Assembling Selection Criteria and Writing a Collection Development Policy

Bridget Sievers

Schleicher, M. C. (2010). Assembling Selection Criteria and Writing a Collection Development Policy for a Variety of Older Medical Books. Journal of Hospital Librarianship, 10(3), 251–264. https://doi.org/10.1080/15323269.2010.491424

In this article, Schleicher explains how the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Library created a framework for selection criteria and collection management for the library’s medical texts. These texts differed from the general collection in that many were historical texts or first editions, eliciting the need to create a new organization system. This was, some could be shared and not just kept in a storage closet.

By evaluating the books in the special collection, the library could potentially fill gaps left in the general collection, share resources with their consortium, and free up physical space in a building where that can be a precious resource. A unique factor in rare and special book collections that was considered in the creation of the criteria was, if the book was already available in the region/consortium, sale of the book to a collector or another organization. This is interesting to compare this to public and school library collections, where profit is rarely a consideration in selection criteria. The article gives a great insight into the considerations that need to be made for collection management of a special or academic library.

So You Bought a Racist Book...

Micka, Tracy

INFO266, Fall 2016

Angie Manfredi (2016, August 10). So you bought a racist book for your library: now what? [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://readingwhilewhite.blogspot.com/2016/08/so-you-bought-racist-book-for-your.html

Summary:

In charge of collection development, the author reiterates the importance of reading book reviews critically and following your own judgement. She also offers advice on what to do if you already have a potentially offensive book on your shelves.

My Comments:

I think many busy librarians may have relied on professional reviews for book selections and later came to find out their choice was a mistake. How do we walk the line between creating an overly subjective collection and a totally crowd sourced one (including patron requests and professional reviews), that may result in reiterating stereotypes that mainstream culture accepts?

Children's Services Today, J. Larson, Chapter 3: The Children's Collection

Tatarakis, Kelly

Larson, J. (2015). Chapter 03. The children's collection. In Children's services today: A practical guide for librarians [EBL Reader version]. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://www.sjsu.eblib.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/patron/FullRecord.aspx?p=1983586

Summary: 

           This chapter deals with development of the children's collection, particularly for public libraries. It covers selection, diversity in materials and subjects, supporting intellectual freedom, and how to promote reading and using the library among children. Suggestions for how to evaluate and select materials in all formats are given, including audiovisual and digital materials. Formats specific to the children's collection - board books, picture books, etc. - are considered separately as the author outlines evaluation methods and gives tips for developing selection criteria. Emphasis is put on understanding your library's collection development policy, and in making a needs assessment of the community and target users before planning acquisitions. A portion of the chapter reviews selection tools including review sources, catalogs, and websites. The different Awards for children's literature are summarized as an additional consideration in the selection process. The chapter also discusses how collection development can be affected by representations of diversity, and the impact that the concept of intellectual freedom has on acquisition policy.

Evaluation:

            This book is a great help to public librarians working in the children's department, and this chapter in particular is highly useful to acquisitions librarians focused on children's materials. I found it a helpful guide in planning selection criteria and procedure for a children's collection.