Crash Course in Collection Development

The Crash Course in Collection Development is a comprehensive guide for librarians, providing practical and simple introduction to an important, complex, and evolving area of library service.

This third edition covers all aspects of collection development and management, including inventory assessment, market analysis, budgeting, marketing, and customer service in public, academic, and school libraries.

With a focus on collection development basics, the book guides users in gathering statistics and analyzing community needs to design a collection that meets user needs.

It also provides practical advice on writing a collection development policy, budgeting, selecting materials, managing vendor relations, understanding the publishing industry, merchandising and promoting the collection, and handling complaints.

The new edition includes discussions of new purchasing and lending models, information for academic and school librarians, and trends such as libraries as spaces for users, collection diversity issues, makerspaces, nontraditional collections, pop-up libraries, the digital divide, and noncirculating collections.

Whether you are a new librarian or a seasoned professional looking to refresh your skills, this book is an essential resource for anyone involved in collection development and management.