Editorial

Citation

Cassell, K.A. (2010), "Editorial", Collection Building, Vol. 29 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/cb.2010.17129caa.001

Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Collection Building, Volume 29, Issue 3

I recently began to think about whether in fact we are still doing much collection development. The reason I say this is that so much of what we acquire is selected by someone else and sold to libraries as a package. The periodicals we acquire online are usually part of a database. We simply accept what they have selected. Many libraries use approval plans providing the vendor with a profile but leaving it to the vendor to select the titles received. E-books often come in packages selected by someone else. So are we really doing collection development any more?

Well, I guess the answer is both yes and no. No, we do not select as much of our collection as we once did. But yes, we are still doing selection and working to shape our collections. We choose databases that index the type of material that we know our users want. We carefully develop our profiles for approval plans so that the material being received is what our users need. Academic libraries do supplement what they receive through approval plans by ordering title by title in order to meet user requests. Public libraries order a great deal of material title by title to meet user requests for specific titles or to provide multiple copies. Although e-books can be acquired as packages, libraries can and do order e-books title by title.

So we have a mixed practice for collection development. The packages libraries acquire act as a base and give the librarians the freedom to tailor their collections to their users. They can fill in where the packages leave off and can respond to user requests. They can also continue to be vigilant about the collection ordering individual titles and weeding where needed. Some smaller libraries still do a large proportion of their ordering title by title for a number of reasons. But a primary reason is that buying packages can be expensive, and these libraries may not get the same results as ordering title by title.

No matter which route a library goes it is important to remember that collection development requires thought and planning. Just packages is probably not a good way to go. But some combination of packages and title by title purchasing can address the needs of the library and meet the needs of the library’s users.

Kay Ann Cassell