Bridgeport Public Library Mission Statement

 The Bridgeport Public Library provides information, resources and services that encourage the pursuit of lifelong personal development.

The Bridgeport Public Library is an independent institution that cooperates with other institutions in Michigan and throughout the nation to manage resources effectively and to assist residents of the Bridgeport area in obtaining materials beyond the scope of the library1s own collection.

Materials Selection Policy

The purpose of this policy is to: 1) serve as a guide for the librarians of the Bridgeport Public Library in the process of materials selection; and 2) inform the public of the principles upon which selections for the Library are made. Basic to this policy is the Library Bill of Rights as affirmed by the Bridgeport Public Library Board of Trustees.

Bridgeport Public Library strives to provide current, factual information to supplement and enrich individual learning and to provide materials for recreational reading and other leisure time activities. This information should be readily available to the total community regardless of gender, age, education, language, religion, ethnic and cultural background, or mental and physical ability.

STANDARDS FOR SELECTION

Bridgeport Public Library is a popular materials library and maintains a varied and up-to-date collection. It attempts to acquire materials of both current and lasting value. Since one library cannot afford all the available materials, it must employ a policy of selectivity. The Executive Director has the overall responsibility for the selection and development of the materials collection according to the principles established by the Materials Selection Policy and other approved policies and procedures. In practice, the responsibility for materials selection is shared with other staff. Materials are selected to meet patron needs and reflect a variety of viewpoints and opinions. Criteria for consideration include popular demand, literary merit, enduring value, accuracy, authoritativeness, local interest, social significance, the importance of the subject matter to the collection, timeliness, cost, scarcity of information on the subject, availability elsewhere, and quality and suitability of format.

Fiction – The Library maintains a representative collection of novels and works of fiction to satisfy a wide range of tastes. Ideas of literary merit vary greatly with individuals. Therefore, the library purchases fiction in many categories.

Non-Fiction – The Library attempts to provide a large general collection of reliable materials embracing the broader fields of knowledge. Legal and medical works will be selected to the extent that they are useful to the lay person.

Minor – Materials are selected to encourage children and families to discover the joy of reading. In order to meet the varied abilities and interests of children, the collection includes materials covering a wide range of knowledge and reading levels, both fiction and non-fiction. The illustrations in books for young people are given as much critical attention as the literary quality of fiction.

Media – The Library recognizes its responsibility to provide access to information, cultural enrichment and recreation through as wide a variety of media as possible. Media is evaluated by the same criteria as printed materials. As new technologies are developed, the Library will investigate the appropriateness of new media formats and will acknowledge the need for experimentation.

Digital Materials –Digital items such as eBooks and eAudiobooks shall be selected using the same criteria as printed materials as described above.

Online Databases – The Library may make available a variety of online resources purchased to supplement and enhance the Library’s collection. These resources are evaluated on the basis of timeliness, ease of use, and ability to meet patrons’ information needs.

Objects – The Library’s collection makes a variety of objects available to patrons. Objects are typically items not needed for regular, sustained use and which provide access to technology that is either helpful or enriching. These objects are evaluated based on their benefit to the community, patron demand, and use of library resources, with the goal of increasing access to technology or items that patrons wouldn’t otherwise have. 

First Amendment and Intellectual Freedom

Equal Access, Requesting Purchases and Reconsideration of Materials

At Bridgeport Public Library, we provide equal access to all library resources within the guidelines of Michigan law and the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Patrons are free to select or reject items for themselves but may not make that decision for others. We encourage parents to be active participants in helping their children select library resources.

Items in the BPL collection are organized by age group. Literary content becomes more complex as young readers mature. We encourage parents to engage in their child's reading journey and make appropriate selections based on their child's needs. Parents may choose to select or decline an item for their child without interference. BPL staff are happy to assist parents in finding information on the content of their selections.

BPL purchases materials from a wide variety of viewpoints and value systems and makes these materials available to guests regardless of age. No patron will agree with all materials in the collection, but a patron's right to read, seek information and speak freely is important to our democratic society and allows individuals to learn from one another. 

Bridgeport Public Library is committed to the lifelong journey of anti-racism work. The public library will always stand as an institution of enlightenment and as a hub of the community, serving and including everyone, no matter their race, religion or sexual orientation. We exist to further all people. We do so because the differences between individuals make us a stronger society.

Request a Purchase

If an item you're interested in is not available in BPL's catalog, please consider sharing your recommendation with us. Paper forms are available within the library, or you may email your suggestion to info@bridgeportlibrary.org

Request to Reconsider Materials

BPL responds to requests for reconsideration of library materials from residents of the BPL service area in writing. Requestors must have read, heard or viewed the entire work to have their challenge considered. To submit a request for reconsideration, use the Citizen's Request for Reconsideration found at (insert link here).

Procedures for Requests for Reconsideration of Library Materials

BPL responds to requests for reconsideration of library materials in writing. Requestors must have read, heard or viewed the entire work to have their challenge considered. BPL’s Library Director reviews these requests and the item in light of the patron’s concern within 30 days. The Director’s decision will be communicated in writing to the requesting party.