BORGARBÓKASAFNIÐ
Reykjavík City Library began operations in 1923. The development of the collection of Reykjavík City Library shall be consistent with its role, policies, and other guiding principles as they are expressed at any given time. The library is an information and cultural institution operating in accordance with current library legislation in Iceland as well as other relevant laws and regulations, including and among others:
The UNESCO/IFLA Public Library Manifesto, the IFLA Multicultural Library Manifesto, the Regulations for Reykjavík City Library and its policies, the Cultural Policy of the City of Reykjavík, and the Code of Ethics of Upplýsing, the professional association for library and information science.
Reykjavík City Library sets out this policy to inform users, staff, and city authorities about the nature of its collection and its future development. The policy is intended to support the development and maintenance of library materials and to strengthen the institution in fulfilling its role and achieving its objectives. It ensures consistency and accountability in operations and forms the basis for budgeting and prioritization of projects. The policy supports the library in making essential materials accessible to users and in maintaining the collection in accordance with user demand and needs. The policy is intended to prevent bias in collection development and clearly defines responsibility and oversight of the growth and maintenance of the collection.
The collection consists of the materials that Reykjavík City Library offers to users for loan or on-site use. Books and periodicals form the core of the collection, which currently comprises just under 400,000 items, in addition to electronic resources. In addition to books and periodicals, the library offers music, audiobooks, audiovisual materials, and electronic data. The Digital Library (Rafbókasafnið) provides access to books, periodicals, and audiobooks.
As a public library, Reykjavík City Library generally does not include textbooks or highly specialized materials in its collection.
The library also lends other items, such as board games, baking tins, trekking poles, and similar materials.
The library serves the general public. Other users include, for example, institutions, companies, and other libraries.
The branches of Reykjavík City Library are: Árbær, Gerðuberg, Grófin, Kringlan, Sólheimar, Spöngin, Úlfarsárdalur, and Kléberg. Reykjavík City Library also manages Rafbókasafnið, which is jointly operated by public libraries throughout Iceland. Nearly all materials are available for loan.
Reykjavík City Library participates in the National Access to electronic databases and journals. Access is open and free of charge via the website hvar.is. Users may request items from all branches of Reykjavík City Library and have them delivered to other branches, as well as to Mosfellsbær Library and Seltjarnarnes Library. Users with borrowing rights in Garðabær, Hafnarfjörður, and Kópavogur also have access to the collections of Reykjavík City Library, and vice versa.
The collection is catalogued in the Gegnir library system and is accessible to everyone on borgarbokasafn.leitir.is. To borrow materials, users must hold a valid library card. Cards are free for children up to 18 years of age, for people aged 67 and older, and for people with disabilities; others pay an annual fee according to the current fee schedule.
“Books to Your Home” is a service for individuals who are unable to visit the library themselves due to age and/or health reasons. The Reykjavík City Library website, borgarbokasafn.is, provides information about Library services and allows users to request materials and renew loans.
The allocation of funds for purchasing materials depends on appropriations from the City of Reykjavík and is primarily determined by publishing output, demand, and currency exchange rate fluctuations.
7.1 General Criteria
When selecting materials, primary consideration is given to ensuring that:
people of all ages have easy access to high-quality and diverse library materials in both form and content
the collection meets the wishes and needs of users
Emphasis is also placed on:
7.2 Procedures
According to the Regulation for Reykjavík City Library, the City Librarian is responsible for collection development but has appointed special staff teams responsible for material selection. Collection project managers develop procedures in consultation with the City Librarian, library and department managers, relevant teams, and other project managers as appropriate.
7.3 Gifts
Reykjavík City Library may accept gifts on a case-by-case basis but reserves the right to include only materials that align with this Collection Development Policy. Special rules apply to gifts of audiovisual materials.
7.4 Children and Young People
In developing collections for children and young people, it is essential to ensure the highest possible quality.
Collections for children’s and youth departments must:
The collection is jointly owned by all branches of Reykjavík City Library and is transferred between them according to user needs and requests. Loans to other libraries are conducted in accordance with interlibrary loan procedures, except within the capital area, where a specific agreement exists between Reykjavík City Library, Mosfellsbær Library, and Seltjarnarnes Library.
The collection of Reykjavík City Library is regularly evaluated to ensure that it reflects the diverse and evolving needs and wishes of its users. This includes providing access to cultural heritage, recreation, and general knowledge.
Evaluation is based on usage, loan statistics, composition of the collection, and user demand. Subject specialists may also be consulted to assist with selection in specific subject areas.
Reykjavík City Library is a public library and does not have a legal preservation obligation. However, copies of Icelandic books and periodicals for on-site use only are preserved at Reykjavík City Library Grófin.
11.1 Weeding
Continuous review of the collection is necessary. Weeding refers to the systematic withdrawal of materials in accordance with procedures, whether for disposal, sale, donation, or preservation elsewhere.
11.2 Storage
Reykjavík City Library operates a single shared storage facility, and materials are transferred there under strict limitations. Materials in storage are intended for use, not for long-term preservation.
The City Librarian appoints a working group to review the policy every two years and/or whenever changed circumstances make such a review necessary. All changes to the Collection Development Policy of Reykjavík City Library require the approval of the City Librarian, who, in consultation with the working group, decides how the policy and any amendments are communicated to users, staff, managers, and city authorities.
Barbara Guðnadóttir
Guðríður Sigurbjörnsdóttir
Guðrún Linda Ólafsdóttir
Ilmur Dögg Gísladóttir
Katrín Guðmundsdóttir
Ragna Sólveig Guðmundsdóttir
Sólveig Arngrímsdóttir
Unnar Geir Unnarsson
Úlfhildur Dagsdóttir
Valgeir Gestsson
January 2024