The Iowa Substance Abuse Information Center is a special service of the Cedar Rapids Public Library. Its purpose is to provide full and free access to information regarding alcohol, other drugs, problem gambling, violence prevention, co-occurring disorders, and related topics to all residents of Iowa. Materials selected to carry out the center's mission are chosen to meet the educational, professional, and informational needs of the state within the financial resources available.

1. Appropriateness: Appropriate materials are those that relate directly to any form of continuum of care for addiction of substances, problem gambling, or co-occurring disorders. Continuum of care includes prevention, intervention, treatment, and after care for Iowans prenatal through death.
2. Recommendations: Recommendations from the general public as well as professionals in the field are an important source of information about new items and are seriously considered in purchasing decisions.
3. Retention: Materials will be kept as long as they are timely and relevant. Weeding will be an ongoing procedure to eliminate outdated materials.
4. Formats: Materials will be collected in a variety of print and non-print formats according to the use intended and ease of access by the public. As formats become obsolete they will be discarded in favor or more up-to-date formats.