Developing an Outstanding Core Collection: A Guide for Libraries

by Carol Alabaster

In this practical handbook, newly updated for 2010, Carol Alabaster focuses on developing a collection with high-quality materials while saving time and money. She addresses key collection development questions, including

What criteria are used to identify a core title? What is the process for making selections?
How is a collection maintained and improved? How are core titles tracked in the library's acquisition and circulation systems?
Packed with selection resources and sample core lists in seven subject areas, this soup-to-nuts manual will be useful whether you are starting from scratch or revitalizing an existing collection.

Genres: Nonfiction, Professional Development, Librarianship, Library Science

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Toastkat · Rating 2 out of 5]

First Impressions: Outdated. In the first chapter alone, the book makes a mention of how Yahoo! is the leading search engine, how unreliable searches are, and how e-books and e-readers are an emerging technology that others would be reluctant to use. And while there is some grain of truth to these ideas, it is encouraged that the reader takes a step back and remember that this book was published in 2002. What was strong in this book when it was first published may come across as weak now. Google is now the leading source of searches, which has become such a precise science and art that there are jokes and memes about going to Page 2 of the search for results. And while the field of e-books and e-reading is still developing and growing, there is no doubt a user base that has no qualms or reluctance to use technology to consume digital reading media. The author also has a great assumption that the reader of this book is someone who works for a library large enough to support a staff that is as passionate about books and reading as their director that can be called upon to assist in the development of their collection, not taking into account that such small libraries where workers are aides and college students working summer jobs exist. As a full-time library aide who focuses on collection maintenance, it is a little disheartening to read about a utopic library large enough to have such a staff that all have professional librarianship education. Has the task I have chosen myself too big for just me? Is this something I should leave to The Boss, and let her worry and lose sleep about? While I've volunteered for the mantle of responsibility of weeding and curating our collection for our community, I get the impression that I am more alone in this yoke of duty than what I first imagined. I only read further for the hopes that as I go further, the content and nature of the book will become more relatable. As it stands, this book feels like something that should be in the hands of someone far above my pay grade.

Thoughts Continued: As I continue reading into chapter 2, I am again feeling that the author has a very naive view of libraries and librarianship. The book makes many assumptions, the most prevalent being that 1) the reader is the director or head librarian of their library and 2) the library in question is large enough to support a staff with designated roles such as selector, technical staff, processors, and catalogers. This mindset doesn't take into account small libraries with even smaller staffs of librarians and aides that are forced to wear many hats. I am going to continue to read this book to the end, because there are some good ideas here, but if you are not a library advisory board or board of trustees member, or if you are not a library director or head librarian, this book is not for you. This book is not for the library aides who want to assist in developing the collection, selecting materials, or (in my case) assist in the maintenance of the collection through weeding.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important subject and well-intentioned, although the book is pretty stodgy with its People Want Great Books focus. Another major shortcoming is that it has nothing to say about floating collections--the author takes the standpoint that every library must have every core collection title, but many systems are going in the direction of floating collections (where books returned at a branch remain there, rather than being returned to their home).

One encouraging point was that many of the core collection titles circulated better than anticipated, as they filled previously unidentified collection gaps.

I'd like to see someone write a book like this for children's collections, which have different concerns. A children's collection, for instance, would not include a groundbreaking but now out-of-date title, as an adult core collection might.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an outstanding reference for the librarian seeking to create or sustain a quality core collection for the public library. It is also very useful for anyone wishing to build a personal library. The author maintains that lists of books, subject bibliographies and publication awards mentioned are not exhaustive. Nonetheless that provide an outstanding starting point for searching for appropriate titles. This book was published in 2002, so Goodreads and When Books Went to War were not available as references. Still, this is a very useful reference for both librarians and individual readers.

[Emily Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for designing collections policy and such. Would be a wonderful asset to new public librarians, but those who have been in the field for while or are in academics can benefit from it.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dated and way too complex for today but some good basic questions to think about - although it didn't mention - do we even need core collections anymore?

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book lists and lists of helpful resources would be helpful in the future when considering purchasing or collection development.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful book that brought forward some great discusion topics with colleagues'