The Library Collection – a growing organism designed to support learning.
During this semester, diving deep into the world of Collection Development in ETL503, I have discovered a myriad of challenges and priorities facing the complex role of the Teacher Librarian (TL) within this process. Kimmel, (2014) describes Collection Development as both an organic and deliberate process that responds to the ever-evolving needs of the learner, intersecting with the school’s mission and goals. This idea extended further by Huhes-Hansell & Mancall (2005) explaining that this process involves creating a collaborative environment that identifies resources that support the needs of the learning community and making these equitably accessible for all stakeholders.
The TL is at the center of this complex process and must draw on a range of knowledge of their specific context, the world of changing resources and the availability of resources in the wider community (Huhes-Hansell & Mancall, 2005).
I began this journey exploring the major opportunity and challenge of collection development – Change.
In my blog post Library Collection Development or Management? (Tansey, 2021, March 14) I explored these complexities of change closer; learning libraries continue to develop with hybrid collections of physical, electronic and digital resources in a variety of forms, while trying to keep up with continual changes in curriculum, teaching and learning approaches and the rising costs of resources (Hughes-Hansell & Mancall, 2005; Johnson, 2009).
As collections are constantly undergoing change, these should be seen within the context of the school community. It is pertinent that the collection includes the vast needs of all the stakeholders, including students, teachers, administrators, parents, staff, members of community, and anyone else connected with the learning community. Effectively developing and managing a school library collection is an incredibly complex and a perpetually collaborative process (Lamb & Johnson, 2004).
In the discussions of Forum: Forum 1 – Definitions of collection management and collection development, there were various examples of the interplay between developing and managing a collection. J, Curtis (personal communication, March 18, 2021) discusses collection development as the subpart of collection management that has primarily to do with the decisions that will result in the acquisition of resources. While collection management is the term that encompasses all of the procedures required to support the collection development process.
So, how does the TL start this process of collection development?
My readings took me further into this process and I discovered that collection development is all about having a plan.
In ALIA’s Schools policies and procedures manual (ALIA & VCTL, 2017) it states the rationale of the School Collection Development Policy should include the school’s vision, linking the collection to the values and mission of the school. While, it is the Collection Development Procedures that describes and details how the policy is to be implemented and managed.
A closer examination of Collection Development Policy.
A collection development policy is essential to a school library as it explains why the collection exists and contains the mission, vision and values of the school and the school library (ALIA & VCTL, 2017; Kimmel, 2014). Containing statements and principles the policy describes and details how the resource collection will be developed to meet the needs of all its users. A policy has critical significance to the collection’s development as it offers guidance for direction, while also ensuring equality in decision-making (Braxton, 2018). The document forms a valuable resource for the TL in providing a solid defense for challenges to the resources. While enabling the TL to substantiate why there are resources from differing perspectives on challenging topics in the collection (discussed further in my blog post Ethics, Censorship and Collection Development Policy [Tansey, 2021, May 17]) and why funds are being spent in a particular way (Braxton, 2018). .
The Collection Development Policy provides further guidance in evaluating the collection, a process that includes input from various stakeholders. In my blog post, Collection Management and Collection Appraisal (Tansey, 2021, April 24), I identified that collection appraisal, part of the collection policy, is that in which the collection is reviewed to ensure it is relevant and current in meeting user needs (Debowski, 2001). To make the best use of funding, the TL must work collaboratively with the teachers and all stakeholders. In order to identify needs and review existing resources; in order to select new materials, and build effective learning environments (Bishop, 2007).Kimmel (2014) states that data should be collected and analysed from an ongoing evaluation, not only of the collection but also of the learning outcomes and needs of students. The policy should also include guiding statements about access, intellectual freedom and equity, acting as both a safeguard and advocate of censorship and ethics (IFLA, 2015).
Making the Collection Development Policy integral to the school and library.
Unfortunately, on reading the various discussions in Forum: Forum 6.1 Editing a collection development policy many students admitted that their school’s had no such policy. Correlating deficiencies in their collection’s with the lack of a clear policy for guidance (C. Peterson, personal communication, May 3, 2021; A. Montgomery, personal communication, May 17, 2021) These discussions also highlighted the TL’s responsibility of promoting the awareness of the importance of the Collection Development Policy, by consultation with the school community – teachers, students, even parents. The TL can turn this challenge into empowerment, by seeking knowledge and support through building a collaborative approach to advocacy within the school community.
At the closing of ETL503, I draw myself back to these integral understandings in Collection Development and my role as a TL. Collection development and selection is not a sole responsibility but rather a collaborative process that includes all stakeholders of the Library; where the needs and requirements of the learning community are the driving force for in building a well-balanced collection that both supports the teaching-learning context and the characteristics of the specific learners Hughes-Hassell & Mancall (2005). Through collaboration, we can face challenges of this dynamic and ever evolving educational environment, to ensure the provision of a purposeful and relevant collection for all.
References
Australian Library and Information Association School, & Victorian Catholic Teacher Librarians. (2017). A manual for developing policies and procedures in Australian school library resource centres. https://asla.org.au/resources/Documents/Website%20Documents/Policies/policies-procedures-manual_ed2.pdf
Bishop, K. (2007). The collection program in schools: concepts, practices and information sources (4th ed.). Libraries Unlimited.
Braxton, B. (2016). Sample collection policy. http://500hats.edublogs.org/policies/sample-collection-policy/
Debowski, S. (2001). Collection management policies. In K. Dillon, J. Henri & J. McGregor (Eds.), Providing more with less: collection management for school libraries (2nd ed., pp. 126-136). https://doms.csu.edu.au/csu/file/4e3442bb-7cd7-4090-9f50-bf88fdcc896f/1/hart-a.pdf
Hughes-Hassell, S. & Mancall, J. (2005). Collection management for youth: Responding to the needs of learners. ALA Editions.
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions School Libraries Section Standing Committee. (2015). IFLA school library guidelines. https://www.ifla.org/files/assets/school-libraries-resource-centers/publications/ifla-school-library-guidelines.pdf
Kimmel, S. C. (2014). Developing collections to empower learners. American Library Association.
Lamb, A. & Johnson, H.L. (2012). Program administration: Budget management. The School Library Media Specialist. http://eduscapes.com/sms/administration/budget.html
