“We Could Do Better”: Librarian Engagement in LGBTQ Collection Development in Small and Rural Public Libraries in the Southern U.S

Purpose Too often, academic library selectors of DVDs purchase Japanese animation (anime) for their popularity without any further concern of their important contributions to the combined wealth of researches of an academic library. The purpose of this paper is to offer considerations for an academic selector to ponder before adding this particular type of animation. These considerations do not necessary pertain to the collection development considerations for selectors at public libraries. Design/methodology/approach This paper will discuss the major problems of actively adding anime to an academic library, the present areas of concern, and will offer warnings and suggestions based on a conceptual framework of anime having true academic value. Findings Anime cannot be chosen independently as if it has any apparently intrinsic value sui generis. Anime must be added concomitantly according to the collection development policies with other resources, especially DVDs, to create a full, rich and useful collection to scholars. Originality/value Academic studies concerning anime and collection development for academic libraries are usually comprised of only long lists of suggested anime, with no further discussions about its implications to the general worth of an academic library. This paper offers no such lists. Instead, it offers considerations selectors must take into account before investing time and money adding anime to an academic library collection.

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Romance novels in american public libraries: A study of collection development practices

Library Collections Acquisitions and Technical Services ◽

10.1016/j.lcats.2008.08.014 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 32 (2) ◽

pp. 59-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Denice Adkins ◽

Linda Esser ◽

Diane Velasquez ◽

Heather L. Hill

Keyword(s):

Public Libraries ◽

Collection Development ◽

Romance Novels

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Book Review: Film Programming for Public Libraries

Reference & User Services Quarterly ◽

10.5860/rusq.55n1.65b ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 55 (1) ◽

pp. 65

Author(s):

Nelson Dent

Keyword(s):

Public Libraries ◽

Collection Development ◽

Close Attention ◽

Library System ◽

The Way

Film programming is an engaging way to bring customers of all ages into the library, and this timely primer by Katie Irons offers libraries a step-by-step guide to make each showing a success. Film programming can be tricky, as libraries need to pay close attention to the legality and logistics of film screening in addition to programming. Fortunately we have Irons to show us the way, with her more than fifteen years as the audiovisual collection development librarian for the Pierce County Library System in Tacoma, Washington. Irons selects for and maintains a 500,000-item audiovisual collection for Pierce County, serving more than 560,000 people, and her knowledge and experience in film programming inform this excellent book.

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Survey Applies Public Collection Development Librarians' Support for Intellectual Freedom to Collection Process

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice ◽

10.18438/eblip29686 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 245-247

Author(s):

Laura Costello

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Local Community ◽

Public Libraries ◽

Public Library ◽

External Pressure ◽

Intellectual Freedom ◽

Collection Development ◽

Professional Beliefs ◽

Policy Practice ◽

Library Funding

A Review of: Oltmann, S. M. (2019). Important factors in Midwestern public librarians’ views on intellectual freedom and collection development: Part 2. The Library Quarterly, 89(2), 156-172. https://doi.org/10.1086/702203 Abstract Objective – To explore how librarian attitudes regarding intellectual freedom and demographic factors influence collection development decisions. Design – Online survey. Setting – Public libraries in the Midwestern United States. Subjects – 645 collection development library professionals employed in public libraries. Methods – An electronic survey was distributed to 3,018 public library directors in nine Midwestern states and completed by the library professional primarily responsible for collection development (Oltmann, 2019, p. 6). The survey had a 21.37% response rate. The survey focused on intellectual freedom in the management of collections and probed the participants for their experiences and influences in making collection development decisions. The survey also asked participants to make hypothetical purchasing and holdings decisions for library materials based on a short description of the material. Main Results – Participants indicated that they used a variety of different tools for the selection of materials including patron requests. Of the participants, 45.7% indicated that their library had a policy, practice, or metric to assess the balance of their collections, while 54.3% indicated that their libraries did not have policy or method in place for ensuring that their collection was balanced. Of the respondents, 73.4% felt that local community values should be considered in collection development decision, but 62.3% said that this should not be the most important factor in decisions. Overall, the political leaning of the community did not have an impact on participants’ alignment with the ALA's stances on intellectual freedom. Most respondents (73.4%) felt that government library funding bodies should have an influence over collection development decisions. Some respondents indicated they felt internal pressure from other library staff or the library board to purchase particular materials (28.1%) or relocate materials (14.1%). Respondents also indicated that they felt external pressure from their communities to purchase (32%) or restrict or withdraw (19.1%) materials. In the hypothetical purchasing scenario, most librarians indicated that they would purchase the majority of items. Some participants (39.8%) felt tension between their personal and professional views on intellectual freedom. Conclusion – The first part of this article found that holding an MLS degree had a significant impact on participants' stance on intellectual freedom and alignment with the American Library Association (ALA) principles. This part indicated that they also felt greater pressure to withdraw, acquire, and manage particular materials in their collections and felt more tension between their personal and professional stances on intellectual freedom. Age, gender, duration of work, and community political affiliations significantly impacted only some of the participants' responses. Overall, there was general support for intellectual freedom and alignment with the ALA principles; however, 40% of respondents indicated tension between their personal and professional beliefs about intellectual freedom.

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Book Review: Self-Publishing and Collection Development: Opportunities and Challenges for Libraries

Library Resources and Technical Services ◽

10.5860/lrts.60n3.214 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 60 (3) ◽

pp. 214

Author(s):

Rebecca Brody

Keyword(s):

Academic Libraries ◽

Public Libraries ◽

Collection Development ◽

Work In Progress ◽

Development Tools ◽

Convincing Case ◽

Public Consumption ◽

Significant Opportunity ◽

Library Collections

Self-publishing has exploded over the last ten years, resulting in an entirely new ecosystem of self-publishing platforms, marketing options, and collection development tools. Major companies such as Amazon provide a relatively easy way for individuals to format and upload writing for public consumption, and the public’s demand for these materials is increasing. This demand has created a new and challenging set of problems for librarians who would like to leverage the growth of self-publishing to improve library collections and services. The essays collected in Self-Publishing and Collection Development: Opportunities and Challenges for Libraries make a convincing case that academic and public libraries have significant opportunity to participate in this new publishing landscape while making clear that, particularly for academic libraries, the acceptance and active collection of self-published titles is still something of a work in progress.

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