INFO 665 Collection Development
Michelle Joannides
Due: April 22, 2007
BabsonCollege Collection Development Policy
The following chart is a brief description of the strengths and weaknesses of the current policy with suggestions for improvement listed at the end.
StrengthsSources
Purpose- Sets target audience for collection policy
- Identifies stakeholders
BabsonCollege introduction
- Provides brief history of the college
- Provides brief history of course programs
- Depicts the department courses of study and structure
Hughes-Hassell & Mancall, pg.23
Mission statement
- Library’s mission statement links to ITSD department and to the broader college’s mission statement
- Provides college vision and mission
Collection development emphasis
- Provides a brief history of college’s collection development
- Broad subject areas are listed out
- Foreign language and industry materials reflect current news
Evans, pg.55
Cooperative arrangements
- Discusses issue of avoiding duplicate items
- Lists electronic cooperative agreement and with which educational centers
Anderson, 2.2.1 J
Collection development program
- Stakeholders are identified
- Staffing and assigned acquisition responsibilities listed
- Weeding responsibilities listed in narrative format
Anderson, 2.2.1 F
Material formats
- Formats were divided into appropriate headings
Subject descriptions
- Provides interdisciplinary list of all subjects the college is in charge of collecting for
WeaknessesSources
Purpose- Review time frame is established but not adhered to
Mission Statement
- Only the ITSD section provided any broad department goals. The library did not
- No collection development goals were defined
Anderson, 2.2.1 C
Intellectual Freedom & Censorship
- Vague statement. Copyright issues are not addressed.
Collection emphasis
- Internal and industry specific sections need to be reviewed more frequently
Collection development program
- Does not state if recreational needs will be met
Material formats
- Overall sections do not consistently state scope of material coverage
- Microforms have no start or end volume
- Maps and atlases section left blank, but material format is referred to in other sections.
- Online databases are not listed out, nor the process of database selection.
- How material selection is made is too vague. Not firmly stated anywhere.
Evans, pg.60
Budget
- No budget structure or allocation reference made
Special Collections & Archives
- Method of archiving too vague.
- Sir Isaac Newton collection? Is that an archive collection or special collection, and of what?
- For collections outside the scope of the library it does not list supporting libraries that have those collections
Evans, pg.56
Equipment purchase
- Nothing defined for equipment purchase and technical support
Gifts / Donations
- Refers to textbook gifts / donations, but no other material format
The intent of a collection development policy lets all parties know “…the strengths and weaknesses of your collection; the community you are serving and how it is changing…” (Evans, 2005, pg.51)
SuggestionsSources
Intellectual Freedom & Censorship- Attach ALA policy
- Attach a complaint form and procedures to file a complaint
Collection description and emphasis
- Interdisciplinary programs best described by a combination method of narrative statements and conspectus data
- Need to define collection levels on a rating scale
Evans, pg.58
Material format
- Since foreign language materials are acquired need to include a language code with index
Budget allocations
- Need to include budget allocations for each collection and budget goals
- Provide electronic resources list and determine how much budget will go to updating databases or electronic equipment
- Determine how much investment spent on research material versus instructional material
Evans, pg.55 & 65
Goals / accountability
- Define short and long range goals of the library
- Create accountability for staff and their assigned collection areas
Anderson, 2.2.1 F
Spelling / Grammar errors
- Several spelling and grammar mistakes were noted throughout. More proofreading is necessary!
- Skipped number 3 under Material Formats section
References
Anderson, Joanne S., ed. (1996). Guide for the writing of collection policy statements.Chicago, IL: American Library Association.
Evans, G. E., & Saponaro, M. (2005). Developing library and information center collections. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited.
Hughes-Hassell, S., & Mancall, J. C. (2005). Collection management for youth. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.