Principles and practices of effective stock management in public libraries

Sarah WilkieMay 2010

Collection Development Policies

WELCOME

Who am I?Where do I come from?What do I want to get out of today?

What is a Collections Development Policy?And why do I need one?

Sarah WilkieMay 2010

AgendaNames and definitionsRole and purposeContext: making the linksEthicsRisk and how to manage itPolicy and practiceWho is your audience?

What’s in a name?

Library Stock PolicyStock Management PolicyLibraries Stock StrategyStock Policy Document

Definition of a Collections Development policy

“Collection Development is the process of planning and acquiring a balanced collection of library materials in many formats”

[NAG Template for a Model Collection Development Policy for Public

Libraries]

Role and purpose“Stock is the lifeblood of a public library service and its management is fundamental to its effective deployment and use. The objective of a Collection Development Policy is to ensure that public libraries have the materials they need to deliver an effective service.”

Making the links - 1

To other library service policies, strategies and plans: Business plan Community engagement strategy Reader development strategy Marketing strategy Events programme

Making the links - 2

To wider authority objectives: LAAs Every Child Matters Crime Prevention strategy Cultural strategy Strategy for Older People Integration & Community Cohesion Strategy

EthicsEach individual in our global society has the right to a full range of library and information services. In addressing cultural and linguistic diversity, libraries should:

serve all members of the community without discrimination based on cultural and linguistic heritage

provide information in appropriate languages and scripts

give access to a broad range of materials and services reflecting all communities and needs

IFLA

Managing the risks

“In the interests of intellectual freedom, material should not be rejected solely because it is considered controversial. A good library should encompass controversial issues and different perspectives in the interests of democracy and discovery.”

MLA Guidelines on Controversial Stock

Policy and practice• Staff training• Supplier training• Public

information

• Stock action plans• Budget setting• Stock audits• Funding bids

• Plan for outcomes

• Set targets• Monitor

• Demographics• Politics• Priorities

Share Use

MeasureReview & adapt

Who is your audience?StaffColleaguesHead of serviceElected MembersThe publicSuppliersCouncil decision makersOther council departmentsConsortium membersPartners

ANY QUESTIONS

Communicating your Collections Development Policy

AgendaWhat not to say: jargon and how

to spot itSegmenting your audienceTalking to different audiencesDeveloping an “elevator pitch”

Avoid jargon

Issue and discharge – bodily functions?

Circulation – blood? traffic? rumours?

Borrowers – little people who live under the library’s floorboards?

Segment your audiencesThe library service:StaffColleaguesHead of service

The library world:SuppliersConsortium

members

The local authority:The publicCouncil decision

makersOther council

departmentsElected MembersPartners

Talking to the public

Think about:◦ Language –

jargon, “council speak”

◦ Detail – not too much, not too little

◦ What’s important to them

“Performance

indicators”

“CPA rating”

“Supplier selection”

“National Indicator

Set”

“Benchmarking”

If you haven’t read it you can’t know about it:Open to scrutinyPart of wider strategies

Spread the word:Talking to authority colleagues and partners

Summing it all up:the Elevator Pitch

You’re in a meeting with colleagues from other departments. One asks you what the library service is doing to help meet the council’s key objectives, and how

can be a relevant contribution. You only have a few seconds to convince him that your collections serve a purpose. What do you say?

“just lending books to people”

?