Collection Development - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 115
About This Presentation
Title:

Collection Development

Description:

NY Times http://www.nytimes.com/pages/books/index.html ... Great info but... I don't have time to read reviews. Hints for saving time ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:133
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 116
Provided by: cled3
Category:

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: Collection Development


1
Collection Development
  • January 30, 2002

2
Topics
  • What is collection development?
  • Why is collection development important?
  • What does collection development mean to my
    library?
  • What does collection development mean as a member
    of the consortium?

3
Overview
  • Select and purchase materials
  • Rid your library of obsolete material
  • Maximize time spent on collection building
  • Examine policy
  • Provide collegial atmosphere to discuss issues

4
Collection development is
  • Identification
  • Selection
  • Acquisition
  • Evaluation...
  • of a collection of library resources

5
Functions
  • Acquisitions/selection
  • Gifts/Donations
  • Weeding
  • Preservation
  • Intellectual Freedom

6
Selection
  • Ranganathan
  • Books are for use
  • Every reader his book
  • Every book its reader
  • Save the time of the reader
  • A library is a living organism

7
Quality vs. demand
  • Which statements are true?
  • Libraries are funded by taxpayers therefore we
    should provide high demand items that the public
    wants
  • Libraries should provide materials that raise the
    cognitive level of the user (library as peoples
    university)

8
Both statements are true!
  • Its our job to balance between the two
    philosophies
  • How do you make demand vs quality decisions in
    your library?
  • Does your library mission statement address
    either or both philosophies?

9
Know your community
  • Patron reading levels
  • Occupations, businesses, recreation activities in
    your community
  • Socioeconomic status
  • Mean age (average)
  • Education level
  • Ethnic groups

10
Examples please
  • What specific criteria do you use to better know
    your community?

11
Stay current
  • News
  • Events
  • Popular culture trends
  • TV, Movies, Theatre
  • Talk radio
  • Current best sellers
  • Visiting artists, authors

12
Selection Criteria
  • Subject matter
  • What weaknesses exist in the collection?
  • How suitable are subject, style, reading level?
  • How accurate is the information?

13
Selection
  • Potential use
  • What kind of demand is there?
  • What level of use justifies purchase?
  • How relevant is it to my community?

14
Selection
  • Relation to the collection
  • How will item strengthen, fill a gap, complement
    the collection?
  • Are the materials available elsewhere in the
    community?
  • What about OWLSnet?
  • Is there fair coverage of opposing viewpoints?

15
Selection
  • Bibliographic considerations
  • Reputation of the publisher
  • Is the type of publication or format appropriate
    to your library?
  • What is the reputation/significance of the
    author?
  • What do book reviews say?
  • Book club edition?
  • Bookstore editions
  • Barnes and Noble?

16
Selection
  • Cost
  • Expense vs. worth
  • Ranking materials for worthiness
  • Prioritize by collection need

17
Selection
  • Construction quality
  • Is the item well made?
  • What is the paper and print quality?
  • Examples of poor quality?
  • Scholastic
  • Will it stand up to multiple uses?
  • http//www.bmpl.lib.me.us/shame.htm

18
Books
  • Fiction
  • What are community interests and needs?
  • What is library mission statement?
  • What is guideline for multiple copies?
  • How much space do I have to allocate?
  • Should I have books from all major authors, or
    just some?
  • How do you decide?
  • What is the impact on or in spite of the
    consortium?

19
  • Nonfiction
  • Authority of author/publisher
  • Currency
  • Duplication
  • Scope
  • Interest level
  • Organization

20
  • Nonfiction continued
  • Format
  • Special features
  • Cost
  • Accuracy
  • Impartiality

21
Selection tools
  • Book reviews
  • descriptive and evaluative
  • compare with other works
  • be aware of the objectivity of the reviewer

22
  • Limitations of book reviews
  • length of time between publication and review
  • small of books actually published
  • small presses often not reviewed
  • many books only reviewed by one source

23
  • Booklists http//www.ala.org/booklist/
  • LJDigital http//libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com/
  • NY Times http//www.nytimes.com/pages/books/index.
    html
  • Oprahs list http//www.2think.org/oprah/oprah.sht
    ml
  • Publishers BookWire http//www.bookwire.com/
  • Magazines for comic reviews
  • http//ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/lml/Colle
    ctions/docs/comicmag.html
  • Best books 2001 http//sfpl4.sfpl.org/newbooks/bb
    2001.html

24
Reviews
  • Online bookstores
  • do not overlook the reviews posted at online
    bookstores!
  • http//www.barnesandnoble.com/
  • http//www.amazon.com
  • http//www.altbookstore.com/ (search by subject)

25
Great info but
  • I dont have time to read reviews

26
Hints for saving time
  • School Library Journal, 2001 (in folder)
  • Dont read reviews for books you know you will
    order!
  • Look for paperbacks- cost less but weigh against
    use, wear and tear and processing costs
  • Look at starred or highly rated reviews
  • End of year lists you will purchase anyway
  • For NFI know your dollar amount before you start
    reading reviews
  • Have your calculator at your side for totals!

27
Hints for saving time
  • Anticipate need- devote the
  • Know school curriculum
  • Types of ongoing projects (5th grade state
    reports, biographies)

28
Hints for saving time
  • Skim reviews
  • praise or criticism is usually at beginning or
    end
  • zero in on age appropriateness
  • Go to bookstores (in your spare time!)
  • What is on display? If it doesn't move its gone
    the next week!
  • Can this apply to your library?

29
Hints for saving time
  • Dont be swayed by each positive/negative comment
  • Read the summary
  • Watch the wording
  • challenging in what sense, can be good or bad!
  • Beware of age recommendations
  • consider the source, not all reviewers are
    children's librarians!

30
Hints for saving time
  • SLJ
  • http//slj.reviewsnews.com/
  • PrePub Alerts
  • http//libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com/index.asp?la
    youtsectionsMainverticalid151industryPrePubA
    lert
  • Alan review
  • http//scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/alan-revi
    ew.html

31
Selecting AV materials
  • Why do we collect audiovisual stuff?
  • ADA requirements
  • Provide audio and music for sampling and
    listening
  • Provide appropriate materials to people who
    require graphic displays for comprehension
  • Provide people with access to scores, games etc
    to support educational pursuits
  • How do you decide what is educational?

32
Selection Criteria for AV
  • Consider primary users
  • What is the available budget?
  • Durability?
  • Visual and audio quality?
  • Ease of repair if damaged?
  • Type of equipment required to view or listen?
  • Likelihood of technology to last?

33
Video and DVD materials
  • Expensive
  • Require machine to view
  • Short lifespan (VHS)
  • Easily damaged
  • Popular for short time - much like bestsellers

34
Video considerations
  • What is the level of violence, comedy, sexual
    content?
  • What is the age appropriateness?
  • What message is conveyed by the video?
  • Does your library act as a video store?
  • Use your library Mission statement, philosophy of
    board as guidelines

35
Audio considerations
  • How does the audio collection support your
    library goals?
  • Do you duplicate or supplement print titles?
  • Does the collection focus on certain genres?
  • Will you collect complete works or abridged
    versions?
  • How durable is the product (cassette vs. CD)?
  • What is overall quality of the recording?

36
Periodicals
  • How do you select periodicals?
  • How does being an OWLSnet member affect your
    purchasing decisions?
  • Discussion

37
Periodical purchasing considerations
  • Track Ill requests
  • Build core collection by addressing
  • general needs collection
  • need for currency
  • costs
  • cost to bind
  • photocopy use
  • back issues/claims
  • time consuming _and_ expensive

38
Periodical selection
  • What is the intended
  • Scope
  • who are the editors, publishers, associations?
  • Audience
  • how do you know what it is?
  • Examine table of contents, publisher, vocabulary,
    writers, contributors
  • Purpose
  • does it fill a need for your patrons?

39
Periodical criteria
  • Local interest
  • Accuracy- how do you know this?
  • Indexes- where is the title indexed?
  • Cost - consider all the costs involved
  • Demand - can you justify its use?
  • Is the use so low that you can get issues from
    within the consortium?

40
What about OWLSnet databases?
  • What do you have in print vs. what is available
    online?
  • How do you verify this?
  • Badgerlink
  • Gale databases
  • First Search
  • Netlibrary

41
Online periodical lists
  • Do you check to see if the serial is available
    online?
  • Online serials
  • http//www.ipl.org/reading/serials/
  • Online newspapers
  • http//www.ipl.org/reading/news/
  • Serials in cyberspace
  • http//www.uvm.edu80/bmaclenn/

42
What about comic books?
  • Evaluating comic books
  • Popularity. Monthly lists of the top-selling
    comics titles are readily available in fan
    magazines and trade journals.
  • Tie-ins to TV shows, movies, video games, and
    toys.
  • Writing quality, including originality of plot
    and characters, overall appeal, character
    development, dialogue, and pacing

43
Comic books
  • Evaluating
  • Artistic quality, including layout, dramatic
    impact, storytelling flow, drawing skill,
    coloring (where relevant), and lettering.
  • Artistic style, especially regarding distinctive
    styles such as manga or cartoon art.
  • Reputation of writers and artists, many of whom
    have strong fan followings

44
Comic books
  • Evaluating
  • Reputation of publisher (mature themes,
    controversy)
  • Awards and recognition received. Industry awards
    include Eisner, Harvey and Kirby. Fan awards
    include Comics Buyers Guide Fan Awards and
    Usenet Squiddies.
  • Color versus black white. Newer readers may not
    be used to bw comics.
  • Age appropriateness

45
Comics
  • Evaluating
  • Genre. Super-hero and fantasy titles continue to
    be most prevalent but also consider
  • sci fi
  • humor
  • realistic fiction
  • other styles
  • http//ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/lml/comic
    s/pages/selection.html

46
  • Comics Code Authority
  • Self-regulated by publishers
  • http//ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/lml/comic
    s/pages/cca.html

47
  • Discussion- Purchasing and adding comic books,
    tabloids to your collection
  • Coverage in mission statement
  • Peg Burington - Waupaca Library

48
What about women?
  • Depiction of women in comic books
  • Discussion

49
Depiction of women in comics
  • Familiarize yourself with the two genres
  • bad-girl
  • Dirty pair
  • Danger girl
  • babe comics
  • Xena
  • Vampirella
  • Alley Cat
  • ect
  • http//ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/lml/comic
    s/pages/depiction.html

50
  • Collections in other languages
  • How many libraries have other language
    collections?
  • What languages are represented within OWLSnet?

51
Languages other than English
  • How do you start building the collection?
  • How is it different from building any collection?
  • Is it different?
  • Do community analysis
  • Address the collection in your policies
  • Defend the expenditure which may appear to serve
    a limited population
  • Does the policy address serving segments of the
    population?
  • Use census figures
  • Estimate current and potential users that will
    benefit

52
Other languages
  • Do you have staff that are trained or capable of
    meeting the needs of a non-English community?
  • Could a community member assist you in the input
    of selection of materials?
  • Could a community member assist in
    programming? Get you in touch with someone who
    could?
  • See insert - 10 reasons why we buy Spanish books
  • helpful to make policy decisions!

53
Spanish selection
  • Recommended sources
  • http//www.csusm.edu/csb/english/
  • The Center for the study of books in Spanish for
    children and adolescents
  • http//www.nypl.org/branch/kids/espanol/sprdli.htm
    l
  • childrens books in Spanish (NYPL) arranged by
    genre

54
Spanish language
  • Críticas - School Library Journal - latest titles
  • http//www.libraryjournal.com/criticas.asp
  • Spanish Book News
  • http//sbdbooks.com/
  • adult collection purchases- fiction, nonfiction

55
Lunch!!!!!!!!!!!
  • Meet back here at 100.

56
Weeding
  • Why, oh why, weed indeed?
  • Weeding is part of the continual evaluation of
    the collection
  • based on community need and goals.
  • Collections change within the framework of those
    needs and goals.

57
Weeding and pruning
  • Why is it necessary?
  • Keep plants a particular size
  • Space on shelves means easier browsing
  • Remove diseased parts, broken and injured parts
  • Duty to provide current information, if its on
    the shelf its worthy to have
  • If its torn, crumbly or soiled- get rid of it
  • Develop certain shapes, forms
  • You need a plan to shape plants, growth creates
    imbalance

58
Weeding and pruning
  • Encourage best growth
  • Careful pruning promotes growth.
  • New colorful materials on shelves promotes use.
  • Rejuvenate declining plants
  • Is there a problem subject area?
  • Is it rarely used? Can it be eliminated?
  • Pruning and weeding are an ongoing process

59
Benefits to weeding!
  • Save shelf space
  • Save search time in database
  • Circ increases as remaining items are visible!
  • Collection quality improves- unreliable info
    GONE!

60
Benefits to weeding
  • Librarians doing weeding gain better
    understanding of weeded area!
  • Better reference service as staff discover new or
    forgotten resources!
  • Reputation and usability of collection is
    enhanced!
  • False or dangerous info is eliminated!

61
  • Discussion!
  • Presenting
  • Carolyn Habeck HPL
  • Ann Hunt NLP
  • Craig Lahm KAU

62
Why dont we weed?
  • Not enough time
  • Just cannot throw anything away!
  • What if someone needs what I just pitched?
  • No money to replace weeded material
  • Weeding will leave nothing on the shelves
  • What if something valuable gets thrown out?
  • Weeding means that a mistake was made in ordering
  • Status of a large collection

63
When should we weed?
  • One time per year
  • Schedule sections by Dewey number or by
    collections
  • Request weeding reports from OWLS (BJS)
  • When new items can no longer be shelved for lack
    of space!
  • Every time items are returned

64
Weeding Criteria
  • MUSTIE
  • M misleading
  • U ugly
  • S superceded
  • T trivial
  • I irrelevant
  • E elsewhere

65
  • Is something is better than nothing?

66
Weeding fiction
  • Is this novel still asked for?
  • Is the book part of a series?
  • If you have one of the series?
  • Will this item circ if I add it to a display?
  • Is the author still writing?

67
Weeding fiction
  • If w/d a title based on condition, can it be
    replaced with a more attractive copy?
  • Am I unfamiliar with this genre?
  • Do I need to look up core authors?
  • Is it up to date in style, setting?
  • Does it matter?

68
Weeding fiction
  • Has the item circulated in two years?
  • Worn titles are worth replacing! Someone is
    reading them! (use the circ reports to determine)
  • Series titles are often meant to be read in
    order- try to maintain the complete run!
  • If the first title in the series circs but not
    the rest of the series- consider weeding!

69
Weeding Nonfiction
  • Weed by Dewey Number!
  • 000 - General/Computer Info
  • computer info outdated in 3 years
  • 100 - Philosophy and psychology
  • popular titles outdated 2-3 years
  • 200 - Religion and mythology
  • does religion collection reflect your community?
  • keep current, high turnover rate

70
Weeding by Dewey Number
  • 300 - Social sciences
  • replace almanacs every 2 years
  • circ older almanacs no more than 3-5 years
  • check law and government for accuracy (school
    reports)
  • watch balance of controversial topics
  • 400 - Languages
  • foreign and ESL high use, replace as necessary
    based on community needs

71
Weeding by Dewey Number
  • 500 - Pure sciences
  • retain basic historical works (Darwin) but
    continuously replace outdated
  • 600 - Applied sciences
  • health /medical change rapidly
  • consider danger of misinformation on shelves
  • keep all collector and repair model books
  • 700 - Arts and Recreation
  • keep art and history until worn out
  • evaluate for accuracy though

72
Weeding by Dewey number
  • 800 - Literature
  • Keep most recent editions and best condition
  • Form literary criticism booklist from local
    school lists
  • Middle and high school have different needs
  • 900 - History/travel/biography
  • Evaluate for demand, accuracy, interpretation
  • Strive for balance of perspective
  • Travel books 2 years
  • Biography- stay current with popular figures

73
  • YA and Children's selection?
  • Do not buy abridged copies when original is
    readily available
  • Use adult criteria for nonfiction
  • Replace worn-out classics
  • Avoid flimsy bindings (Scholastic, DK)
  • Buy picture books based on good illustrations
  • YA- look for oversimplification and avoid it
  • Avoid the following pubs
  • Rigby, Playmore, Childrens Press, Landolls,
    Excelsior

74
Weeding Reference
  • Encyclopedias
  • Annual replacement
  • City directories keep for genealogical purposes
    (but shelve in different location)
  • Do you have to buy directories?
  • Most are available online!
  • Vertical File
  • Only current year

75
Weeding reference
  • Dictionaries, atlases
  • as new editions become available replace
  • Magazines and Newspapers
  • 1-3 years current
  • transfer to microfilm - keep forever

76
  • Is something better than nothing?

77
Considerations
  • When deciding to replace audiovisual materials
    consider format
  • DVD instead of VHS
  • CD instead of cassette
  • Wisconsin collection materials
  • Watch for new editions but be careful with one of
    a kind pieces
  • Keep hiking, biking books current, please!

78
Now I have a pile of stuff
  • Keep but mend
  • Newer edition?
  • Can I replace new for cheaper?
  • Ask yourself one last time- do I need this?
  • Replace with new copy
  • Pitch
  • Book sale
  • Give away
  • Destroy...

79
Repair guidelines
  • Dont repair
  • Board books
  • Mass market paperbacks
  • Multiple copies of high demand
  • Annuals
  • Incomplete sets (print or audiovisual)

80
Online Vendors
  • Igrams Ipage
  • https//server1.ipage.ingrambook.com/li005.htm
  • books, audio, soon to be added, videos
  • standing orders for popular fiction
  • award winners by lists
  • cart management
  • publisher profiles
  • current high interest titles

81
Baker Taylor
  • How many of you use it?
  • Benefits?
  • Drawbacks?

82
Collection Development Policies
  • Argh
  • in reality collection development policies help
    the library operate in a clearly defined and
    documented way
  • bringing together all that we discussed today!

83
Why are policies important?
  • Point of reference for staff to consult when
    deciding to acquire, keep, discard items
  • By following guidelines you maintain consistency
    in decision making
  • staff turnover
  • changes in funding
  • Serves as reinforcement for challenges

84
Elements of the policy
  • Define community needs through a profile
  • Collection goals
  • Selection responsibility
  • Selection criteria
  • Acquisitions
  • Collection evaluation and assessment
  • Weeding
  • Reconsideration of materials (handling challenges)

85
  • Community profile/needs assessment
  • describe community the library serves, service
    area, general goals or mission
  • elements of the profile can be included in
    general statement
  • NLP
  • A knowledge of the community is a vital
    ingredient in the responsible selection of
    library materials. There must be knowledge of
    residents' interests, capacities and problems,
    plus knowledge of the geographical and building
    patterns that affect the placement of materials
    to satisfy the residents' needs.

86
  • Collection goals
  • defines what priorities exist for collection
    building
  • Kaukauna Public Library
  • The library will strive to provide materials and
    electronic resources that
  • A. Are culturally significant
  • B. Contain reliable information
  • C. Be of demonstrable entertainment value
  • D. Satisfy the recreational and informal
    educational interests of adult and juvenile
    residents of the City of Kaukauna.

87
  • What are the benefits of broad vs. narrow policy
    writing?

88
Chicago Public Library
  • We welcome and support all people in their
  • enjoyment of reading and pursuit of lifelong
    learning.
  • Working together, we strive to provide equal
    access to information, ideas and knowledge
    through books, programs and other resources.
  • We believe in the freedom to read, to learn and
    to discover.

89
Selection responsibility
  • How many of you do all the selecting?
  • How many of you have a policy to back up
    selection decisions?

90
Selection responsibility
  • Better to have more than one person select to
    avoid biases and permit discussion.
  • Not always possible in smaller libraries!
  • If you are a lone selector you could organize a
    community panel to determine what to select or
    discard

91
Selection criteria
  • Policies should include description of criteria
    within specific subject areas, including formats
  • Identify if possible criteria for books, media,
    periodicals, electronic resources, and Internet
    resources.
  • Consider including statements about age levels
  • Consider including statement about subject areas
  • Consider statement about materials in languages
    other than English

92
Selection criteria
  • Examples of statements
  • The library will collect non-fiction in all
    subject areas, including opposing viewpoint
  • The majority of best-selling fiction materials
    will be purchased during the extent of their
    popularity.
  • The selectors will acquire only those items
    favorably reviewed in two or more selection aids.
  • The library will not select items that contain
    violent or sensational material.
  • The library will only select items that reflect
    the needs of our community.

93
Selection criteria
  • APL policy
  • Selection of materials may be influenced by many
    factors, including but not limited to the
    following
  • a. budgetary considerations
  • b. physical limitations of the library building
  • c. suitability of the format and construction
  • d. availability of specialized materials in other
    local libraries
  • e. availability of material through interlibrary
    loan
  • f. the need for added materials in subject areas
  • g. the special needs of library patrons for
    materials in accessible formats

94
  • APL selection continued
  • The final responsibility for material selection
    lies with the Library Director. The
    responsibility for initial selection of materials
    is shared by professional members of the staff.
    Recommendations from the public are welcomed

95
  • NLP
  • Items having widespread demand may or may not
    meet the general criteria contained in this
    policy. However, demand is a valid factor in book
    selection and it shall be considered an important
    factor in cases such as books on bestseller lists
    for which there is persistent local demand.
  • MAN
  • Responsibility for the selection of material
    rests with the library director with input from
    staff and the public. The director operates
    within the framework of this policy in making
    selection decisions.

96
Statement about language purchases
  • Not necessary to include but useful to validate
    spending money on items that appear to serve a
    limited segment of the population
  • readies your position if questioned
  • Remember that official figures underestimate ESL
    populations
  • Can you estimate benefit by potential users?
  • How?

97
Acquisitions
  • Describe acquisitions processes
  • most libraries do not do this
  • Describe gift policy

98
Giftsdonations
  • The most diplomatic and appropriate way to
    address donations is ...

99
  • Through your collection development policy

100
  • Is something better than nothing?

101
Gift Policy
  • Written policy should state
  • Conditions for acceptance
  • Selection criteria for new materials will be
    applied to gifts
  • Detail which books you will not accept (reference
    5 years, textbooks)
  • Reserve the right to accept, sell, reject or
    otherwise dispose of donated materials
  • If possible have donors sign a form that
    donations were made without restriction

102
  • Example
  • WEY
  • The library accepts gifts of books and other
    materials with the understanding that they will
    be added to the collection only if appropriate
    and needed. If they are not needed because of
    duplication, condition, or dated information the
    director can dispose of them as he/she sees fit.
    The same criteria of selection which are applied
    to purchased materials are applied to gifts...

103
Evaluation assessment
  • Indicate formulas or methods used
  • Collection strengths and weaknesses
  • "The collection needs continuous evaluation in
    order to be sure that the Library is fulfilling
    its mission to provide materials in a timely
    manner to meet patrons' interests and needs.
    Statistical tools such as circulation reports,
    collection turnover rates, fill rates, reference
    fill rates, shelf allotments, and volume counts
    are studied to determine how the collection is
    being used and how it should change to answer
    patron usage.... Patron input and community
    surveys are also used in evaluating the
    collection...."

104
Evaluation assessment
  • NLP
  • When judging the quality of materials several
    standards and combinations of standards may be
    used, as some materials may be judged primarily
    on artistic merit, while others are considered
    because of scholarship, value as human documents,
    or ability to satisfy the recreational
    entertainment needs of the community.

105
Weeding
  • Include weeding guidelines and criteria
  • Protects library when discarding material
  • APL
  • The library collection will be kept attractive
    and current by a continual program of repairing,
    discarding or replacing worn and out-dated
    materials.

106
  • SEY
  • The library follows a systematic weeding
    procedure. Its purpose is to maintain an active,
    useful and current collection. Items of limited
    use are eliminated to make room for more useful
    materials. On a regular, rotating basis,
    librarians and staff review the different
    assigned areas of the collection. Basic criteria
    to consider when reviewing an item for withdrawal
    are

107
  • SEY
  • Use -- Items that have not circulated during a
    specified number of years may be considered for
    withdrawal.
  • Subject coverage -- The relation of the item to
    others in the same subject. Superseded editions
    -- Older editions will not be retained unless
    they have unique value to the collection.
  • Duplicate copies -- Duplicates are retained when
    demand calls for them.

108
  • Value to the library -- An item that is dated and
    obsolete, of low priority, or readily available
    elsewhere may be considered for withdrawal.
  • Availability -- Consideration will be given as to
    whether an item is the last copy available in the
    library or in the library system.
  • Well-rounded collection -- Retention is
    considered for items representing subjects of new
    or renewed interest and classics or items of
    historical value significant to the library and
    to the community. Particularly careful
    consideration will be given to materials in
    literature, history and the arts.
  • Condition -- Materials in poor condition are
    considered for repair, replacement, or
    withdrawal.

109
Reconsiderations
  • A.k.a challenges
  • How to be prepared with your policy

110
Wording
  • APL
  • Challenges regarding specific materials will be
    reviewed upon written request. A form for this
    purpose may be requested from any professional
    librarian.
  • WEY
  • Although materials are carefully selected, there
    can arise difference of opinion regarding
    suitable materials. When a patron objects to a
    particular selection, the objections shall be
    made in writing and the following procedures will
    be adhered to in processing the complaint.

111
Wording
  • SEY
  • When a library patron requests that an item be
    removed from the collection, the librarian will
    inform the patron of the collection development
    policy and the criteria for acquisitions. The
    following points will be made in discussion with
    the patron
  • 1. The collection includes a range of opinions.
  • 2. The library supports the ALA Library Bill of
    Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement.
  • 3. If the patron wishes to make a formal
    complaint, the librarian will provide a form to
    be completed (online form PDF file). Only formal
    and written requests will be considered.

112
What is important?
  • Having a policy on hand
  • prompt, courteous handling of complaints
  • Being prepared ahead of time
  • are procedures in place?
  • standard form, staff awareness of procedure?
  • familiarity with local laws that define obscenity
    (community standards)
  • familiarity with organizations that can help
  • ALA Bill of Rights if endorsed by your library
  • http//www.ala.org/work/freedom/lbr.htmlrights

113
Wrap up!
  • What didnt we talk about?
  • Presentation available upon request.

114
Bibliography
  • Alabaster, Carol. Developing an outstanding core
    collection a guide for public libraries.
    Chicago American Library Association, 2002. (on
    order)
  • Larson, Jeanette. Model policies for small and
    medium public libraries. New York Neal-Schuman
    Publishers, c1998.
  • Public Library Association. Policy Manual
    Committee. PLA handbook for writers of public
    library policies. Chicago Public Library
    Association, 1993.

115
Bibliography
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com