Collection development: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Process of accruing library materials}}

{{More citations needed|date=June 2021}}

[[Library]] '''collection development''' is the process of systematically building the collection of a particular [[library]] to meet the information needs of the [[library]] users (a service population) in a timely and economical manner using [[Information Resources|information resources]] locally held as well as resources from other organizations.<ref>{{cite book|last=Evans|first=G. Edward|title=Developing Library and Information Center Collections|url=https://archive.org/details/developinglibrar0000evan_t2k2|url-access=registration|year=2000|publisher=Libraries Unlimited|pages=[https://archive.org/details/developinglibrar0000evan_t2k2/page/15 15–16]}}</ref><ref name="quest">{{cite web |url=https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/why-do-you-need-a-collection-development-plan/ |title=Why Do You Need a Collection Development Plan? |last=Abercrombie |first=Sedley |date=May 30, 2018 |website=Knowledge Quest |access-date=December 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707113028/https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/why-do-you-need-a-collection-development-plan/ |archive-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref><ref name="philosophy">{{cite journal |url=https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5653&context=libphilprac |title=Collections and Collection Development Exercise in Libraries: A Perspective in View |last1=Okolo |first1=Stanley Efe |last2=Eserada |first2=Rechael E |last3=Ugboh |first3=Peace N |last4=Ngbo |first4=Dorothy |journal=Library Philosophy and Practice |date=January 11, 2019 |access-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507183435/https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5653&context=libphilprac |archive-date=May 7, 2022}}</ref> "According to (Evans & zamosky Zamosky) is a dynamic self [[Perpetration|perpetuation]] cycle or process and consists six definable stages namely,community analysis, [[selection policies,]] selection, [[Library acquisitions|acquisition]], weeding and [[evaluation]].

According to the [[International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions Paris Principles|International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions]] (IFLA), acquisition and collection development focuses on methodological and topical themes pertaining to acquisition of print and other analogue library materials (by purchase, exchange, gift, legal deposit), and the licensing and purchase of [[Electronic Information for Libraries|electronic information]] resources.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Acquisition and Collection Development Section |url=https://www.ifla.org/about-the-acquisition-collection-development-section |publisher=[[International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions]] |access-date=2021-06-20}}</ref> Collection development involves activities that need a [[librarian]] or information professional who is specialized in improving the library's collection. The process includes the selection of [[information]] materials that respond to the users or patrons need as well as de-selection of unwanted information materials, called {{em|[[Weeding (library)|weeding]]}}.<ref name="philosophy" /><ref name="magazine">{{cite web |url=https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2014/05/20/the-practical-librarians-guide-to-collection-development/ |title=The Practical Librarian's Guide to Collection Development |date=May 20, 2014 |website=American Libraries Magazine |access-date=December 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114205308/https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2014/05/20/the-practical-librarians-guide-to-collection-development/ |archive-date=November 14, 2022}}</ref> It also involves the planning strategies for continuing acquisition, evaluation of new information materials and the existing collection in order to determine how well a particular library serves its users.<ref name="quest" /><ref name="slj">{{cite web |url=https://www.slj.com/story/when-it-comes-to-weeding-books-librarians-are-attending-to-inclusion-and-diversity-slj-survey-shows |title=When Weeding Books, Librarians Are Attending to Inclusion and Diversity, SLJ Survey Shows |last=Kletter |first=Melanie |date=June 6, 2021 |website=School Library Journal |access-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816131644/https://www.slj.com/story/when-it-comes-to-weeding-books-librarians-are-attending-to-inclusion-and-diversity-slj-survey-shows |archive-date=August 16, 2022}}</ref>

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==Process==

Collection development is a continuous process comprising six elements or stages:<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Khan |first1=Ghalib |last2=Bhatti |first2=Rubina |date=2016-01-01 |title=An analysis of collection development in the university libraries of Pakistan |url=https://doi.org/10.1108/CB-07-2015-0012 |journal=Collection Building |volume=35 |issue=1 |pages=22–34 |doi=10.1108/CB-07-2015-0012 |issn=0160-4953|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

# User needs analysis

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==User needs analysis==

User needs [[analysis]] is the process of learning more about a target population/ patrons with a view to identifying their information needs. Hence, this concept iscan also be referred as to; [[Community]]as community analysis, user studies, information needs analysis, needs assessment and/or information audit. The following factors should be taken into consideration when doing the user analysis; available funds, number and qualifications of available staff, the depth and breadth of the study. However, there are options of choosing who can do the study; an [[institution]] can choose or hire people that can do the information needs analysis using qualified experienced consultant or constituting a committee comprising own members of staff and either the combination of the two mentioned.

Therefore, there are several advantages of [[Recruitment|hiring]] a qualified and experienced consultant for the following reasons;

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Weeding also known as de-selection of information materials is a {{em|planned}} and {{em|systematic}} practice of discarding or transferring to storage, excess copies and rarely-used books and materials.<ref name="slj" /><ref name="magazine" /> It also involve removal of library material from the collections based on some determined conditions.<ref name="maintenance" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=NDSL |first=IT |title=LibGuides: Collection Development and Maintenance: Weeding |url=https://library-nd.libguides.com/cd/weeding |access-date=2022-05-25 |website=library-nd.libguides.com |language=en}}</ref>

Historically, both [[Patronage|patrons]] and other librarians criticize weeding books. Some believe libraries should keep all materials in circulation no matter the condition or need for room in the facility for newer material.<ref>Johnson, P. (2013). Is Weeding an Unnatural Act? Technicalities, 33(5), 2-4.</ref> The controversial nature of collection weeding necessitates the educating of library staff. It provides them with "the tools they need to counter common perceptions or misperceptions regarding weeding", especially those encountered from faculty in an academic library.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Harveland|first=Jennifer|date=2017|title=Library inventory methods: Using flexibility and creativity to achieve a common goal within a federated library system.|journal=Collaborative Librarianship|volume=9|issue=3|pages=168–174}}</ref> Educating the staff with [[Workshop on Information Technologies and Systems|workshops]] and presentations on collection quality, maintenance and the importance and positive benefits of weeding the collection are important components for a library to consider.

== Collection evaluation methods ==

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However, in order to have a continuous weeding program, a method called continuous review, evaluation and weeding is used.<ref name="slj" /> This method makes it easier to routinely remove [[outdated]] and unused materials from the collection while also learning where the collection has gaps or it needs new items.<ref name="magazine" /><ref name="maintenance">{{cite web |url=https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit/weeding |title=Collection Maintenance and Weeding |date=January 2018 |website=American Library Association |access-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212142046/https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit/weeding |archive-date=December 12, 2022}}</ref>

===Selection vs. [[censorship]]===

{{See also|Not Censorship, But Selection}}

When acquiring new materials for a library's collection, it can be difficult to differentiate between selection and censorship. [[American Library Association|The American Library Association]] speaks of collections development as selecting materials that are desired by the community as well as fulfilling other educational and recreational criteria. The organization comments that a librarian should not purposely omit the purchase of books or other items due to them being controversial in nature, the author's religious or political views, or the librarian's personal beliefs. From the ALA website, they continue the argument by stating that, "Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval."<ref>{{cite web |website=American Library Association |title=Diversity in Collection Development |url=http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=interpretations&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8530 |access-date=December 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407140751/http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=interpretations&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8530 |archive-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref>