Collection Development Exercise 1

Collection Development Exercise: Lawrence Public Library Alison Wilkins Emporia State University

Collection Development Exercise 2

Collection Development Exercise: Lawrence Public Library The Lawrence Public Library is located in Lawrence, Kansas. This is a library that is growing and is important to the community. According to the Lawrence Public Library website, the Lawrence voters approved a library renovation and expansion project projected to be finished in late 2012 or early 2013 (2010). The project will include added reading rooms, enlarged adult, children, and young adult sections, as well as more computer and meeting rooms. This shows that the community supports this library and that it is an important part of the Lawrence community. The collection development of this library must provide quality service to a community that truly supports it. It is important that the Lawrence Public Library continue to follow the collection plan and serve the community to its greatest ability even in difficult financial times.

Context

Library Description Services The library has a childrens room that is very popular. The librarys website states that last year the childrens room circulated approximately 360,000 items (2010). There is also a young adult section complete with its own CD and video game check out sections. There is also a large adult fiction and non-fiction section, movies, music, audiobooks, and a computer lab. The librarys website states that the current library only has 53 computers, and this number will increase to 153 computers with the completion of the new building in

Collection Development Exercise 3 2011 (2010). There are also on-line databases available for patrons to use. Meeting rooms are available to the community. The library offers different computer classes to the community as well. Circulation According to the Lawrence Public Library web page, the current library building is 38 years old. It is a heavily used library with 70% of Lawrences citizens holding library cards. Circulation in the past 10 years has increased 128% and it is still on the rise. The website states that circulation increased 11% last year and is on track to increase again this year (2010).

Library Service Population Demographics The U.S. Census states that in 2008, Lawrence had a population of 90,218. Of this population, 75,691 were white; 4,109 were black or African American; 4,056 were Asian; 3,987 were Hispanic or Latino; 2,171 were American Indian or Alaska Native; and 195 were Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. There were 2,808 Lawrence residents that reported two or more races. The U.S. Census also shows that 6,658 Lawrence residents were foreign born and 8,961 Lawrence residents over the age of 5 speak a language other than English at home (2008). Lawrence is a city with some diversity. While the vast majority of residents are white, there are still many smaller groups of other races and ethnicities that are served by the public library. The collection should reflect this diversity. The fiction collection should be filled with settings and main characters of different cultures and ethnicities, the non-fiction should reflect histories of various different

Collection Development Exercise 4 countries and people groups, and the media resources should be available in many different languages. Education According to the U.S. Census, in 2008, 94.4% of Lawrences over 25 population have at least a high school diploma (the national percentage is less at 84.5%), and 50.7% of the over 25 population have at least a bachelors degree (the national average is much lower at 27.4%) (2008). This shows that the population of Lawrence places a high value on education. One reason for this might be that Lawrence is home to two colleges: the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University. The importance of education in the community does not stop at the university level. Lawrence is home to USD 497. The Lawrence USD 497 website states that the school district is home to 24 schools: 16 elementary schools, 4 junior high schools, 2 high schools and 2 virtual schools (one grades K-8 and one grades 9-12) (2010). This shows that Lawrence is not only home to many adults who are either presently involved in education or who are well-educated, it is also home to many children and teenagers who are currently engaged in learning in a large school district. Education in Lawrence is a priority. The librarys collection should reflect this value. Good educational materials should be available. Resources should be kept up-to-date and current. Also, the public librarys collection should complement the collection at the universities. The library personnel should find a way to work with the information professionals at the schools to be sure that all of Lawrences population has access to quality information materials and services. Economics

Collection Development Exercise 5 The U.S. Census states that in 2008, the median household income in Lawrence was $41,833 while the median household income in the U.S. is greater at $52,175. The U.S. Census also states that 10.7% of Lawrences families live below the poverty line. This is also a greater percentage than the U.S. average of 9.6% (2008). This shows that while Lawrence is a generally well-educated town, it is also home to many individuals living in poverty or who are struggling financially. The librarys collection and services should be varied and applicable for these people. The library should be sure to continue to offer services such as computer labs, access to newspapers, and anything else that some people cant afford. Also, continued emphasis on programs such as resume building seminars, job application help, and anything else that might help citizens help themselves financially should be continued.

Collection Policy Assessment

Collection Plan The Lawrence Public Library has two collection development resources: a Material Selection and Collection Development Policy and the much lengthier Collection Development Manual. Material Selection and Collection Development Policy This document sets forth a very standard, general collection policy for the library. It states that the purpose and objective of the collection development policy is to base the selection of materials for the collection on

Collection Development Exercise 6 knowledge of the community, the existing collection and its use, and the cultural resources for our community. Selections are made to reach as many of the people within the Librarys [sic] service area as possible, including individuals of every age, educational background, personal belief system, occupation, economic level, and ethnic background, and to reflect the diversity of interests and viewpoints found among the community (2006) This shows the goal of that the library hopes to accomplish with its collection as well as its goals for serving the community.

The general selection criteria is stated in this document as well: 1. Current appeal and popular demand 2. Relevance to community needs 3. Professional reviews 4. Suitability of subject, writing or artistic style, and reading level for the intended audience 5. Reputation of the author, artist, publisher, or producer 6. Relationship to the existing collection 7. Value of material in relation to cost 8. Availability from established library vendors 9. Suitability of format and technical characteristics of the item, such as physical quality and durability 10. Availability and accessibility of the same materials from another library

Collection Development Exercise 7 The weeding policy is also laid out in this document. The policy is based on the CREW method. Items are weeded if they are any of the following: 1. Misleading or inaccurate 2. Ugly, worn, beyond repair 3. Superseded by a newer edition or different work 4. Trivial, or little merit 5. Irrelevant to community needs 6. Easily available elsewhere Collection Development Manual The Collection Development Manual is a much more detailed document that goes into great detail on the different collections in the library and the methods for selecting items. The major collections in the Lawrence Public Library are Adult Services Collection, Juvenile (Childrens Room) Collection, Young Adult Collection, Media Room Collection, and Electronic Collections. The adult, juvenile, and young adult collections are further divided down into subcategories of fiction, audiobooks, non-fiction, periodicals, graphic novels, board books, and music recordings. The media collection is divided into sub-categories of CD-ROMS, feature films, music recordings, television series, and anime. The Electronic collection has no subcategories. The manual provides information on each sub-category and the electronic collection in each of the following areas: 1. Collection Description 2. Influencing Factors

Collection Development Exercise 8 3. Selection Plan 4. Retention and Weeding 5. Development Plan Along with describing the collection and the reasons for its existence, this plan gives explicit instructions on issues to consider in selection of materials. Each sub-category has its own list of resources to look at for selection. Names of catalogues, vendors, and awards lists are referred to as sources for finding new materials. There are even provisions made for how many copies of each book that makes it on certain awards lists should be purchased. This manual also includes a detailed list titled Lawrence Public Library Fiction Always Have List. This list includes hundreds of books alphabetized by author that the library will always have on its shelf. It also gives a list of which awards they will always have a standing order for. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Plan Strengths One major strength of the collection policy is its attention to detail. A collection development librarian will have no trouble evaluating and selecting additions to the collection if he or she keeps the collection policy close at hand. For example, the policy states that when selecting books for the adult fiction collection, the librarian should consider author interviews in the media (especially NPR), authors appearing locally, books being marketed by local bookstores, works reviewed in the Book Page, and patron demand. It goes on to state that the development plan is to continue updating current, popular fiction with a primary focus[on] newly released fiction.

Collection Development Exercise 9 The organization of the plan is also a major strength. The collection librarian will have no trouble finding the specific policy to fit the selection need. There are not only sections with development policies on all common sections (such as adult fiction, juvenile fiction, etc.), but there is also sections with development policies for smaller sections in the library including adult foreign language, adult language study in audio and CD-ROM, adult large print, and juvenile board books. Weaknesses There are two major weaknesses to the development plan: the young adult collection policies and the electronic collection policies Young Adult Collection Policies The first major weakness is the lack of attention to the young adult collection. The adult collection has 19 sub-categories with individual collection policies in the plan, and the juvenile (childrens) collection has 24 sub-categories with individual collection policies in the plan. The young adult collection only has 5 sub-categories with individual collection policies in the plan. This shows that the policies for collecting young adult resources and literature are less developed than that of the rest of the collections. The most glaring difference in sub-categories is the young adult collection only has one sub-category for non-fiction while the adult and juvenile non-fiction collections have a sub-category for each division of the Dewy Decimal System. This would make it very difficult to develop an effective non-fiction section for young adults. There is also no sub-category for collection development of young adult graphic novels. This is a type of book that many young adults are interested in, and having a collection policy for this category would be beneficial. The

Collection Development Exercise 10 adult collection has a policy for adult graphic novels; there should also be one for young adults. Electronic Collection Policies The electronic collections policy is a single, one-size fits all policy. There are no subcategories for different genres of electronic resources. I think that an electronic collection policy should include separate collection policy for database resources, e-books or other downloadable resources, and any other electronic resource. At this point, the Lawrence Public Library does not have any e-books available; hopefully when they finally make that step, there will be amendments to the electronics collection policy.

Collection Assessment
Methods for Evaluation Several methods for evaluating the collection were used: 1. On-Site Observationthe researcher went to the library and examined the different sections of the library noting their particular strengths and weaknesses 2. On-line Catalog Evaluationthe researcher utilized the on-line catalog in looking at what resources the library has available to patrons 3. Personal Experiencethe researcher has lived in the Lawrence community for over a year and has used the library many times. Past experiences have also been considered along with the more scientific observations and evaluations. Strengths and Weaknesses of the Collection Strengths The Childrens (Juvenile) Collection

Collection Development Exercise 11 The Lawrence Public Librarys greatest strength is its Childrens Room, or juvenile collection. It is a large room with many resources, games, and books for children. According to the librarys website, the childrens room circulated nearly 360,000 items last year alone. With the new project to expand the library, they plan on doubling the size of the childrens room and adding in child-sized shelves instead of the existing adult-sized shelves in that room. Graphic Novels and Manga The Lawrence Public Library has done a great job in collecting graphic novels for both adults and young adults. This is a genre that is growing in popularity and many patrons seek out these books. The Lawrence Public Library realized this growing trend and has responded appropriately. Research Databases The Lawrence Public Library has a great collection of electronic databases available for free to patrons through their website. The databases provided are: 1. 12 general references databases 2. 5 electronic genealogy databases 3. 7 business and investment databases 4. 5 health and medicine databases 5. Electronic databases just for children and teens 6. Special interest databases (provides patrons with information on small engine repair, military intelligence, religion and philosophy, legal information, and more) Weaknesses

Collection Development Exercise 12 The weaknesses to the collection are reflected in the weaknesses of the collection plan: the young adult section and electronic resources. The fact that these are the greatest weaknesses in both the collection plan and reality shows that some major work needs to be done on these two sections. Young Adult Non-Fiction Collection The non-fiction section in the young adult collection is practically non-existent. This is the sections greatest weakness. The non-fiction collection is on 2 sections of shelving with about 5 shelves in each section. There are not a good variety of topics nor is there a good selection or number of resources on the topics available. Young adult readers would be able to read adult non-fiction, however, it is important for them to have their own resources available. The way the library has this section set up now, it is nearly impossible to find good non-fiction resources written for young adults at this point in the life of the librarys collection. Electronic Resources Other Than Databases The Lawrence Public library does not provide any type of e-book to their patrons. There are no play-a-ways, downloadable books, or e-book databases. They also provide no electronic readers of any type, such as Kindles, for checkout to patrons.

Action Plan
If the Lawrence Public Library had to cut 15% of its collection budget, it would be a serious tragedy. However, it would be possible with some serious thought and unfortunate cutbacks. The following is a list of suggested cutbacks and the justification of each:

Collection Development Exercise 13 1. Cut Back on Duplicates: The collection manual states that duplicates are ordered for books expected to be in high demand as well as for frequently requested items. Their policy is one new duplicate for every 3 requests. If the library really had to cut back, this would be a good place to start. Up the ratio to 1 new duplicate for every 57 requests. 2. Cancel Lesser-Used Databases from Each Category: The librarys collection manual states that databases will be considered for weeding if the resource does not show significant use over time. If an immediate 15% budget cut was called for, it would be necessary for the library to immediately cancel some subscriptions instead of waiting a year or two to further evaluate their usage. If a quick, desperate cutback was needed, I would recommend cutting the 2 least-used general reference databases (bringing the number down to 10), the two least-used business and investment databases (brining the number down to 5), and the least used health and medicine database (bringing the number down to 4). 3. Cancel the Subscription to World Book Kids: World Book Kids is an encyclopedia database for young users. However, the Lawrence Public Library also has World Book Advanced, which is an encyclopedia database for grades 4-12. There are other databases designed specifically for young users in mind. We could cut World Book Kids for a year or two and still be able to serve that population. 4. Cut the Juvenile Collection Spending by 3-5%: This might seem counter-productive since the Childrens Room is a strength of the library. However, the collection in this already strong and well stocked. Last year, 360,000 items were circulated from this

Collection Development Exercise 14 collection; I see no reason why a temporary cutback would significantly decrease this circulation. I believe this collection could survive a 5% cutback for a year of two. 5. Cut the Adult Non-Fiction Budget by 3-5%: The adult non-fiction section is large. I believe it could survive a temporary cutback. The cutback should still allow the library to update materials that quickly become obsolete, so the collection will not become obsolete. 6. Cut the Young Adult Fiction/Graphic Novel/Manga Budget by 3%: This collection is somewhat small, but it has been built up well over the years. By only buying the very popular new-releases without too many duplicates for a year or two, the collection could still maintain its integrity and relevance without spending too much money. 7. Cut the Adult Fiction/Graphic Novel Budget by 3-5%: This is an incredibly large collection. By only buying the hottest new releases, limiting duplicates, and making repairs to well-loved older books, the collection could easily maintain a budget cut. 8. Cutback on Standing Orders from Rewards Lists: The Collection Manual states that the library has a standing order for 13 awards lists. This could be easily cut down to 8-10 or even fewer awards lists. This would be a tiny cut in the budget, but every bit would help.

Collection Development Exercise 15

References (2001). Lawrence Public Schools. Retrieved from http://www.usd497.org/ (2010). Lawrence Public Library. Retrieved from http://www.lawrence.lib.ks.us/ U.S. Census Bureau. (2008). Fact Sheet: Lawrence, KS. Retrieved from http:// factfinder.census.gov/