IRM 1003 Collections Management

IRM 1003 Collections Management
Assignment 1 – Collection Development

Due October 8th

You work for the (Fill in the Blank) Public Library as a Selector. Your library’s collection
development policy is attached.
You have been asked to prepare a short report to the Library’s Board of Directors about
new items in your collection.
Using the criteria below, the Library’s collection development policy, and the selection
tools discussed in class, prepare the following information for five (5) books that you
would like to buy for the library:
A. Title
B. Author
C. Publisher
D. Price (CAD)
E. A brief summary of the book in your own words
F. Two supporting reviews including the source of these reviews
G. Your reason for purchasing this item
Your five books must include:
1. A non-fiction book from a publisher catalogue
2. A general interest book about Canadian history, fiction or non-fiction
3. An award-winning novel for adults
4. An award-winning book for children or teens
5. A recent audiobook, DVD, or eBook for adults or youth
How you present this information is up to you! Be creative!
EVALUATION:
Titles 1 point each; total of 5
Authors 1 point each; total of 5
Publishers 1 point each; total of 5
Prices (CAD) 1 point each; total of 5
Summaries 2 points each; total of 10
Reviews 2 points each; total of 10
Reasons for purchase 2 points each; total of 10
Overall presentation:
creativity, organization,
layout, etc.

10 points

TOTAL 60 points

2

(Fill in the blank) Public Library
Library Collection Development Policy

The (Fill in the Blank) Library serves the (Fill in the Blank) community, located only 45
minutes from Ottawa, the community has a high population of young families and retired
couples. Information from the most recent census indicates that the community is highly
literate; the majority have a university education. Most residents are Anglophone.
The library’s vision statement is to create connections among ideas, people and stories.
Specifically, the library’s collection:
 Provides access to materials of contemporary significance and permanent value.
 Provides access to materials for entertainment.
 Tends to the community's present and future needs as it adds materials to enrich
the collections and maintain overall balance.
 Provides current, high-demand, high-interest materials in a variety of formats and
languages.
 Provides information reflecting issues relevant to contemporary life and culture.
 Encourages lifelong learning and intellectual growth.
 Represents a wide range of abilities and respects the diversity of point of view
and experiences.
The library staff will purchase material:
 In a variety of formats as appropriate – print, visual, digital and online.
 Chosen from award winning books.
 Chosen from Canadian authors and subjects of interest and relevance to
Canadians whenever possible.
 Recognized, preferably, via review media (Booklist, Library Journal, etc.).
The selection of learning resources regarding controversial issues shall be directed
towards maintaining a balanced collection representing various points of view.
Selection shall be governed by professional considerations and not by political, moral
and religious views.
Materials will encourage and endorse individual human rights and values, as well as
explore cultures from other areas in the world to support the community’s personal
growth.

3

Selection criteria utilized for fiction include:
 Interest within the local community
 Coverage in local media
 Author/illustrator or other contributor with a local connection
 Classics
Selection criteria utilized for non-fiction include:
 Authority
 Currency
 Scope
 Organization
 Format
 Special Features
 Cost
 Accuracy
 Impartiality / point of view
Donations and/or free materials:
The library will apply the same selection criteria to gifts as are applied to new materials.
Reconsideration of materials:
Specific objections made by members of the community pertaining to library materials
will be treated as an important part of the democratic process and a legitimate avenue
of communication. Please consult our specific procedures for complaints, located in our
policy binder in the library.
Material de-selection:
The collection will be assessed regularly based on physical state of the material,
currency, and relevance.