Developing an Outstanding Core Collection: A Guide for Public Libraries - Softcover

Alabaster, Carol

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0838908195 ISBN 13: 9780838908198

Publisher: ALA Editions, 2002

Synopsis

Instructions on building an adult core collection and on maintaining and revitalizing an existing collection are given in this guide for public librarians. There is advice on developing a collection policy statement, selecting user-appropriate sources, and serving the library's constituency. Sample core lists are given for seven subject areas. Alabaster recently retired from the Phoenix Public Library. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

About this title

Reviews

This guide gives librarians the whys and the hows for building an adult core collection. The author was the collection development coordinator at the Phoenix Public Library, where she developed core collections for the branches. She stresses that the philosophy behind the collections was to create in every subject a short list that represented the most important and/or classic titles in the field. She distinguishes between popular titles and classic titles which add quality and depth to a collection. The book then gives concrete suggestions on how to write a collection development statement for the core collection, how to select the core titles, and how to maintain the collection. The book concludes with a bibliography of selection resources that can be used in selecting core titles and many samples of core lists with a discussion of the selection criteria used to pick the books. This is a very practical manual that all librarians can use as a resource for collection development. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Alabaster served as the collection development coordinator of the Phoenix Public Library for more than a decade. Until then, the library, in a city that was one of the fastest growing in the country, had a directionless, undefined collection that needed structured development. Under Alabaster's guidance, the library developed policies for and added core collections to the main library and every branch to bring them up to today's standards. Her guide is intended to help the staff of large library systems institute policies and procedures for developing basic library collections. Chapters cover developing a core policy statement; establishing the basics of a core selection with attention to reviewing tools, award winners, bibliographies, and community involvement; and budgeting and methodology of acquisitions, along with other details of purchasing. Finally, the author includes sample core lists of materials. While Alabaster's purpose in writing this guide is worthy, the result is disappointing. In her analysis of reviewing tools, she shows a complete lack of understanding of this magazine's reviews: "The librarian reviewers for Library Journal, though well meaning, are unpaid, their evaluations can be uneven. Perhaps because librarians so value the written word and books in general, it is rare to find a negative LJ review." Well, this reviewer rolled her eyes in disbelief when she read this sweeping statement. Having reviewed for LJ for many years, she recalls writing a fair number of those "rare negative reviews." In addition, the process of developing a core collection in other libraries may be different from what Alabaster's library experienced and the book's narrow focus will limit its usefulness. Other guides that contain better general direction for all libraries include William Katz's Collection Development: The Selection of Materials for Libraries (1980), Kay Ann Cassell and Elizabeth Futas's Developing Public Library Collections, Policies and Procedures (Neal-Schuman, 1991), and Collection Development Policies and Procedures, 3d ed., edited by Elizabeth Futas (Professional Media, LJ 3/15/95). Marie Bruni, Huntington Memorial Lib., Oneonta, NY
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: ALA Editions
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0838908195
• ISBN 13: 9780838908198
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 204