Putting the Science Back in Library Science: Collection Development, Diversity Audits, & Understanding Teens – Analyzing Data for Decision Making

 Aleen Houseman 

Citation:
            Jensen, K., & says, A. (2018, March 21). Putting the science back in library science: Collection development, diversity audits, & understanding teens – analyzing data for decision making. Teen Librarian Toolbox. https://teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2018/03/21/putting-the-science-back-in-library-science-collection-development-diversity-audits-understanding-teens-analyzing-data-for-decision-making/ 

Link: Click Here

Descriptions:
            Description: This rescore includes a first-hand perspective of collection developments and diversity audits. Librarian Karen Jensen of the Mount Vernon Public library walks the reader through her process of evaluating/ creating and auditing a collection at her library. 

Developing Library Collections for Today's Young Adults

Chase, Matthew
Fall 2016

Citation:

Pattee, A. S. (2014). Developing library collections for today’s young adults. Lanham: Scarecrow Press.

Summary:

This book addresses the complexities and issues surrounding collection development that specifically targets youth populations. The author highlights the many steps and procedures to an effective development, ranging from needs assessment to evaluation to selection and expansion to even the weeding and removal of collection materials. She balances the book by approaching the development of print materials as well as the digital, to reflect the diversifying and ever-evolving process to youth collections.

Evaluation:

I really appreciated the approach of the author to the topic, as she reflected on collection development as a cyclical process and she developed guidelines around that principle as a result. It allows librarians to adopt a more open-minded framework in their development of collections. For youth services in particular, this principle continues to grow in importance given the ever-changing trends in technology and the diverse needs of youth. Being advocates for youth then, as she explained, it is important that we as librarians also stipulate collection development policies to explain the mission and goals of the collection as to successfully navigate the concerns of adult stakeholders (e.g., parents) and still meet the needs of youth.

Re-examining the role of public libraries

Lara, Veronica

Garmer, Amy K. (2014) Rising to the Challenge: Re-Envisioning Public Libraries. Washington DC: The Aspen Institute. 66p.

The Aspen Institute is an organization that creates a platform by which groups or communities can discuss ideas regarding various programs, promote leadership, and take action for the betterment of society.

The Aspen Institute published its report, Rising to the Challenge, in 2014 in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  This report was the result of a study aimed at determining the need for public libraries to re-envision their role in the communities they serve.  It is clear that libraries are a vital information resource.  In many cases, public libraries are communities’ only opportunity to gain access to resources, especially those online.  

The first half of this report focused on the significant changes to the way information is created and gathered.  Overwhelmingly, the shift has been significantly digital.  However, many communities (ie. learning communities) find it difficult to keep up with technology literacy or find access to online tools.  According to the University of Maryland Information Policy and Access Center, “62% of public libraries are the only source of free Internet in the community” (qtd. in Garmer, 2014, p. 16).  With this in mind, what do public libraries need to do to provide resources for their community? Public libraries should be thinking about how their new technologies are helping people connect to and use the digital resources they need.  New technologies such as free video conferencing and audiovisual editing commons are being added to more and more public libraries (p. 25).  These technologies can be used to create a connected, educated, participatory community. 

The report then goes on to discuss strategies by which public libraries can meet the technological needs of its community.  The author lays out 4 guidelines the library should strive for.  First, library services should match the goals of the community.  The library should be built around the patrons’ desires and needs.  Libraries should be reaching out to these communities to assess their needs and act accordingly.  Second, libraries should be endeavoring to diversify content format.  Information searching is rarely done in print anymore.  E-books, online journals, and other digital content should be provided to users.  Broadband access is no longer a luxury; Internet connection is integral to the success of a communities citizens.  From online classes to online job searches, the people need to be connected.  Third, libraries must procure a sustainable source of funding to ensure their longevity.  The study shows that state and federal funding accounts for only about 8% of a library’s funding.  All other funding comes from various sources in the local community.  In that case, libraries should actively be seeking business partnerships to not only maintain the services they currently offer, but to plan for growing and improving resources and services.  Finally, libraries should cultivate leadership by actively collaborating with the community.  The community members should be driving content and services within the library.  To do that, they must have a voice that can demand that their needs be met. 

Thinking of a re-envisioned library like this is inspiring.  The idea that libraries will no longer be “information silos” is one that gives me hope for the future of libraries.  As a library student, I have heard many people express concern about the current landscape of information science.  This is not a “bad time” to be getting into libraries; this is the best time.

An electronic version of the report can be found here.

Using Outreach Efforts to Acquire Documentation

Christina Perris
INFO 266
Fall 2015

Using Outreach Efforts to Acquire Documentation

Hughes-Watkins, Lae'l. (2014). Filling in the gaps: Using outreach efforts to acquire documentation on the black campus movement, 1965-1972. Archival Issues: Journal of the Midwest Archives Conference, 36(1), 27-42.

This journal article focuses on the Department of Special Collections and Archives at Kent State University’s efforts to develop their collection of documentation on the Black Campus Movement, 1965-1972.  The archivist opens by presenting a brief history of the black campus movement: first, on broad, national scale; then, in the context of how it was on the campus of Kent State.  The archivist discusses the efforts she undertook to assess the deficiency in the department’s collections through a survey of the holdings, and then how she creates a collection development plan to address these shortcomings.  The archivist goes on to explain how she reviewed the outreach strategy and brought it into alignment with the new collection development plan.  She then explains how she went on the acquiring the collection focused on the black campus movement and black student life.

This article is an probably one of the most ambitious, thorough and detailed accounts of what it truly takes to acquire a representative collection – whether it is specifically targeted to a special collection department, a special collections department with an archive or an archive alone – in your repository.  Whether you work in an academic library of a state-run university with a special collections department or a local historical society’s community-based archive, it might be advisable to be somewhat versed in the history of the United States educational system as it relates to state-run universities (at least, the “major events” in the system, such as the passage of Civil Rights legislation, students rights movements, etc.) or the basic history of the community.  Knowing the history – preferably from unbiased, academic sources – will allow to assess where “gaps” in the existing collection lie.  Once you identify these gaps, as the author did, you can then determine how to “remedy” them and present a more complete – and therefore, accurate – representation of the history of the institution or community.