Collection management

Specialists in the field have put together this practical handbook for librarians who build and maintain library collections. Its chapters tackle recurring difficulties and offer tested approaches that can make a library run more smoothly while serving its patrons better.

The contributors examine cooperative collection development, the use of data already available within an institution, and the challenges of supervising staff at different stages of their careers. They also cover working with vendors, choosing the right balance of resources, and managing serials. Readers are shown where collection development is heading and are kept informed about new technologies that affect the work.

Written for newcomers as well as experienced practitioners, the book addresses the everyday questions librarians face as they try to build a cost-effective and resourceful library.