Adult Fiction Collection Policy
The purpose of this policy is to present the conditions determining the selection, maintenance, retention, and disposal of adult fiction materials in the collections of Dunedin Public Libraries.
1. Collection Scope
The following types of adult fiction, in English, Te Reo Maori and other languages in translation, comprise the adult fiction lending collection:
- Classics including both literary and genre fiction works
- New Zealand and Pacific fiction
- Current international literary fiction, including the winners of major literary prizes, works short-listed for such prizes, and potentially significant works by emerging writers
- Fiction from Third World countries, including creative works from countries developing their own literary forms
- Experimental or avant-garde fiction
- Popular works in current demand, including historical novels, science fiction, mysteries, thrillers, romances, and westerns
- Short stories
1.1 Exclusions
Abridged or condensed versions of novels are not collected.
1.2 Community Library Collections
Smaller, community library collections will contain popular fiction with a small amount of classic and literary fiction, including translated works, where demand warrants.
2. Collection Purpose
The fiction collections at Dunedin Public Libraries are intended to enrich the learning, cultural, and recreational life of the community by providing a wide range of reading materials including those of a high literary standard, and other fiction intended primarily for relaxation and entertainment.
A good fiction collection offers a wide selection of types, subjects, and writing styles.
3. History
Opened as part of the Lending Library in 1911, the fiction collection consisted of 3,458 volumes including sets of Dickens, Eliot, Scott, Thackeray, Lord Lytton and Charles Kingsley.
Under the Library’s second Librarian, A W Dunningham, the fiction was divided into a general and a pay collection of more popular stock.
This rental collection was the genesis of the ‘genre’ collections which have now expanded into collections in their own right, alongside the general fiction collections specified below.
The rental charge on core fiction collection materials was discontinued in 2009.
4. Description of Collection
- The adult fiction collections of the network provide for a very wide range of tastes, interests, and reading levels. They include literary fiction which offers enduring works containing profound social comment or observations about the nature of human existence. The style in which the work is written may be unique to that writer.
- Genre fiction encompasses a wide range of writing including mysteries, romances, westerns, science fiction and fantasy works. It may rely upon familiar patterns and outcomes but there is still scope for imaginative writing and many of these works endure as classics of their kind.
- Popular fiction includes mainstream novels and falls somewhere between these two categories. This type of fiction often emphasises character and plot development, themes or narrative style and can be written in a more or less imaginative style.
- Community Libraries and Bookbuses maintain strong collections representing all genres and literary styles duplicating some titles in the larger City Library collection.
- The adult fiction collection at the City Library is grouped as follows:
- Contemporary Fiction
- Short Story Collections
- Classic Fiction
- Science Fiction
- Romance - including Chick Lit and Family Sagas
- Mysteries and Thrillers
- Large Print Fiction
A small number of titles in Māori are shelved in the Taiehu collection on the Second Floor, as aids to extending language skills rather than as examples of works by Māori authors.
Fiction in non-English languages is shelved in the Literature section on the First Floor.
5. Housing
In the City Library, a proportion of the adult fiction collection is kept in a non-public stack.
Community Libraries do not maintain non-public stacks due to space constraints as well as the collection focus on providing current, popular materials in good condition for community library collections.
6. Valuation
Adult fiction materials form part of the total valuation of lending materials carried out approximately every two years for insurance purposes. Lending collections are depreciated at the rate of 20% of the purchase price over five years.
7. COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
7.1 Selection Tools
Resources used to aid selection include:
- Suggestions from the public – print and online
- Trade, library, general, and special interest magazines – print and online
- Publishers’ and booksellers’ catalogues – print and online
- Publisher’s websites
- Online newsletters, eg Booksellers’ Brief
- New Zealand National Bibliography
- Titles on approval from local suppliers
7.2 Selection Guidelines
In selecting titles for the Dunedin Public Libraries adult fiction collections, Collection Specialists take note of criteria which include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
- Reputation or popularity of the author
- Reputation of the publisher
- Part of series
- Literary or artistic merit
- New Zealand or Pacific content or relevance
- Local interest
- Favourable reviews
- Revival in popularity of an older work (often connected with films or television series)
- Recognised impact on social or political thought
- Coverage of subjects reflecting the breadth of human experience
- Accessible and pleasurable reading
- Easy to follow narrative
- Clear and unobtrusive style
7.3 Deselection
Deselection of adult fiction materials is carried out to keep collections up to date, to prevent shelf crowding, and to ensure that the contents of shelves look fresh and attractive. General criteria used include:
- physical condition
- number of duplicate copies remaining in the collections
- expected future use
- number of issues since the work was acquired
- number of recent issues
- status as a standard work or classic
- historical or research value
- availability elsewhere in Dunedin or New Zealand
- practicality and cost of repair
7.4 The Agreement for the Storage and Long-Term Retention of Fiction Between Dunedin Public Libraries and the National Library of New Zealand (April 2008)
To alleviate storage problems at Dunedin Public Libraries, an agreement has been established with the National Library of New Zealand to rationalise adult fiction holdings by utilising the greater storage capacity of the National Library.
This will ensure future access to overseas fiction, formerly held in Dunedin Public Libraries, with low or negligible use.
8. Formats
A significant percentage of adult fiction is purchased in trade paperback; the preferred format of community libraries.
Where multiple copies of popular titles are purchased, some will be in hardback for long term retention. Large-print and audio formats are chosen for their appeal to customers who are unable to read ordinary print.
9. Acquisitions and Purchasing
Suppliers are chosen on the basis of cost, discounts, range and scope of materials offered, speed and reliability of delivery, and general level of customer service.
To maximise efficiency the number of suppliers (local, New Zealand, Australian, UK, and USA) is kept as small as possible.
10. Standing Orders
Standing orders are used for popular fiction and for well established authors who would be routinely purchased. It is expected that some duplication may be necessary, in addition to titles obtained through standing order.
Authors are added and deleted to the list as part of a process of continuous assessment.
11. Donations
Donated materials are scrutinised very carefully according to the usual selection criteria governing suitability for the collections and also the criteria contained in the Donations Policy.
12. Preservation and Repair
Collection items will be repaired according to their expected life in the collection. New copies of popular, paperback fiction may be purchased in preference to items being repaired or rebound.
13. Review
This policy will be reviewed within five years.