Selection of Library Materials and Collection Management
The operating principle of the Oulu City Library is to support the equal rights and opportunities for lifelong learning and recreation for people of all ages with its diverse and evolving collections and services.
The collections include an extensive, up-to-date and evolving collection of fiction and non-fiction, magazines, music, audiovisual materials, objects, season tickets and e-materials that meets the needs of users.
The selection, curation and storage of materials are affected by estimated demand, cultural significance of the works, availability of the material and the available budget.
When developing collections, the needs of all population groups are taken into consideration.
The collection policy reflects the selection, curation and storage principles of the collections of Oulu City Library. The collection policy serves as a supportive source for the library staff in collection work and guides developing the collections.
Selection and acquisition of materials
The library acquires books, maps, sheet music, magazines, music and other records, films, microfilms, games, equipment, season tickets and online materials. E-books are acquired in a format suitable for library use. Only films which have borrowing rights in accordance with the Copyright Act can be acquired to the collection.
The selection of materials supports access to information, learning and recreation of people of all ages. User suggestions and demand for the material are taken into consideration when selecting materials. When making the selection, the collections of the region's university libraries are also noted.
More detailed selection criteria are available in Oulu City Library's Collections Policy.
Donations
Oulu City Library does not accept book donations.
You can bring small quantities of books and magazines in good condition to library book exchange points. Libraries that have a book exchange can be found in the Libraries.fi directory.
Storing materials
By storing materials in the library, we ensure the historical coverage and diversity of the collection. The stored materials are divided into several libraries. Works that are transferred to the storage have been evaluated worthy of preservation. Only material that is in borrowable condition is stored. Most of the stored material can be borrowed.
Collection maintenance
The renewal and relevance of the collections is ensured not only by sufficient acquisitions but also by sufficient material maintenance and withdrawal. Material that is in poor condition, has outdated content or is rarely used is removed from the collection. The number of copies is reduced if several copies of the same title have not circulated simultaneously.
Materials that have been removed from the collections in good condition are sold to customers in libraries, and materials that are in poor condition and cannot be sold are sent for recycling. Unsold material is also donated to communities, associations, the local prison, schools and daycare centres.
A book will be sent to the Finnish National Repository Library if it has not circulated in the Oulu City Library, it is in good condition and is not yet in the collections of the National Repository Library.
Clearance sales
Clearance sales of materials removed from the library collections take place continuously in Haukipudas, Kaakkuri, Kaijonharju, Karjasilta, Kiiminki, Oulunsalo and Rajakylä libraries.
Acquisition proposal
You can make an acquisition proposal to the library about titles that interest you. You can fill the acquisition proposal form online or tell the library staff about your request.