The CILIP advice on contraversial material is very useful. In a previous life I had the job of rewriting the stock policy to incorporate the advice so I got to know it quite well. Sorry I can't provide a copy of the policy as I don't work there anymore.
The important thing is to have a robust stock policy / collection development policy in the first place which you can then use to inform your decision. I'd imagine your argument would be that such a donation would mean your collection was not giving an overall balanced view and including such a large number of books on this subject (presumably promoting a particular branch of religion) could be seen as promoting a particular viewpoint. (library as neutral space argument)
Your collection development policy would also include reference to a community profile which would probably have some note of the size of this religion's following in your area. Does the size of the following justify such a large proportion of your religion section being given over to this religion?
Are the books all in English? If you don't know what the books are actually saying and promoting you should not accept them. The contraversial stock guidance is good on this also.
In this situation I think I would talk to the reps of the group and explain the library's stock policy, especially in terms of balace of views and the neutrality of the library, and also that you should not be seen as promoting any one particular viewpoint (you may have reference to this in a displays/ posters policy). I'd sugest that the group picks a small number of books to donate rather than the 4 or 5 shelves worth they want to.
Best of luck.
David Moger
Date: Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:06:08 +0100
From:
[log in to unmask]Subject: Re: Collections of religious material
To:
[log in to unmask]This is an interesting question! Can't help as I'm about to start relooking at our stock policy but haven't yet started. We've never had a specific section on donations from religious - and perhaps other special interest groups such as political groupings - but I think a good place to start would be CILIP's advice on controversial material. http://www.cilip.org.uk/get-involved/policy/responses/past-consultations/consultations2008/Pages/mla_controversial_material2008.aspx We've had problems in the past where groups have simply delivered large boxes of books to every branch in our system, and I know I had one conversation with a representative of one such group where I was able to explain why this was not a good idea, which certainly helped next time they wanted to donate something! We've tended to keep one set of material and disposed of the rest in accordance with our existing policy on donations, which is basically 'thank you - our librarians will decide if we wish to stock it and sell the rest'. This certainly works with individual donors who then have the choice whether to give to us or send elsewhere. We also have the problem, which I imagine is common to many authorities with shrinking Bib Services, increased automation, joint working etc that we just never get to donations and to cataloguing stock from scratch. We have to prioritise those areas of our own stock that have never been catalogued in their entirety eg local studies and printed music. Folks may be interested (or it may come as no suprise) that this isn't a new problem. Back in the early 20C Middlesbrough Libraries were donated a magnificent personal library of mainly but not entirely theological works by a member of the Plymouth Brethren. At that time Middlesbrough Library (I think there was just the one) was housed in the Town Hall. As a result of the donation, Middlesbrough sought and got funding from Andrew Carnegie and built our Central Library - which will be 100 next year. However this still did not completely solve the problem of how to manage the Kelly Collection - and we're still working on it! Go figure. I'll be interested to hear how others tackle this - and wish Graham all the best with his situation.
Alyson Hogarth
Stock Manager
Middlesbrough Libraries and Information
01642 729420
'Literacy is not a luxury, it is a right and a responsibility.'
Bill Clinton
Is anyone able to provide an example of library policy relating to the donation of books from religious or other similar groups please? One or two aren’t a problem, but we’ve recently been offered a large number (c.150) titles and wish to know how other libraries would handle this situation. Thanks Graham Graham Dash, MCLIP, Library Services Manager (Systems & Development)
Environment & Leisure Group, Leisure & Libraries
London Borough of Sutton, Central Library, St Nicholas Way, SUTTON, Surrey SM1 1EA .
Tel.: 020 8770 4763, Mobile: 07515137830, Fax: 020 8770 4777
Borough web site: www.sutton.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=907
Library Catalogue web site: www.sutton-libraries.gov.uk
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