Library Collection Development Policies

This book represents an ongoing effort to fill the void in the library literature relating to collection development policies. The authors, whose experience each spans four decades as library educators and practitioners, created the book—as well as a forthcoming companion volume devoted to school libraries—to assist both library school students and professionals in the field in the compilation, revision, and implementation of collection development policies. Cutting edge trends such as digital document delivery and library cooperation are also covered. Furthermore, given the premise that a well-rounded policy reflects all activities concerning the collection management process—including the evaluation, selection, acquisition, and weeding of information resources—it is hoped that this work will also prove useful to non-librarians possessing some kind of stake in high quality library holdings, such as library board members, politicians, and administrators directly responsible for library operations, and institutional patrons.

Author Biography

Frank W. Hoffmann is professor of library science at Sam Houston State University. He has worked in libraries in Indiana, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania and has written over thirty books relating to librarianship and popular music, including more than a dozen titles for Scarecrow Press.

Richard J. Wood is director of university libraries at the University of South Alabama and was formerly the director of university libraries at the Citadel and Sam Houston State University.