaboration with the Library Leadership Team are responsible for the amendment and implementation of the guidelines. Consistency of these guidelines is maintained across all City of Canning library locations.

The Library Collection Development Guidelines will be reviewed regularly as the need arises as part of the library’s operational framework.

Library stock is supplied using a supplier selection method whereby a supplier will provide items, up to a specified budget (specified according to State Government funding) to meet the guidelines provided by the City of Canning in the State Library Stock Profile, which is reviewed on an annual basis.

Library stock is supplied using a supplier selection method depending on requirements.

eResources, including eBooks, eAudiobooks and databases are selected based on demand, relevance, suitability and best value. These resources are used to compliment online resources provided by SLWA as part of the state-wide eResource collection. DVDs will be purchased directly from suppliers, based on the needs of the collection.

Canning Libraries strive to create and manage a collection that reflects the community’s wants and needs, and community members are encouraged to suggest items for inclusion. Any requests received by clients for the purchase of specific titles will be assessed using the above selection criteria. Decisions to purchase or not will be communicated to the requester.

The library is currently unable to accept donations of any materials other than jigsaws. Canning community members often generously offer to donate books and items to the libraries. Due to the restrictions in resourcing to assess, catalogue and process donations, as well as need for items to be in 'as new' condition, Canning Libraries generally doesn't accept donated items and recommends customers look to donate to local charitable organisations or place in one of the Little Street Libraries.

High profile authors, best-sellers and contemporary literature are the most widely read items of the library collection and are acquired to satisfy client demand. In addition, more specialised works of adult fiction may be purchased to broaden the collection.

The non-fiction collection exists to provide to all ages, a selection of materials to support informal education and life-long learning. An attempt will be made to cover popular fields of study and areas of which digital content is not available.

The City of Canning will not purchase any textbooks or coursework relating to specific formal educational courses.

The children’s collection caters for the 0-12 year age group, while the young adult collection caters for the 12-24 year age group. Classics for children will form a small part of the collection.

The decision on whether to place an item in the children’s or young adult collection is based on an assessment of the level of mental and emotional maturity required by the user to understand the subject matter. The selection of children’s and young adult resources is carried out in accordance with the general selection criteria listed above.

Material is selected in response to current trends and interests to encourage children and teenagers to continue learning through to adulthood. High demand items by popular authors will form the majority of this collection due to its widespread nature and appeal.

Series are often collected. Every effort is made to collect series in their entirety, however due to wear and tear or publishing changes there may occasionally be series gaps that we cannot fill.

This collection exists to provide non-English speaking clients with the opportunity to use library facilities. The languages that comprise this collection are stocked according to the current cultural and language demographics of the community. All of our Languages Other Than English items are supplied to us by the State Library of Western Australia, and are refreshed approximately once a year using an exchange system.

The library maintains a collection of print and audio-visual resources to assist community members wishing to improve their literacy and English language skills. Emphasis is given to Australian produced material where it is available.

The large print collection exists to provide the sight-impaired with access to recreational and informational material. The City of Canning acquires popular works and best sellers if they are available in this format.

This collection exists to provide clients who may be sight-impaired, have specific needs or prefer audio and audio-visual items, with access to recreational and informational material. New formats are considered if they are deemed durable, reliable and cost-effective. Current formats include DVDs, and Audiobooks in both CD and MP3 format.

A select collection of popular print magazines is provided for recreational and educational purposes. This collection is supplemented by the growing availability of digital editions provided via SLWA Consortia eResources.

Free access to digital materials may include eBooks, eAudiobooks, documentary and movie streaming, electronic databases, e-Magazines and eNewspapers. The digital collections are accessible via the City’s website and library catalogue and can be downloaded to the customer’s personal device.

New emerging formats may be considered upon assessment of their suitability. It may be appropriate to duplicate titles across different formats.

The City provides materials and information of interest and relevance to, and about, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Materials are selected based on the item having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content or written by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander author. All materials are identified using an appropriate pre-printed subject spine label.

This includes non-traditional library items that do not fit into the above-mentioned categories. They may include (but are not limited to) items catalogued in the Canning Libraries’ ‘Library of Things’, such as baking items, sporting equipment, technology and other equipment.

Our 'Most Wanted' collection consists of our most requested and popular items. With a loan period of one week, and no reservations or renewals permitted, this collection is quickly borrowed, read and returned so that as many customers as possible get a chance to read them. There are additional copies of these titles in our normal collection with standard borrowing conditions.

Our specialised Local History collection of materials relate to the evolving history of the local Canning area. The collection will include publications of relevant historical and genealogical significance; oral histories and photographs obtained with the photographer’s and/or copyright owner’s permission. Responsibility of the Local History Collection rests with the Local History Librarian.

Library collection displays are business as usual for our Canning Libraries. We refresh these displays monthly. The library aims to provide a balanced collection of materials on all subjects of interest to the community.

Themes and items in the displays are selected ad hoc by our professional Canning Libraries' staff, with considerations including popular collections, local events, community celebrations and our community demographics.

It should be noted that City of Canning Libraries has a right and duty to keep on its shelves a representative selection of materials. These materials will cover topics of interest to its readers which are not prohibited by law and may include a range of opinions and controversial subjects.

Patrons may from time to time bring to the attention of library staff material they think should not be part of the library collection. In these instances, a formal request must be made in writing and submitted to the Library Services Coordinator using the Request for Reconsideration of Library Material Form available in all library branches. This form is available as a physical form only and requests will be accepted from current library members only. All accepted requests will be assessed in accordance with the Request for Reconsideration of Library Material Guidelines.

Clients wishing to make a complaint may do so via the online form. This can be found on the Contact Us page. 

Alternatively, clients may call the City on 1300 422 664 by phone. Any complaints made via the online form or email will be registered and acknowledged within 1-2 working days.