COLLECTION DEVELOPMENTMargo Lamb

September 19,2007

What is Collection Development?The process of selecting a wide range of

materials in various formats to meet the needs of the library’s customers—Professional Learning Community

Who are the school library’s customers? Students Faculty Parents and Community

Together they form the Professional Learning Community.

What is the library mission?

The mission of the elementary library program is to make students life-long library users. This mission is accomplished:

by providing students with access to materials in all formats.

by stimulating interest in reading, viewing and using information and ideas.

by working collaboratively with teachers in planning activities to support the classroom curriculum as addressed in the New Mexico Content Standards with Benchmarks.

What is the school mission?

Curriculum -what is taught Student academic expectations School learning goals-EPSS Reading programs Dual language

What are the state standards regarding the library collection? Age of collection Size of collection Distribution of Collection-percentages

Refer to pages 7 and 8 of “Standards for New Mexico School Libraries”, March 2004.

How do you determine needs? Prepare a collection analysis Compare to state standards Determine gaps Determine aged materials Curriculum support New Mexico

How do you know what to select? District’s selection policy Library Bill of Rights Teacher recommendations Student input Supplemental reading correlated to textbooks Be aware of reading and interest levels Recommended lists Award winners Read reviews Join literature discussion groups Avoid personal bias

When considering……

Audiovisual materials Databases Magazines Materials in graphic format

Use the same selection criteria for materials in different formats

REMEMBER

Have confidence in every title you select and a reason for every title you select.

What else should I know before I purchase the materials? District approved vendors District approved processing Be aware of format Book fair books Be aware of bindings

How do I create the purchase order? Prepare list 20% above amount you

want to spend Include processing when applicable Follow ordering procedures outlined in

Library Handbook Keep track of accounts: Operational,

Special Allocation, GO Bond Work with your school secretary

Another Step in Collection Development

Weeding/Deselection Should be a regular, continuing and

steady process As important as the initial selection

What should I remove from the library? Aged materials Materials with incorrect information Excessively worn materials Biased materials Trendy materials Materials no longer meeting school

needs Refer to Texas State Library CREW

Manual

END RESULT

Good collection development will result in a well rounded library containing materials representing various points of view, various cultures and various languages.

It is getting the right book or the right information in the right format to the right person at the right time.

Collection Development has not changed In 1930 Francis Drury stated in her ALA

publication “Book Selection”:

The high purpose of book selection is to provide the right books for the right reader at the right time.