Library & Information Science, Course 266: Collection Development.
Dr. David Loertscher
Fall 2003
c10 policies.html
Tips for writing this chapter
• Begin the chapter by discussing what a collection development policy is and its importance to your type of library.• Find your library's collection development policy. If there isn't one, then locate a collection policy from a library like yours for analysis.
• Find in a textbook or professional article a list of topics that should be covered in a collection policy.
• Compare your document with the list of possible topics that should be covered.
• Pay particular attention and discuss the ways the policy says to handle controversial materials and ways of dealing with challenges.
• Conclude by discussion with comments about what should happen to the collection policy (revision, creation, etc.) in your library if that library is to build a collection responsive to its users.
Streaming media
1. An introduction to library collection building policies
International Documents
• Professional article (c10b.pdf): International Coalition of Library Consortia. "Satement of Current Perspective and Preferred Practices for the Selection and Purchase of Electronic Information." Information Technology and Libraries, March 1998, p. 45-50. Here is an attempt by international libraries to begin the formulation of policies and procedures in the digital world. A must read.
Building Your Own Collection Development Policy
• Professional article (c10d.pdf): Snow, Richard. "Wasted Words: The Written Collection Development Policy and the Academic Library," The Journal of Academic Libraries, May, 1996, p. 191-94. - Snow considers the written collection policy a waste, but consider what Intner says in the next article.• Professional article (c10e.pdf): Intner, Sheila."The Ostrich Syndrome: Why Written Collection Development Policies Are Important," Technicalities, July/August, 1996, p. 8-9. - Intner defends the existence of a written collection development policy.
• Professional article (c10c.pdf): "Vogel, Kristin D. "Integrating Electronic Resources into 'Collection Development Policies," Collection Development Past and Future, Haworth Press, 1996, p. 65-76. - Does your collection development policy reflect tht shift toward electronic resources?
• Professional article (c10f.pdf): White, Gary W. and Gregory A. Crawford. "Developing an Electronic Information Resources Collection Development Policy," Collection Building, vol. 16, no. 2, 1997, p. 53-57. - The title is descriptive enough.
Sample Collection Policies
School Libraries:
• web site: Kansas City School Public Libraries Selection Policy• web site: Louisiana State Department of Education Sample Selection Policy
• web site: Mt. Ararat High School Materials Selection Policy
• web site: Nueva School Library Policy
Academic Libraries:
• web site: Santa Clara University Collection Development Policy