Thoughts on Collection Development

Having discussions about collection development and book selection, so I tweeted out some thoughts which I am gathering here so I have them in the future. Also, often non-library people don’t know what all happens behind the scenes to get those books into the local library and they may find this interesting.

2. Most libraries have very specific rules about collection development, funding, invoicing, etc. Including who we can buy from, the process by which that happens, etc.
3. Every library has limited shelf space and budget, this affects library purchasing as well.

— Teen Librarian Toolbox (rocks!) (@TLT16) January 15, 2019

When you read a professional review, they will often use language like must purchase, optional purchase, pass. This is based on any or all of the criteria above. A majority of books published are mid-list titles, this means they may or may not circ and it's often a crapshoot.

— Teen Librarian Toolbox (rocks!) (@TLT16) January 15, 2019

possible to both meet the needs of our patrons and get good circulation numbers so that we stay open/funded/growing/supported. We study circulation statistics, book reviews, lists and more lists. This is one of the areas of science in the library science.

— Teen Librarian Toolbox (rocks!) (@TLT16) January 15, 2019

I spend my days using approved vendors to make book and media carts, applying various library specific codes and processes, and studying, studying, studying what's coming, what my library needs, and making sure I get it on time. I have to check library holdings, circulation stats

— Teen Librarian Toolbox (rocks!) (@TLT16) January 15, 2019

Library collection development is vastly different from personal book buying. There are a lot more constraints and considerations. But there are hundreds of thousands of libraries and they buy books. The process of how that happens is important.

— Teen Librarian Toolbox (rocks!) (@TLT16) January 15, 2019

We believe in books, we believe in libraries, and we work hard to serve our communities well.

As an aside, as I mentioned limited space: We absolutely have to weed books and we do a lot of hard science and study to do that as well. Everything we do is intentional.

— Teen Librarian Toolbox (rocks!) (@TLT16) January 15, 2019

In all sincerity, one of the best ways that you can support your local library is to USE YOUR LOCAL LIBRARY. I can not tell you enough how much use statistics matter.

— Teen Librarian Toolbox (rocks!) (@TLT16) January 15, 2019

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