Library Collection Development Policies

Library Collection Development Policies: School Libraries and Learning Resource Centers represents an ongoing effort to fill the void in the library literature relating to collection development policies. The authors’ experience spans four decades as library educators and practitioners. They created this book, as well as the earlier volume devoted to academic, public, and special libraries, to assist both library school students and professionals in the field regarding the compilation, revision, and implementation of policies.

Many libraries carry out the vital function of collection development without any form of documented plan. This work provides such a plan and is divided into three major sections. Part one focuses on standardized elements most likely to be found in selection policies, thereby serving as a blueprint for building library holdings; part two explores the ethical and legal issues ensuing from the use of digital resources; and part three addresses digital information within the context of traditional library operations. Concluding the book are two appendixes, one identifies the school libraries that provided material serving either as examples or illustrating the function of various policy statements, and the other provides a selection of materials from the American Library Association dealing with intellectual freedom.

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 dean 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.