What are the key considerations when considering collection development in libraries?

The Collection Development Policy is where these key considerations are to be laid out. It will include the purpose and goals of the collection as well as how decisions are to be made in order to reach these goals.

Why do we need collection development policies?

The collection development policy describes how the collection will meet the needs of the students, staff and community of the school. It is an explicit document which clearly outlines underlying principals for the selection and deselection (weeding) of resources, so that the collection does not become outdated, imbalanced or full of personal favouritism.

What does it include? (Summarised from Braxton, 2016)

Mission statement

Descriptions of the library users – staff, students and the school community and their needs and interests.

The purpose of the collection development policy

A collection development policy will include a budget, which as Morrisey (2008) suggests should include separate budgets for each section of the library, to avoid over spending in one domain, to the detriment of others

The current nature of the collection as a benchmark

Collection evaluation – see here for how to carry out an evaluation: https://thinkspace.csu.edu.au/growingyoungreaders/2021/05/08/evaluating-library-collections/

Selection criteria and aids

Acquisition processes

Promotion of resources

Policy review – provide a three year period for the policy to be reviewed

 

References:

Braxton, B. (2016). Sample collection policy. http://500hats.edublogs.org/policies/sample-collection-policy/

Morrisey, L. J. (2008). Ethical issues in collection development.  Journal of Library Administration, 47(3-4), 163-171.