Library collection development

Library collection development is the process of meeting the information needs of the people (a service population) in a timely and economical manner using information resources locally held, as well as from other organizations.^[1]

Collections are developed by librarians and library staff by buying or otherwise acquiring materials over a period, based on assessment of the information needs of the library's users. In addition to ongoing materials acquisition, library collection development includes:

• the creation of policies to guide material selection
• replacement of worn or lost materials
• removal (weeding) of materials no longer needed in the collection
• planning for new collections or collection areas
• cooperative decision-making with other libraries or within library consortia

References

External links

• Diversity in Collection Development, American Library Association
• Collection Development and Policies, Library of Congress
• Definition of Collection Development, Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science (ODLIS)
• Library Collection Development in an Electronic Age, ERIC Clearinghouse on Information and Technology