Collection Development & Budgeting

Rebecca Perkins

Martin, M. (1995). Collection development and finance: A guide to strategic library-materials budgeting. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

Summary: According to Amazon, “This text covers topics such as how collection budgets are planned, built and defended, and implemented, in straightforward language.” It provides a number of budget samples and includes a chapter on access verses ownership and the budget implications of digital materials. It also covers setting up an annual budget and making adjustments to it as needed. The focus is on academic and public libraries but could be used for other types as well.

Evaluation: Although this book is a decade old, the general principles remain relevant and the budget samples provide a good starting point for those new to managing a collection development budget. The area of most interest for public library staff handling collection development is the base budget example for a public library (pg. 9) which breaks down a $250,000 total budget allocation for each material audience type: adult, young adult, and children and further within each by fiction, nonfiction, and audiovisual subsections. Of specific relevance in this sample is the percentage of the total budget listed for each of these break downs. However, the cost of materials has changed drastically since the book was written and specific price breakdowns should factor that in. Additionally, modern breakdowns would further define digital media rather than lump it all into audiovisual. Another aspect of the book that shows its age is a statement saying, “Public libraries, other than the central libraries in large systems, seldom invest a large portion of their budget in serials” (pg. 46). With the availability of digital newsstand and serials services like Zinio, this may no longer be the case. Despite its age, overall this is a really good resource for creating strategic materials budgeting.