Transcript Collection Development - ABLE - Administering Better Libraries

Collection Management
ABLE: Administering Better
Libraries—Educate
Module 5
Learning Objectives
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Participants will be able to
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Update and rework library collection
development policies and procedures.
Maintain a healthy and useful collection
through weeding and materials selection.
Overview
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Collection Development Policy
Materials selection
Evaluation of collection
Weeding
Collection Development Policy
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Identification, selection, acquisition, and
evaluation of materials.
A set of resources that will be most
useful for your community.
What’s the difference between a
policy and a procedure?
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A policy is a course of action on a
specific topic adopted by a library.
Procedures are the steps to be followed
in implementing the policy.
Why do we need them?
Elements of a Collection
Development Policy
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Goals of the collection
Materials Selection
Collection Evaluation and Assessment
Reconsideration of Materials
Sample Collection Development Policy
Selecting Print Materials
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Highest quality serving the most people
at the lowest price.
Which bindings are best?
Why continue to buy print reference
books?
Choosing books, DVDs, etc.
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Subject matter
Construction quality
Potential use
Relevance to the collection
Authority
Criteria for Nonfiction
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Authority
Currency
Scope
Organization
Cost
Selection Sources
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Book Reviews
“Best of” lists, awards,
bibliographies
Core Collection References
Word of Mouth
New York Times Book Review
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www.nytimes.com
Annotated list of
bestsellers
Why read reviews?
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Can save time in the long run
Increase ability to advise readers and
researchers
Catch titles you don’t want to miss
Browse, skim your favorite source
regularly.
Allocating for Collections
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Allocation indicates priorities
Should reflect goals in Collection
Development Policy
Review annually
Making the most of a small
budget
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“Cheap, Fast, Good – choose two”
Distributor discounts
Grants
Wish lists
“Birthday” books
Selecting AV materials
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What are they?
Special Criteria
 Repair cost and equipment
 Longevity
 Equipment needed to use material
Online Databases vs.
the World Wide Web
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Online databases are searchable
collections of published articles.
The world wide web consists of
websites developed by anyone with
access to a server.
Open Access
“Free Web vs. Online Databases”
Evaluation of Collection
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Annually
Review policy & goals
Assess collection
Weeding
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Keep your collection current, accessible,
and tailored to your users’ needs.
Why weed?
Roadblocks to Weeding
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People will get upset.
I don’t have time.
Destroying public property.
It might be useful someday.
My shelves will be empty.
Books are sacred.
CREW Method of Weeding
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Continuous Review, Evaluation, &
Weeding
“MUSTIE”
MUSTIE criteria
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Misleading
Ugly
Superseded
Trivial
Irrelevant
Elsewhere
Repair, replace, or discard?
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Repair (cost, importance to the
collection)
Replace (new copy, newer edition,
newer book?)
Discard (MUSTIE)
What do I do with discarded
books?
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Sell
Donate
Recycle (as paper or art)
Throw away
What the Board, your Staff, and
the Public need to know
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Board
Staff
Public
Public Concerns about
Weeding
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Post your Collection Development Policy
on your web page
Post signs
Designate a contact for questions
Resources
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Fundamentals of Collection
Development and Management.
Johnson, Peggy. ALA, 2004
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A Core Collection for Young Adults.
Jones, Patrick. Neal-Schuman, 2003.
Thank you for coming
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Evaluations