The Requirements for Books to be Included in a Public Library Collection

Sarah Moore — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 19:14:19 GMT

Current Revision posted to Libraries by Sarah Moore on 10/16/2018 7:14:19 PM

When the collection development staff at a public library considers adding a book to their collection, several criteria are assessed, says library Executive Director Sarah Moore. First and foremost, a book must have some independent reviews from major sources such as Kirkus, Booklist, and Library Journal. For print books, the physical quality of the book is also assessed. The staff reviews the binding, paper quality, and print quality. These books will pass through many hands so durability is important. A nonfiction book, especially children's nonfiction, might have to pass an internal review, where the staff ensures the information is accurate and appropriate for the target age group. Not all books are reviewed at this level, says Moore, because there just isn't time, which is why they rely so heavily on reviews. A public library's collection mix is driven largely by the demographics and areas of interest in the community. The mix at Moore's mid-sized library in central Indiana is about 56% nonfiction and 26% children's.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../4505.The-Requirements-for-Books-to-be-Included-in-a-Public-Library-Collection.mp4

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