Collection Managment

Smith, Cassandra

Engelson, L. (2015). Collection management [video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qOxRIVr-aY

Summary
This 19 minute video explains that simply having materials in your collection isn't sufficient. It is imperative to be able to find and retrieve the information easily through Collocation and Differentiation. The five laws of library science are explained as:

1. Books (materials) are for use
2. Every reader his book
3. Every book its reader
4. Save the time of the reader
5. The library is a growing organism (garden)

It is further explained that each library should be unique. Or in other words, you don’t need nor should you have a copycat collection. The focus ought to be on the needs of the users, which can greatly vary from library to library, even within the same system.

Evaluation

More an more libraries are adapting to the needs of the users rather than just covering a little bit of everything. Some places have diverse communities that demand for materials in various languages. Other places have collections that are entirely digital. There are even libraries that circulate more than just books, such as tools, seeds, toys, musical instruments, and so on. The key is to find out what is needed by the users, acquire it into the collection, and get it into the hands of the community that needs it. Having like items grouped together makes it easier for users to find what they are looking for, rather than having to wander around and asking questions. A library must be user friendly.

Format Follows Function

Denise Lester
Peet, L. (2015) Format follows function. Library Journal, 140(14), 34-37.

This article discusses the ever challenging task of not only selecting titles that patrons want, but also selecting the right format.  With so many options within a prescribed format, librarians have to constantly anticipate the expectations of their patron's preferred titles and preferred formats.  This can be especially challenging if the collection is patron driven.  If it is not patron driven, then the librarian is at liberty to select titles and formats based on past usage.  However, if the collection is patron driven, then the collection risks being too heavy and unbalanced in one area (genre and format) and not others.  The author offers current assistive tools available through vendors and explains acquisitions techniques that help librarians determine titles and formats for succesfull cross platform development.

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