Lecture 1c: Lecture 1c: Collection Collection

DevelopmentDevelopment

Lecture 1c: Lecture 1c: Collection Collection

DevelopmentDevelopmentDevelopment andDevelopment andManagement of Management of

CollectionsCollections

Collection DevelopmentObjective: To learn about the responsibilities that make up collection

development and management

Coverage:1. Overview of Collection Development2. Collection Development Policies3. Community Needs Assessment4. Selection of Library Resources5. Donations6. Weeding7. Intellectual Freedom8. Collection Assessment

Based on Collection Development Training for Arizona Public Libraries (http://www.dlapr.lib.az.us/cdt/index.htm)

1. Overview of Collection Development

1. Basic Functions• Functions that are performed by every library• Includes:

• Selection of library materials• Weeding• Intellectual Freedom• Donations

2. Umbrella Functions• Functions that serve to inform about the library’s

collection development policy itself• Includes:

• Collection Development Policy• Community Needs Assessment• Collection Assessment

2. Collection Development Policies

1. Why are CDPs are important?• Provides point of reference for staff in CD work• Serves as source of reinforcement when challenged by a

patron2. Elements of the CDP

• Community Profile• Community Needs Assessment• Collection Goals• Selection Responsibility• Selection Criteria• Collection Evaluation and Assessment• Weeding• Reconsideration of Library Materials• Policy Review and Revision

2. Collection Development Policies

(cont’d)1. How to write a CDP?

• Determine who will write the policy• Gather data• Write the policy• Get the policy approved• Revise your policy

2. Sample CDPs on the Web• ACQWeb’s Directory of CDPs on the Web (

http://acqweb.library.vanderbilt.edu/cd_policy.html)

3. Community Needs Assessment

1. What a Needs Assessment Can Do for You?• To determine how well the collection meets the needs of

your community• To identify the types of resources and services your

library can provide in the future2. Performing a Needs Assessment

• Who will conduct the study?• What kind of information will be collected?• How will the information be collected?• How will the information be used?

4. Selection of Library Resources

1. Selection Philosophies• The five laws of S. R. Ranganathan:

1. Books are for use.2. Every reader his book.3. Every book its reader.4. Save the reader's time.5. A library is a growing organism.

• “Demand” vs “Quality2. How to be a Good Selector?

• Stay abreast of publishing trade• Know your community well• Be aware of current events and popular culture trends

4. Selection of Library Resources (cont’d)

3. Selection Criteria in General• Subject Matter• Construction Quality• Potential Use• Relation to the Collection• Bibliographic Considerations• Costs

4a. Selection of Books1. Selection Considerations

• Fiction – “classics” vs Bestsellers and other popular fiction• Non-Fiction – resources that answer most ready-reference questions

2. Evaluation Criteria for Book Selection• Fiction – Based on knowledge of community’s reading interests• Non-Fiction – Based on factors such as authority, currency, scope,

interest, organisation, format, special features, cost, accuracy, and impartiality.

3. Selection Tools• Selective Resources

• Book Reviews• “Best of” and Recommended Lists• Subject Lists

• Comprehensive Resources• Publisher Sources• Online Bookstores• Directory of In-print and Out-of-print Books• National Bibliographies

4b. Selection of Audiovisual Materials

1. Selection Criteria• Involve primary users in selection• Preview, if possible• Budget allocated• Durability• Visual and audio quality• Ease of repair• Equipment required• Likelihood the audiovisual technology is long-lasting

4b. Selection of Audiovisual Materials

(cont’d)2. Video materials

• Extremely popular medium, includes videocassettes, VCDs, & DVDs

• Technical aspects: sound and picture synchronisation; video formats (PAL vs NTSC); Regional code for DVDs; sound systems (Dolby, etc.); etc.

• Content: accuracy of information; presentation style; etc.

• Tools: Library Journal, Video Librarian, View Finder, Sight & Sound

3. Audio materials• Includes audiocassettes, audio books, CDs• Music or Non-Music

4c. Selection of Periodicals

1. Selection Issues2. Selection Criteria

• Purpose, scope and audience• Accuracy• Local interest• Format issues• Indexing• Cost• Demand• Availability

3. Selection Tools• Selective guides• Directories of periodicals and newspapers• Publisher catalogues• Periodical lists

4. Electronic Journals and Magazines

4d. Selection of Electronic Resources

1. Evaluation Criteria for Electronic Resources (includes CD-ROMs, and online resources)

• Content considerations• Access considerations• Technical support considerations• Cost considerations• Legal considerations

2. Selection Tools• Trial versions/periods• Visit or talk to librarians who have the resource in their library• Review sources: Library Journal• Journals: Online, Database

4e. Selection of Internet Resources

1. Finding (Selecting) Internet Resources• Internet directories – print or online• Library-created subject directories

2. “Reviews” of Web Sites• Choice• Other online directories

3. Criteria for Evaluating Web Pages• Content• Access• Design

5. Donations1. The Importance of a Gift Policy

• Conditions for accepting gifts• Possible uses of donations• Apply same objective selection criteria as purchasing new books• Library reserves the right to accept, reject, sell or otherwise dispose

of donated materials

2. Local and/or Historic Materials3. Problematic Materials

• Condition of donated material• Donation of someone’s collection of old books and periodicals• Consider time, space and effort available for processing

4. Gifts to Encourage5. Other Ways to Involve the Public

6. Weeding1. The Importance of a Weeding Policy

• Weeding is a periodic/continual evaluation of resources with intention to remove items that are no longer useful from the collection

• A Weeding Policy will guide library staff in making the decision to retain or remove items from the collection

• It will help the community understand the reasons for removal of items

2. Why Weeding is Necessary?• Make the collection more relevant and up-to-date• Remove outdated or worn-out materials, making the collection more

visually attractive and inviting to users• Identify gaps in collection from removal, which can then be replaced

with newer purchases• Draw attention to increase circulation of previously overlooked items

6. Weeding (cont’d)3. Why it doesn’t get done?4. Planning your approach

• Continuous Review, Evaluation and Weeding5. Getting down to business

– Misleading and/or factually inaccurate;– Ugly (worn out beyond mending or rebinding);– Superseded by a new edition or a better source;– Trivial (of no discernable literary or scientific merit);– Irrelevant to the needs and interests of your community;– Elsewhere (the material may be easily borrowed from another

source).6. Now what?

• Keep? Keep but mend first? Replace with new copy?• Don’t keep: Sell it? Give it away? Destroy it?• Updating the catalogue

7. Intellectual Freedom1. Considerations during Selection

• Labeling: PG13, NC16, M18• Illegal acts, obscenity & profanity• Balance: gender/sex, racism, questionable truth, popular

material• Items likely to be stolen

2. Handling Challenges to Materials in Your Collection• Keep your policies and procedures current• Have a formal policy to handle complaints• Have open lines of communication with local community

leaders• Communicate the library’s position on intellectual freedom

3. Internet Use Policies

8. Collection Assessment1. Benefits of Conducting an Assessment2. How Collections are Measured?

• Quantitative vs Qualitative

3. Assessment Techniques• Examination of shelf-list data• Direct examination of collection• List checking• Evaluation by an outside expert• Citation analysis

8. Collection Assessment (cont’d)

4. Assessment Framework: The Conspectus• Division by subject• Collection codes

• Current collection• Acquisition commitment• Collection goal• Preservation commitment

• Collection levels• 0 – Out of scope• 1 – Minimal level• 2 – Basic information level• 3 – Study or instructional support level• 4 – Research level• 5 – Comprehensive level

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