Beyond the Bookshelf: When Access to a Collection Isn't Enough

Citation:

Fagan, M. K. (2024). Children's access to books, libraries, and storybook reading: Survey of mothers at a family homeless shelter. Urban Education, 59(4), 1106–1131. https://doi.org/10.1177/00420859211073901

Summary:

One of the recurring themes throughout my MLIS studies has been the distinction between providing access to information and creating meaningful opportunities for people to use it. Mary K. Fagan's research on children's access to books and libraries while experiencing homelessness offers an especially revealing example of this distinction.

Fagan (2024) surveyed mothers of 24 children living in a family homeless shelter and 27 children living in nearby housed families. The study examined access to children's books, public library use, library card ownership, and shared storybook reading. The results demonstrated significant disparities in the availability of books and library participation. Among families experiencing homelessness, 71% did not have library cards, and only 33% of mothers reported reading to their children daily, compared with 73% of mothers in the comparison group.

Although the study involved a relatively small sample from one urban community, its findings raise important questions about how libraries understand accessibility. A public library may possess an excellent children's collection, but the existence of those materials does not necessarily mean that families experiencing housing instability can take advantage of them.

Transportation difficulties, identification requirements, unfamiliarity with library services, and the challenges of maintaining stable routines can create barriers that traditional collection management practices may overlook.

What I find particularly compelling is how this research connects to the distinction between collection development and connection development that we have been exploring in INFO 266. Collection development asks whether the library possesses appropriate resources for its community. Connection development asks whether those resources can actually reach the people who need them.

For families experiencing homelessness, that distinction can be significant. Partnerships with shelters, mobile library services, flexible borrowing policies, and outreach programs may accomplish more than simply purchasing additional materials for an existing collection.

Fagan's study does not directly evaluate these interventions, but it provides evidence of the access disparities that such programs might address. From a collection management perspective, the larger lesson is that circulation statistics and collection size cannot independently demonstrate equitable service. Families who cannot easily visit the library or obtain borrowing privileges may remain invisible in the very statistics used to guide collection development.

Perhaps we should be asking not only whether our collections reflect the communities we serve, but whether our services create realistic opportunities for those communities to engage with them. After all, a library's responsibility does not end when a book is placed on a shelf. In many respects, that is where the work begins.

A Collection Can Be Full and Still Leave a Child Out

 Name: Schwab, Kayla

Citation

IFLA Library Services to Children and Young Adults Section. (2018). IFLA guidelines for library services to children aged 0–18 (C. Rankin, Ed.; 2nd ed., version 1.1.1). International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions.

Read Here

Summary

The IFLA Guidelines for Library Services to Children Aged 0–18 emphasize the importance of developing library collections that reflect the diverse needs of children and their communities. The guidelines explain that collection development should consider more than the number of books available. Librarians should also consider accessibility, cultural representation, different reading abilities, and the formats in which materials are offered.

One particularly important recommendation is that children's collections should include materials representing different cultures, languages, family structures, identities, and abilities. The guidelines also discuss providing resources in multiple formats, including audiobooks, Braille materials, sensory materials, and digital resources.

The document encourages libraries to involve children and families in decisions about their collections and services. Rather than assuming what children need, librarians should actively listen to the communities they serve.

Evaluation and Reflection

What stands out to me about these guidelines is the difference between having a large collection and having a collection that genuinely serves everyone.

A library might have thousands of books, but what happens when a child cannot find a character who looks like them, a story that reflects their family, or a book in a format they can access? Having a large collection does not automatically mean that the collection is inclusive.

I also appreciate the emphasis on listening to children. Librarians have professional knowledge about collection development, but the children using the library have valuable perspectives about what is missing.

Although these guidelines focus on public library services for children, I believe many of the principles apply to school libraries as well. One practical way to apply them would be to evaluate a collection for gaps in representation and accessibility while inviting students to suggest materials they would like to see.

One limitation is that some recommendations may be difficult for libraries with small budgets, limited staff, or restricted access to specialized materials. However, even small changes could make a meaningful difference.

My biggest takeaway is that collection development should not just be about what a library owns. It should also be about who can use those resources and who feels represented by them.

Curated Collection from Votes

 

Fogelberg, Rachel

 

Heisserer-Miller, R. A. (2023). A Community Curated Collection in an Academic Library: Empowering Students Through Collection Development. NASIG Proceedings, 37. https://doi.org/10.3998/nasig.4031

 

Summary

This is a presentation given at the 2022 annual NASIG conference about two initiatives at an academic library. The purpose of the programs was to involve students in collection development to overcome decreased funding and a need for student engagement. The first program asked students for subject areas that they wanted to add to the library collection that would interest them, such as mental health. The subject areas were then voted on by the students and new materials were added about that subject. The second program was paid for through a grant. Student groups, like the National Student Speech Language and Hearing Association, created a list of materials and submitted their application. While some faculty did not like the initiatives, the presenter said that the programs offered new ways for library engagement in diversity, equity, and outreach.

 

Evaluation

These program ideas sound exciting and could work with a little adaptation in many types of libraries, such as school libraries, especially with high schoolers, and public libraries. The programs are an effective way to get both patrons and the community involved with collection development. In addition to growing physical materials, the programs could ask for other items to create a new collection, whatever the community requested. For example, a “library of things” could be created from donations from the neighborhood based on common needs from a suggestion box. This idea works for school, academic, and public libraries.

A Review of Citation Analysis Methodologies for Collection Management.

Busath, Kellie

Hoffmann, K., & Doucette, L. (2012). A review of citation analysis methodologies for collection management. College & research libraries, 73(4), 321-335.

This article reviewed how multiple institutions went about doing a citation analysis for collection development purposes. Citation analysis is reviewing the citations used by faculty at the institution to see what areas of expertise needed to be accommodated by the library. It included collecting materials that were listed in citations if they were not already acquired by the library and also collecting materials linked to the citations used. This would be done by reviewing citations and then researching what other articles or resources had used that same citation. The citations were also reviewed to spot trends in research for the institution, collecting materials that would aid in future research endeavors. The article itself was a review of the different methodologies that each institution would use for their citation analysis. It was found that many institutions did not have a set methodology, but instead, everyone at the institution would go about it a little differently. Some common things that librarians would look at when doing a citation analysis was:

1. Type of resource

2. Age of resource

3. Frequency of citation

4. Presence of resource in the library

I found this article very interesting. I had heard about doing a citation analysis, but I wasn’t quite clear on the purpose or method behind it. I learned a lot about both! Doing a citation analysis could be helpful for research institutions, depending on the goals of your library. I belong to a research institution, but our collections policy is to only collect for undergraduate curriculum so faculty research interests may or may not align with that curriculum. In addition, I am currently trying to collect for our Communications College and the faculty there do not have the same publishing requirements as the rest of the University, so it is harder to tell what their interests are. Still the methodologies in this article give good insight into doing this type of analysis for collection development.

New Horizons for Academic Library Collection Development: Creating a Community-Curated Collection Through Student Empowerment

 

MacRae, Alisdair

Heisserer-Miller, R., & McAlister, L. R. (2023). New horizons for academic library collection development: Creating a community curated collection through student empowerment. Journal of Library Outreach & Engagement, 3, 119–135. https://doi.org/10.21900/j.jloe.v3.1157

Summary

This article offered two interesting solutions for academic libraries to engage student, faculty, and staff users in the form of student selection projects and grants awarded for purchasing materials related to their given area of focus. Responding to declining enrollment, shrinking budgets, and the needs of marginalized users, these programs enhanced services for users while also maintaining collection development. The Kent Library at Southeast Missouri State University is not large, with five staff for every 1,000 students, and consisting of twelve librarians and eight staff. The library had operated under a collection development model driven by faculty, so librarians had very little involvement. Equating student engagement with student success, the decision was made to establish opportunities to participate in collection development. The students gladly accepted the invitation, and while faculty might not necessarily approve materials selected by students in some cases, the solutions showed how vital student participation is for academic libraries, as well as the increasing opportunities for diversity equity, inclusion, social justice, outreach, and partnerships.

Evaluation

I found this article really exciting in terms of academic library collection development. While the university at the centre of the project might seem small and perhaps not well funded, I believe these solutions could be applied at institutions of any size, and even in non-academic library settings. The literature review supported the idea of student success through engagement, but also the potential pitfalls due to inconsistent and complex methods used to engage students, and how the student collection development process was eventually selected. The authors provided data and analysis around the engagement with each opportunity for collaborative collection development. While they noted the limits of the programs due to COVID ,they were also very honest about how interest may have been bolstered through signage, posters, free candy and coffee shop gift cards, and promotional writings in the student newspaper. Promotion may be seen as critical to making the collection development projects successful rather than imparting bias given how students are busy, and may have been under the impression that they may have little input into library operations. Overall, the project did not have exorbitant costs, with $4,000 devoted to the purchase of student nominated resources between 2019 and 2020, and $7,000 for the student group grant program between 2019 and 2021. I believe the article offers a good example of connection development through its collaborative aspects, and it would be interesting to try a similar project at another library.

Inclusive Collections For Supercharged Storytimes

Varela, Tiffany 

WebJunction. (2023, December 27). Inclusive collections for supercharged storytimes.            https://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/inclusive-collections.html 

Summary:

Highlights the importance of building diverse and representative collections for children’s programs. Storytime helps shape how children see themselves and others. Choosing books that reflect the identities in our communities, while also introducing new perspectives, supports a sense of belonging and encourages understanding.

The article emphasizes that inclusive collections require intentional, ongoing effort. Librarians should regularly assess their materials to ensure a wide range of voices and experiences are represented, especially those that have been historically underrepresented. It also highlights useful tools such as curated booklists, review sources, and professional development opportunities to support inclusive selection and programming. A central idea is that books act as mirrors, windows, and doors, reflecting children’s lives, offering insight into others, and opening pathways to new experiences.

Overall, the article reminds us that inclusive storytime collections are built through thoughtful practice and play a key role in fostering empathy and connection.

Evaluation:

The article provides a clear and practical overview of why inclusive collections matter in children’s library services. It effectively connects theory to practice by focusing on storytime and how book choices influence children’s sense of identity and understanding of others. The “mirrors, windows, and doors” concept is used well as a simple guide for selecting materials.

A key strength is its emphasis on intentionality, presenting inclusive collection building as an ongoing responsibility. The inclusion of booklists, tools, and training resources makes it useful for librarians looking to improve their work. There is a generous list of resources to refer to when it comes to selection. However, the article stays at a general level. It offers limited guidance on how to evaluate collections in a systematic way and does not fully address challenges such as budget limits or community concerns.

Overall, it serves as a strong introduction that highlights the importance of inclusive practices, though additional detail would be helpful for deeper implementation.

How public librarians actually build collections

 Maklynn St. Clare, INFO 266

Gooding-Call, A. (2020, February 24). Public library collection development secrets, revealed: Behold the mystery of public library collection development. Book Riot. https://bookriot.com/public-library-collection-development/

Summary: Anna Gooding-Call explains how public librarians actually build collections. She shows that librarians can’t just follow their personal tastes or ideas of “quality,” because that would set dangerous precedents and exclude viewpoints when staff changes. Instead, they balance demand, circulation data, space limits, and community needs, often relying on professional review sources. Gooding-Call argues that public libraries must prioritize relevance, diversity, and use over stocking every “classic,” and that donations are usually handled according to policy rather than simply added to shelves.

Evaluation: The author made some good points about unknown considerations that librarians should keep in mind, rather than making random choices in collection development. The article was easy to understand and thought-provoking.

Tags: collection development, librarians, libraries, circulation data, community, diversity, donations, funding 

 

Subject-Specific Policy Statements: A Rationale and Framework for Collection Development.

McGuigan, G. S., & White, G. W. (2003). Subject-Specific Policy Statements: A Rationale and Framework for Collection Development. Acquisitions Librarian, 15(30), 15. https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1300/J101v15n30_03

Summary:

McGuigan and White argue that traditional, library-wide collection development policies are often too broad to meet the nuanced needs of specialized subject areas. They present subject-specific policy statements as a more effective alternative, enabling libraries to articulate clearer goals, define collection boundaries, and communicate the distinctive characteristics of individual subject collections. The authors emphasize that creating detailed subject-based policies supports librarians in managing resources more effectively and helps patrons better understand what to expect from particular collections.

Evaluation: 

The passage presents a clear and well-reasoned argument for the value of subject-specific collection development policies within libraries. It effectively contrasts traditional, library-wide policies, which are characterized as overly broad and insufficient for addressing nuanced disciplinary needs with more detailed subject-based policies that offer clarity and precision. By emphasizing the benefits of subject-specific approaches, such as improved communication of collection goals, enhanced support for librarians, and better guidance for patrons with specialized research needs, the text highlights the practical advantages of tailoring policies to particular subject areas.

A notable strength of the passage is its articulation of how subject-based policies function not only as guiding documents but also as strategic tools. The discussion underscores that developing these policies requires close analysis of the current collection, an understanding of user needs, and forward-looking planning, activities essential to maintaining a relevant and robust collection. The reference to McGuigan and White strengthens the argument by grounding it in professional discourse and demonstrating that concerns about overly general policies are recognized within the field.

Transformative Agreements in An Academic Library: Two librarians' experience with collection development and this new type of agreement with publishers

McLain, R., & McKelvey, H. (2024). Shifting the collection development mindset: Moving from traditional journal subscriptions to transformative agreements. Library Resources & Technical Services, 68(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.5860/lrts.68n1.8218

Audrey Wilcox

Summary

This article, written by Rachelle McLain and Hannah McKelvey and published in 2024, does a great job in describing the processes behind transformative agreements (TAs), what they are to libraries and publishers, as well as the considerations behind implementing TAs. Hannah and Rachelle write about their experiences managing, executing, and negotiating with seven TAs over the course of three years at their academic library at Montana State University. They begin by examining the current literature on the subject and then explain how they were introduced to Tas by attending a 2019 conference. From there, they delve into how TAs can help support equitable open-access opportunities for authors and researchers. Throughout the article, they present research questions, workflows, benefits, and challenges that they encountered during their work. All in all, the researchers concluded that TAs are worth it to a library, regardless of its size or staffing, and that developing the knowledge and skills to work with publishers and authors in creating TAs will be even more critical in the future as more libraries participate.

My Evaluation

I believe this article to be incredibly important to any library looking to start implementing transformative agreements in their collection development processes. Rachelle and Hannah did a great job explaining their work and processes throughout the research and implementation of the TAs within their library. They bring up great considerations and questions that those new to the process should consider, as well as what to look out for when working with publishers. I feel that licensing processes and negotiating with big-name publishers can be daunting enough as it is, and when you add processes like TAs to the mix, it can get even more confusing. Open Access within libraries still has some wrinkles and aspects to work out, but licensing agreements like TAs can create more equitable access to publishing and research in a world of rising article processing fees and costs to authors.

AI Models and Collection Development in Health Sciences Libraries

 

Morrison, Mary

Portillo, I., & Carson, D. (2025). Making the most of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models to support collection development in health sciences libraries. Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA, 113(1), 92–93. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2025.2079

Summary:

For the project, health sciences librarians at Chapman University in Irvine, Ca, evaluated the four AI models (ChatGPT 4.0, Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot) over the course of six months using two different prompts in an effort to streamline their work and aid efficiency. 

For the first prompt, each generative AI model was asked to produce a current eBook list of titles published over the last two years on topics related to pharmacy, communication sciences and disorders, physical assistant, and physical therapy. For the second prompt, the tools were asked to find current subject gaps in the collection and to create a list of recommended call numbers in specific ranges that needed attention. Each collection list was uploaded into the generative AI models using the Create List function found in Sierra which is an Integrated Library System. 

Afterwards, the results were assessed for “quality, accuracy, the presence of fabricated titles (often referred to as ‘hallucinations’) if references were provided, correct citation details and accurate LC call numbers” (Portillo & Carson, 2025). All of the models gave inconsistent responses. Only two of the AI models gave sources for the titles they created. While Copilot was the most accurate in generating titles, Gemini and ChatGPT had many hallucinations and incorrect information. Some tools gave more hallucinations on different days with the same prompt. Because of this, none of the generative AI models are currently adequate tools for collection development. 

The second prompt got better results with all models giving some type of “helpful analysis and accurate LC call numbers” (p. 93). The subject gaps identified by each model were different, but they all had reasoning as to what areas needed further development and the research generated was found to be useful by the researchers for use in their current collection development work. 

The findings of the research support the idea that LLMs are not ready to serve as “primary information retrieval systems” for library collections and are better used as supplementary tools for “analyzing the subject coverage of their collection, identifying subject gaps, and highlighting areas for health science programs that may not be as well represented in a library collection”

 (p. 93).

Evaluation: Overall, I found this article to be a brief and concise research endeavor for a very focused group (health sciences libraries). I appreciated that they used four different AI models to test the accuracy of their results from the two collection based prompts. It was especially interesting to see how each model fared and how they had similarities and differences. I wasn’t surprised by the findings. I find AI tools especially helpful for many tasks, but in tasks that require higher order thinking or multiple steps that require some degree of nuance, there is still a great deal of room for improvement. I feel that AI will improve rapidly and that soon it will be something that is more useful in increasing librarians’ efficiency and reducing their workload. 

Collection Development and Management for 21st Century Library Collections

Name: 

Mickayla McDowell

Citation: 

Gregory, V. L. (2019). Collection development and management for 21st century library collections: An introduction (2nd ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman. 

Summary: 

Gregory’s text provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary collection development and management (CDM), covering the full lifecycle of collection work. As said in the overview, “...this book will concentrate on the collection itself–selecting, acquiring, assessing, weeding, and preserving the library’s collection are the main focus…” (1). The book covers e-books, open-access publishing, self-published materials, web 2.0, and licensing frameworks, reflecting the changing landscape of 21st-century collections. Written in accessible language and grounded in practical examples, sample policies, and workflow templates, the book functions as a foundational textbook and a practitioner’s reference guide.

Review: 

Overall, it is a strong foundation, but as the sub-title notes it is just an introduction. Its strength lie in its clear process-oriented approach, broad topical coverage, and attention to legal, ethical, and diversity concerns in CDM. However, because of its breadth, the treatment of specialized areas (such as born-digital materials and digital preservation infrastructures) remain somewhat general. Additionally, some sections already feel dated given rapid developments in streaming media, vendor negotiations, artificial intelligence, and open-access models. 

Community-Curated Collection through Student Empowerment

Smit, Elizabeth

Heisserer-Miller, R. & McAlister, L.R. (2023). New horizons for academic library collection 
development: Creating a community curated collection through student empowerment. Journal of Library Outreach & Engagement, 3(2023), 119-135.

Summary:

Librarians at Southeast Missouri State University started two programs to get more patron input into collection development. The first let students nominate and then vote on which section of the library should get a special $3,000 budget. The second created a grant program for student groups to suggest materials needed by the library. Items purchased through the first program saw a jump in usage while items purchased through the second program saw lower than average usage. In both cases, the researchers were pleased with the student engagement with the programs and the relationships built between the library and the affinity groups on campus. One grant turned into an on-going project and a new special collection in the library.

Opinion:

While I don't think the results of this study are particularly exciting, encouraging patrons to take ownership over portions of the collection sounds like a great way to improve circulation and engagement. The programs here might not translate directly to your library or budget but they're a good jumping off point. And, the researchers' enthusiasm for the programs is catching! I know my students would love to pick books, but I often worry that they'll choose books that are trendy now & then they'll will be forgotten before they even arrive. Sometimes we take book suggestions but I would love to have students vote for which section of the library needs a tune-up next year. Our library doesn't receive enough money to give grants to student groups but it would be nice to include other areas than English, Science & Social Studies in our purchasing decisions.

Dorothy Porter: A Black Woman Pioneer in Library and Information Science

Penelope Wright

Conley, Z. (2023). Dorothy Porter: A Black woman pioneer in library and information science. Arkansas Libraries Fall/Winter 2023, 80(3/4), 24-26.

Summary:

Dorothy Porter was born in 1905 in Virginia. She attended Howard University and in 1930 became a librarian there. In 1932 she was Columbia University's first Black student to earn a library science degree. When she began as a librarian, there were two numbers in Dewey that all materials by (or about) Black people went: 326 (slavery) or 325 (colonization). A book of poetry by a Black author would be assigned either 326 or 325, it would not go in 811. Dorothy changed this, putting materials by Black authors in the sections in which they fit best in the wider Dewey system, not just in the two numbers. Porter's system pushed back on racism and challenged the bias of the Dewey system. She was the curator of the Moorland Foundation and amassed a collection of more than 180,000 materials. Her contributions to Black history and literature were immense. She received numerous awards and accolades, including the Frankel Award from the National Endowment for the Humanities. She published many scholarly works and helped set the standard for collections focused on Black lives and culture. Porter's indomitable will and trailblazing nature brought resounding positive change to libraries worldwide. 

Evaluation/Opinion

I read a lot of different articles this semester but this is the one that I kept coming back to, that stuck in my mind the most. Porter challenged the status quo, and shook up the way things "had always been done" because the way things had "always been done" was wrong. I'm glad I learned about her, she was an amazing woman. I'd recommend this article to anyone who wants a quick, informative read about notable librarians, the history of libraries, or overcoming institutional racism. 

Policies for Library Inclusion of Self-Published Works

 

Burns, C. (2016, February 4). Policies for library inclusion of self-published works. Public Libraries Online. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2016/02/policies-for-library-inclusion-of-self-published-works/

Whipple, Karen

Spring 2025

Summary:

    This short article poses the question of whether self-published works should be accessible through libraries. The article discussed how these works can easily fit into a library's collection with a few caveats. Specifically, it may be necessary to modify the collection development policy to focus on self-published works, and an agreement must be established with the self-publishing companies. As always, libraries need to consider the value of the book and the space they have available for their collection. Ultimately, the article argues for including self-published works but recognizes the library must be willing to create a firm policy and procedures for these works.

Evaluation:

    This brief article was written almost ten years ago, but it has become even more relevant today. Self-publishing is incredibly easy nowadays with the help of self-publishing opportunities like Kindle Unlimited Direct Publishing (KDP), which allows individuals to electronically publish their works and even receive payment when users access and read their books. Many of these books are available in print, eBook, and eAudiobook formats.

    "Indie" authors are no longer the amateurs they were once considered to be. Some indie authors have built successful careers through this nontraditional form of writing, achieving notable success in both income and readership. These self-published works are reviewed by readers on Amazon, and Goodreads, and some have Kirkus reviews as well.

    The question of whether libraries should include self-published works has been on my mind recently, so I was happy to come across this article. I would have loved to have had more detailed information, but this article was relatively brief and was more of an introduction to the idea rather than a fully fleshed-out how-to guide or review of libraries that are currently using self-published works. It is unsurprising, though, as the article was published in 2016; I imagine the idea was still in its infancy. Still, it was an enjoyable, quick read to pique my curiosity.