1. Collection Development:
AREAS OF
SELECTION AND WEEDING

2. Collection Development: Selection and Weeding
This presentation is based on my research regarding areas of
collection development for academic libraries. My three topic
questions are: How does library staff know what their
patrons want? How do librarians choose what methods to use
to select materials, and what role does weeding play in the
selection process?

3. Selection
1. How does library staff know what their
patrons want?
 Word-of-mouth by students, staff and faculty
 Emails by staff and faculty
 Need to support academic curriculum
Citations:
•Thomas, Dr. Pamela J. Personal interview. 13 Nov. 2013.
•Gregory, Vicki L. Collection Development and Management for 21st Century Libraries: An
Introduction. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2011. Print.

4. Selection
2. How do librarians choose what methods to
use to select materials?
 Journals such as Booklist and Library Journal
 Other online resources
 Locate areas needing updates, reinforcing or gaps in the
collection
 Choose materials to meet needs of new courses `
Citations:
•Thomas, Dr. Pamela J. Personal interview. 13 Nov. 2013.
•Gregory, Vicki L. Collection Development and Management for 21st Century Libraries: An Introduction.
New York: Neal-Schuman, 2011. Print.

5. Selection
 Current cities - an electronic newsletter containing useful reviews of
numerous electronic resources as well as print sources in various areas of
information technology. (Gregory 73).
 eReviews – A section of the Library Journal website where Cheryl LaGuardia,
Research Librarian, Widener Library, Harvard University, reviews newly released
or updated electronic resources. Her reviews are both descriptive and evaluative.
(Gregory 73).
iGuides - A web-based directory of web resources and internet guides.
(Gregory 73).
Citations:
•Thomas, Dr. Pamela J. Personal interview. 13 Nov. 2013.
•Gregory, Vicki L. Collection Development and Management for 21st Century Libraries: An Introduction.
New York: Neal-Schuman, 2011. Print.

6. Selection
 Trial offers from e-resource vendors
 Demonstrations from vendors- often vendors are willing to come to
your library and demonstrate their electronic products to you.
 Visits to other libraries – view product and see it in action as well as
talking with that library’s staff about the product and their experiences
with it.
 Vending machines – some libraries are experimenting with rental
kiosks for new DVD’s. Such kiosks are popping up in many locations.
Citations:
•Thomas, Dr. Pamela J. Personal interview. 13 Nov. 2013.
•Gregory, Vicki L. Collection Development and Management for 21st Century Libraries: An Introduction.
New York: Neal-Schuman, 2011. Print.

7. Weeding
There are two aspects to weeding according to the American Library
Association:
The first is the writing of a collection development or selection policy
that is appropriate for your community; this will serve as a guideline as
you make decisions about your collection.
The second is applying that policy as you make decisions about the
materials in your collection.
Citation:
"ALA Library Fact Sheet 15." American Library Association. N.p., Nov. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2013.
<http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet15

8. Weeding
3. What role does weeding play in the selection process?
 Shelf Space
 Collection Development
 Purge Outdated Materials
Citations:
•Gregory, Vicki L. Collection Development and Management for 21st Century Libraries: An Introduction. New
York: Neal-Schuman, 2011. Print.
•Vnuk, Rebecca. "Weeding Tips: The Basics." Booklist Online. American Library Association, 15 Feb. 2012. Web. 18
Nov. 2013. http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?pid=5346510&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1>

9. Weeding
 Helps to determine areas that need to be weeded and/or updated.
 Book circulates 30 times, but not in the past 4 years, it could be the
content is outdated, so the book should be updated/ or replaced.
 Areas may appear where we might not need books.
(Example: If we own 5 books on a topic and they have been in the
collection for 5-10 years, but none of them have circulated, that might
indicate that there is no need for that topic in the collection)
Citations:
•Thomas, Dr. Pamela J. Personal interview. 13 Nov. 2013.
•Vnuk, Rebecca. "Weeding Tips: The Basics." Booklist Online. American Library Association, 15 Feb. 2012.
Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?
pid=5346510&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1>

10. Weeding
 Helps to determine areas that need to be weeded and/or updated.
 Book circulates 30 times, but not in the past 4 years, it could be the
content is outdated, so the book should be updated/ or replaced.
 Areas may appear where we might not need books.
(Example: If we own 5 books on a topic and they have been in the
collection for 5-10 years, but none of them have circulated, that might
indicate that there is no need for that topic in the collection)
Citations:
•Thomas, Dr. Pamela J. Personal interview. 13 Nov. 2013.
•Vnuk, Rebecca. "Weeding Tips: The Basics." Booklist Online. American Library Association, 15 Feb. 2012.
Web. 18 Nov. 2013. <http://www.booklistonline.com/ProductInfo.aspx?
pid=5346510&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1>