1. Collection Development for Library Trustees Montana State Library Training Broad Valleys Federation March 6, 2009

2. Collection Development Policy What is it and why do we need one? • A rationale for the acquisition of resources • Supports the library mission • Keeps all stakeholders on the same page: staff, community members, Board, funding bodies • Accountability tool Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

3. Collection Development Policy • Relates the collection to the overall goals, objectives, and mission of the library. • Identifies the scope of the collection, staff responsibilities, selection criteria, special policies, funding sources, external relationships • Based on an understanding of community demographics and community needs Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

4. Intellectual Freedom • Collection Development policy should state library’s position on Intellectual Freedom and procedures for dealing with complaints about materials • Policy may include ALA Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement • Policy should include a “Request for Reconsideration” form or a “Statement of Concern” form Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

5. Trustees’ role • Board and staff work together to create policy • Library staff may create policy for board to consider • Once approved, staff creates procedures to implement policy • Board may elect to take a larger role with stakeholders and hold public hearings on policy. • Policy must be maintained and periodically reviewed Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

6. Collection Goals • Driven by the library mission • Consider the needs of your community • Whom do you serve and what are their needs? • Are those needs being met elsewhere in the community? • Don’t forget about non-users • Do you need to include materials in other languages or formats? Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

7. Collection decisions • Who makes them? • Scope of collection described in policy • Technical level of information • Age of materials • When to adopt new formats? • Other languages • Special Collections • Multiple copies Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

8. Cooperative CD • Shared information or shared catalog • Resource sharing • Partnerships Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

9. Process of Collection Development • Materials selection • Acquisitions • Gifts • Collection assessment • Weeding (de-selection) Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

10. Criteria for Selection • Included in scope of policy • Favorable reviews • Recommendations from patrons • Community interest • Author reputation/popularity • Popularity of materials Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

11. More Selection Criteria • Collection balance – on controversial subjects • Cost of materials • Other criteria for specific subject matter • Subscriptions, leased materials, standing orders Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

12. Acquisitions • Use of Jobbers • Local Vendors • Standing Orders Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

13. Gifts • Policy should state how library will evaluate gifts for inclusion or disposal • Policy tells donors how materials will be handled Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

14. Assessment and Weeding • How will the collection be continuously evaluated? -by whom and how often? • Weeding can be controversial • Policy should state • Why weeding is necessary • Criteria for de-selection • How weeded items are disposed of Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

15. Intellectual Freedom • The right of people to access and use information – First Amendment • “Something to Offend Everyone” • Sexuality, religion, other objectionable content (drugs, violence, abortion, etc.) • Library Bill of Rights & Freedom to Read Statement • The Internet brings material into the library that may be outside the stated scope of the collection Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

16. How challenges are handled • Policy describes the steps of the procedure • Policy identifies who is responsible for working with complainant • Everyone is treated with respect • Collection Development Policy is explained to complainant • Items are usually not removed in response to a complaint unless they are shown to be outside of the scope of the collection Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

17. Montana State Library Resources • MSL Collection Management Guidelines: http://msl.mt.gov/For_Librarians/For_Public_Librarians/standards/CollectionManagementGuidelines.pdf • MSL Collection Development Standards: http://msl.mt.gov/For_Librarians/For_Public_Librarians/standards/collection.asp • MSL Collection Development Online Class – Policy: http://msl.mt.gov/For_Librarians/Training/Online_Classes/Collection_Development/policy.asp • MSL Cooperative Collection Management: http://msl.mt.gov/For_Librarians/For_All_Librarians/Collection_Management/collectionpolicy.asp Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training

18. ALA Professional Resources • Collection development: http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/collectdev/collectiondev/index.cfm • Acquisitions: http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/collectdev/acquisitions/index.cfm • Collection types: http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/collectdev/acquisitions/index.cfm Collection Development for Trustees - MSL Training