{"id":33500,"date":"2025-08-25T14:40:23","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T19:40:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/?p=33500"},"modified":"2025-09-30T11:00:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T16:00:09","slug":"policy-corner-circulation-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/2025\/08\/25\/policy-corner-circulation-policies\/","title":{"rendered":"Policy Corner: Circulation Policies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What started out as a sizeable donation of custom-built video games from the county\u2019s STEM club was quickly joined by the late Mr. Nguyen\u2019s golden age Superman<\/em> comics and his daughter’s childhood collection of rare Shojo manga\u2014only to then be expanded by Ms. Gordon\u2019s crafting overstock that was curated by the library’s teen advisory board with an eye toward establishing a cosplay makerspace. And now, having grown into something you\u2019ve dubbed \u201cThe Fandom Zone,\u201d these items have definitely imprisoned the community\u2019s interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After reading your thank you posts on social media, the local historical customers have begun reserving the meeting room nearest the collection where they can surreptitiously observe each new arrival as they plan their next event. And now that school has begun, Miss Harvey\u2019s third grade class\u2014who is still zinging from having spent the entire <\/em>summer reading program devouring titles from the Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List<\/a>\u2014asks  each day when these treasures will be ready for check-out. Although this happy accident is just in time for your fall library con, you\u2019ll need to revisit that outdated circulation policy first!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because circulation policies are about more than just borrowing\u2014they\u2019re one of the clearest ways a library shows its mission\u2014revisiting yours ensures that The Fandom Zone isn\u2019t just exciting, but also aligned with your community\u2019s needs. And right now, it matters more than ever: in April, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) approved updated accreditation criteria for Texas public libraries. These new minimum standards, outlined in the Texas Administrative Code, officially go into effect September 1, 2025, and will first be used for accreditation with the 2026 Annual Report. Among the revisions is a new requirement that every library have written policies for circulation<\/strong>, collection development<\/strong>, technology use<\/strong>, and information security and privacy<\/strong>. Libraries will certify these policies in the 2027 Annual Report, with a deadline of July 31, 2027, to meet the new minimums. So, as you look at your circulation policy, here are some questions and resources to help make sure it\u2019s both accreditation-ready and community-centered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Questions to Consider While Revising or Creating a Circulation Policy:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n