DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES FOR LIBRARY COLLECTIONS

IN A DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT
Chris Jones Chief LibrarianGreat Lakes Library Service NSW
Received July 2001
Collection development strategies are often overlooked by library managers or are written as limited documents
replete with statistics, rarely making reference to digital inforrnation. A collection development strategy can
provide the iibrarian with a wealth of opportunities to address significant issues, particularly in the digital
environment where questions of access and levels of service add significant complexity in the equitable
provision of library services

h e purpose of any library is to provide overcome this. This is a wonderful thing,

a collection and service that is relevant but it does present challenges. A further and
to its community. As recently as intriguing issue arising fTom technology is
twenty years ago this was a relatively simple that of training. Libraries have provided
proposition. User expectations, the range of access to books but, although supporting
resource formats, the instability of the literacy programs, they have not actually
information environment and the level of taught people how to read. This is not the
competition the library confronts have made case with the latest technology. Not only are
the development of a relevant collection libraries expected to offer access to a wide
significantly more complex. In this range of formats and equipment, they are
challenging en.vironment a strategic approach increasingly finding themselves in a situation
to collection development is essential in where it is necessary to provide training.
shaping the collection to community needs.
A strategy offers other benefits to the library Expanded range of formats
manager. Much as the rapid expansion in internet
usage has captured the attention of the
This paper considers the forces now library world, it is the array of formats that
impacting on collection development, and information is now packaged in which
demonstrates the wide range of benefits a presents the library manager with a bigger
collection development strategy offers. collection development hurdle. Life began
Specific issues associated with accessing to get complicated twenty five years ago
digital services and collections are discussed when the audiocassette appeared. Now, a
with particular reference to their inclusion in library could reasonably be expected to hold
a coLlection development strategy. The focus cds, cdroms, books on cassette, books on
is on public libraries but many of the issues cd, videos, Playstation games, tape and text
raised are universally relevant and apply to combinations, not to mention online data.
academic, special and school libraries. Within a couple of years dvds will also be a
regular part of this grab bag. Of course, this
Environmental factors is all in addition to the print formats of
User service expectations paperback, hardback, large print and
Library users, in the main, now come to the magazine.
library expecting to be provided with what
they need, not simply to have access to Stability of the environment
materials. This is not to say that twenty Not only do libraries have changing user
years ago library staff would not have needs and a wealth of formats to meet their
provided excellent reference service, but needs. There is the added complexity of
rather that the public would not have predicting through which formats future
expected it. The benefit of having developed needs will be met. As an example, the rapid
a collection that ninimises user demand uptake in internet usage has seen a dramatic
placed on staff through the ready availability reduction in demand for information
of information is apparent. available on cdrom. The Great Lakes
Library Service established a cdrom network
Technology has complicated this situation. only five years ago. This was successful
Where previously people may have been but for a limited period. Now it has
excluded from the collection due to a converted all pcs to intemet access points
disability, technology has developed ways to and provide borrowing access, where
Aplts 14(3) September 2001 101
permissible, to the edroms. Use of the these policies contain important features,
cdrorns is very low-that of the internet is they lack a strategic edge. The collection
boorming. WiEl the same apply to dvds? Will development strategy should enable the
some other technology, possibly the internet library manager to express the philosophy of
itself, overhaul them? the library service. How can we talk about
a collection if we do not address the impact
Competition of the internet and whether it should be
Twenty years ago it was largely television, provided freely? And what of borrower
with limited numbers of stations-especially trends? If children borrow less books,
in rural and regional Australia-board should we be looking at purchasing what
games/cards and radio, which' contested the they will borrow?
indoor entertainment market with the book,
That market has become increasingly A furthler reality of current collection policies
competitive. Pes fight with Playstations and is that, in the main, technology has not
Nintendos, Playstation and Nintendos tight featured strongly. Libraries which ignore
with Gameboys, Garneboys fight with the this aspect of the collection in their strategy
intemet and the internet fights with lose an ideal opportunity to develop a
multichannel television. The niche that the strategic direction for technology.
library and the book inhabited with comfort
is now under considerable pressure.' Before addressing specific areas of
collection development as they relate to the
Similarly, in the world of special and digitai world, it is worthwhile to briefly visit
academic libraries ready access to online data other benefits the collection development
means that is possible to remove the library strategy offers.
from the inrfonnation provision loop.
Further benefits of a collection
The strategic approach to collection development strategy
development The collection development strategy should
So what does all this mean for the library? enable a library to grapple with a range of
For the achievement of its mission, the significant issues that impact on it, both now
provision of a collection and service relevant and into the future. As well as providing
to its cormmunity, these four issues must be shape and direction the strategy is a public
confronted, as thev will influence the shape decument. This provides its own benefits.
of the collection. All of these issues relate, at
the m,ost fundamental level, to the digital Informing t£he public
world. The strategy informs the public of the logic
behind the provision or exclusion of a
In. cming to terms with collection breadth, service or collection. This can, as for the
user expectations, changing technologies Great Lakes Library Service, be successful
and market comnpetition it is necessary to in defusing potentially difficult
have a strategic, achievable approach to confrontations with members of the public.
tailoring collection development to user Despite low levels of complaint and
needs. dissatisfaction, a significant proportion of
these complaints relate to the need for more
Collection development policies and electronic equipment in the library. The
strategies hrave tended to be dry documents ability to address these complaints through
containing collection usage statistics. Whilst reference to the collection development
policy has proved most effective in
mollifying users. Furthermore, the develop-
* Fditor's note This is nothing new. Sixty five years ago, in ment of a written strategy, familiar to the
1937, W 'E Langham, president of the Board of Governors of
the Public Library of South Australia stated, in response to the staff, should result in a consistent response
Miann-Pitt report's very strong criticism about the lack of free to user inquiries.
public libraries in Australia 'Other countries are now paying
deatly for free libraries, which are meeting with mtuch the
same competition'. The competition to which Langhamn informing higher levels of manage-
referred was 'the wireless', 'modern enlarged newspapers
and magazines' e:nd 'the talkies with their never ending mernt
sessions. The result is that books have to take a second, third
and fourth place where formnerly they were the first' anid that
Most libraries are part of a parent body,
in counity areas 'the Broadcasting Commission takes the place whether it is a university, council, school or
of the library, its program giving recreation and enlightainment corporation. Consequently, they are
ts listeners'-

102 Aplis 14(3) September 2001

answerable to this body. Should issues It is also apparent that technology has
arise that may generate negative feedback regularly failed to live up to the hype.
from a user, the library will be in a much Telecommunications costs and limitations
stronger position if it has a documented and the sheer amount of rubbish on the
basis for its service provision. The position intemet has significantly reduced its impact.
is strengthened if the docurrent has been The ebook has not troubled library systems
adopted by senior management. Clearly, the to date, though trends in this area need close
strategy also acts as an excellent mechanism monitoring.'
for informing higher levels of management
about library policy. Libraries have to travel at the front of the
technology wave and also pick up the
Funding stragglers. For many library services
Not only can a strategy inform senior purchase of music audiocassettes has only
management, it is an effective way of recently been curtailed, even as they
lobbying for funding. confront the possibility that dvds nmay
replace eds. With all of the wonderful trends
If you lack staff to provide a service, in technology, it is salutary that rainfall is
incorporate this fact in the strategy. If more still the biggest influence on public libr&ry
rrmoney is needed for electronic resources, borrowing patterns!
address this in the strategy. If you are
confronted with needing to mairntain a Within ten years collections may be
burgeoning number of collections, tell those significantly different, but any predictions
who hold the purse strings. A collection should be based upon the evidence at hand,
development strategy, well structured and not on unsubstantiated hype.
supported with facts and figures, is a
powerful and convincing tool for attractinig Availability of technology-know
further funds. your community
If you are making decisions about
Collection and service issues in technology that will shape your collection
technology you must have an understanding of the
Having identified the benefits that a ability of users to access this technology.
collection development strategy offers, it is Provision of matter via the web is laudable,
now appropriate to address a range of issues but what proportion of a commrunity has
associated with the digital world and which access to it? How useful is an online
impact on collection development. reference service if only a limited number of
people will use it?
Continued usage of print material
Do not fall into the trap of assumiing that What this leads to is the realisation that any
increased interest in electronic resources will informnation that is obtained from the
mean a decrease in usage of printed matter. cormmunity by survey, feedback forms etc
Impact may well focus on a particular must have a technology component. It is
collection, for example the reference or important to determine what proportion of
junior nonfiction, but do not assume users have pcs and have internet access.
anything. Predictions were being made over Intentions to purchase such equipment can
a decade ago that public libraries were also provide useful information. Armned
destined to become orline storage houses of with this information, more informed
electronic databases and that the future of the decisions can be made.
library profession was precarious.
Cds and tapes
The impact of technology on collections has, Then there is the issue of cds versus taped
to date, been greatly overestimated. In the material. Great Lakes Library has only
case of Great Lakes, usage of the printed
matter remains high, despite an impressive
growth in interest in electronic rnedia. For * Editor's nose The Toowoomba City Library Qld launched in
May 2001 an innovation grant project 'Libraries, ebooks and
this reason it is not looking to remove the the future'. 'i'he project will see four different types of
print collection, but rather hlas to deal with handheltd ebhok readet lent to users, containing the latest best
the reality that it will be emnbracing all of the sellers in a variety of genres. The contact for the project is
Sue Huticy Electronic Services Librarian. Details of the
current miedia. project are
index.html>
at <libserv.toowoonmba.qld.gov.au/ebookI

Aplis t4(3) September 2001 103

recently removed music cassettes from its library provides. If the internet is provided
collection, because of very low usage. This freely will this loss of income be in the best
action received little negative feedback, interests of the public using the library
indicating that the commnunity was indeed service?
ready to move to the ed medium for music.
Books on ed have now emerged in the Consideration could also be given to
market, presenting something of a dilemma. charging for printouts from the internet. If
Great Lakes Library does not yet have libraries are no longer buying book stock
comparative usage figures to determine the that was previously available free from the
popularity of the new format. Nor does it shelves, is there an obligation to provide free
have the budget to start collecting both this, printouts from the internet?
and books on tape. A total transfer across to
the new format raises the question of The decision on whether or not to provide
whether or not this is relevant to the free access to the internet poses a number of
community. Will users of books on tape, questions, all of which need to be addressed
predominantly seniors, have both the by the library manager and should be
equipment and the inclination to move to the answered in the collection development
new technology? strategy.

As if the situation is not complex enough, Provision of email access

cars are now being manufactured with only Provision of email access is an issue that has
cd players. As travellers are the other major arisen as interest in the internet has grown.
users of books on tape this will further Should public libraries provide email access?
complicate the matter. This focuses debate about the role of the
library. If a library sees its role as purely the
This is a clear example of an area in which provision of information then the place of
information on community preferences public email usage will be limited.
would be advantageous. Nor should it be
assumed that this issue applies only to public Conversely, if the library sees one of its
libraries. The reality is thlat both academic roles as being an environment in which the
and special libraries miay have clients that community can interact, then email is an
will strongly resist a move to different electronic extension of this principle. The
formats. Again, these are all issues that public certainly sees this as a central function
should be thought through in a collection of thte library. A recent survey of users of
development strategy. ten library systems throughout NSW found
that
Free internet access For the young [the library] can be an entree into
Does your organisation provide free access a broader conmmunity, a place where they learn to
to its nondigital library collection? In NSW read, as well as interact with their peers and learn
free access is a requirement of the Library about the wo.rld at large. For the elderly it is a
act. Significant debate has occurred on significant social outing where they gain
whether the internet constitutes part of the important social interactior and humnan contact.
library collection or a value added service.' This is especially true for those living alone?
If the former applies then access should be
provided freely. If the latter, there is scope The social aspect of the outing seems to be as, if
withil the act to apply charges. not more, important as the ability to obtain
reading material to many older users.3
In addressing this question, consideration
must be given to the content of the entire Homreless people, those living alone or in
collection. If the library is modifying the boarding houses, also appear to use libraries as a
reference collection on the basis of shelter, and, in addition, a source of social
information now available on the internet, contact, whether users speak to each other or
does this then extend the library collection not.4
into the internet? Such questions centre on
the philosophies of service provision. The important feature of this survey was that
Charging for provision of the internet may it asked users what benefits theytheyderived were
be a significant source of revenue and which from the library, not how satisfied
may play a role in the quality of service the with aspects of the service. What is

104 Aplis 14(3) September 2001

apparent is that the library meets a range of Webpages
needs above and beyond lending of items. A library7s presence on the web, in the form
On the grounds that libraries serve an of its own website, can act as a filter to the
important social interaction role the Great internet. Links to useful sites are
Lakes Library Service does provide free increasingly a feature of library websites.
email access.' This effectively makes the website part of
the collection. As such, its shape and content
It is not a simple matter to inanage email merit inclusion in the strategy.
access. As more emrail sites become
available the ability to bar such access In general, links on webpages are put
becomes problematic and inconsistent. In together in something of an ad hoc fashion.
reality, controlling email access is more a This is understandable as the net itself is ad
matter of either resourcing or finance. Some hoc-sites appear and disappear. However
libraries charge for the use of email only, as a considered approach to website content
an attempt to control usage. Others charge to will make for a better library service.
generate income. As with the free provision
of internet access, the library manager must With websites being regularly reviewed in
resolve these issues to provide maximum journals and newspapers there is ample
benefit to the entire community. As email scope to find and critically evaluate sites.
has the potertial to generate incorme that Better still, if the library can identify areas
could contribute to collection size and is that would supplemnent the collection a
increasingly tied to the internet. which has process can be estab'ished to seek suitable
become an extension of the library websites for inclusion. Of course, a library
collection, the logic associated with the may find another library system wh:ich has
decision regarding email access should be done the job already and then incorporate
contained within the collection development that into i-ts website.
strategy.
if the library does maintain a webpage (its
Barring access to internet sites own or one for the entire organisation) then
This is another problematic issue, one where criteria should be established to detennine if
a library can be damned if it does, and a website is suitable for inclusion as a link
damned if it does not. Users will complain and when such sites should be removed
about inappropriate access to sites if it does from the collection. This information should
not filter, or they will complain about limited be contained within the collection strategy.
access to the internet if you do filter.
Online collections
I have worked with both approaches. A natural progression from the website is the
Whilst there are concerns relating to provision of an online collection. 'rhis
exposing children to inappropriate material, involves incorporating websites or electronic
in practice filtering software has significant files into the library catalogue. As with the
limitations. It can bar access to an array of webpage, the strategy should address the
legitimate sites. Conversely, with open criteria for selecting online content.
access to the net, I have yet to encounter any
problem of note. Great Lakes Library This is one of the most exciting areas of the
ensures its pcs are very public. The high new technology, but caution is required. If
levels of usage and traffic minirnise the links to websites are made available through
opportunity to visit inappropriate sites opacs some thought should be given to
privately. ensuring that opacs do not become used as
more internet pcs. There is also the risk,
The whole issue of filtering relates to access more so than with links on a webpage, that
to material. This falls squarely into the the online collection could reach unmanage-
domain of the collection development able proportions. Ensuring currency of sites
strategy. has the potential to become a daunting task.
Online reference service
Editor's note A majority of Australia's public libraries also What will become of the reference service in
have the good commnonsense not to charge for email usage. In
states such as South Australia free public internet access is a
the 21 st century? Once again, consideration
conrdition of state govemment subsidy must be givern to the needs of the local
Apiis 14(3) September 2001 105
community. There is no point in providing attempt to continiue to attract this group to the
an online reference service if the commnunity library a small lending collection of
has neither the technology nor the inclination Playstation games was established,
to access it. Conversely, such an approach, following on from the example of Kempsey
provided the human resources are available, Library. This has proved remarkably
may be entirely suitable for some popular, with stock turnover at around thirty
communities. issues per annum, or ten times the average
stock turnover for NSW public libraries.
A further consideration in this area is the
provision of such a service on a regional A library service needs to ask itself if such
basis. On a purely local basis, online temptations are appropriate. Nor need this
reference provision may not be appropriate. principle apply solely to electronic games for
However a regional approach, where YAs. Any material that acts as an attraction
librarians have set rosters for offering such a should be considered within the context of
service, may actually be of benefit to the the collection strategy.
commnunity.
Conclusions
It is a moot point as to whether or not the One of the greatest challenges a library
issue of conline reference provision belongs confronts is to develop a collection and
within the col'ection strategy, but in light of service to meet the needs of its communuity.
online collection issues and electronic A collection development strategy plays a
resources, its presence would not be out of vital role in both clarifying these needs and
place. detailing the library's approach to mneeting
them. As user expectations, the rapidly
Disability access equipment changing variety and forrnats within which
Technology has opened the doors to sections information can be packaged, and
of the community that would otherwise be competition from new sources become more
precluded from using much of the collection complex, the role of the strategy ircreases in
of library. It is now possible to purchase importance.
equipment and software to scan printed
matter and read it back to the lIstener. Other In the digital world issues such as filtering
software can make pcs accessible even to the of the internet, free provision of email,
totally blind. In recent years the cost of such online collections and services, and even the
Drovision has dropped significantly. If a ongoing existence of print rredia, come into
library 1has a charter to provide service for play. If a library attempts to address these in
all, should such equipmnent be purchased, or an ad hoc fashion it will result in an ad hoc
is the relevance to the li'brary's coirmmunity service, vulnerable to criticism from the
so slight that the funds would be better spent public, staff and senior management. A
on other services or materials? This issue collection development strategy enables the
should be addressed in the strategy. As library manager to have some control over
Kirsty Willianson et al asserted in a recent this challenging environment.
article 'Public library policies are needed to
improve and regulate access to online
services for people with disabilities References
I Scu5ly, P The internet: a core or value addxl
Electronic games service? Aiustralasian public libraries and
Another contentious issue is the inclusion of informnation services 11(1) March 1998 p3 6 -4 5
electronic games within the borrowing 2 Cox, E A safe place to go: libraries and social
collection. Arguments against such capital University of Technology, Sydney 20(X)
inclusion revolve around the inappropriate 3 ibid
nature of the material for the collection. 4 ibid
Certainly, electronic games represent new 5 Williamsson, K et al Assisting people with
ground for libraries. At Great Lakes it has disabilities to use the internet: the role of the
been noticed that there is a general trend public library Australasian public libraries ad
among children ard the YAs away from iufonrnation services 14(1) March 2001 p21
books (especially hardcover) towards less 6 State Library of NSW Public library statistics
time consuming material, wit magazines 199&999 State Library of NSW 2000
and eds proving particularly popular. In an
Aplis 14(3) September 2001
106
Chris Jones BSc(Hons) GradDipLibSci GradDipBusSt
is the library manager at Great Lakes Library Service, a
position he has held since 1998, Prior to this he was
the reference librarian at Armidale Dumaresq Library
Service. Chris has worked in libraries since 1987,
when he commenced as a library assistant at Panramatta
City Library. He has also worked as a housebound
librarian for Parramatta and a branch librarian at
Baulkham Hills Libraty Service in NSW. Chris is a
proponent of raising the profile of libraries in all levels
of government and industry. He sees them as a vital
and often underutilised community hub. Address:
Great Lakes Library Service Breese Parade Forster
NSW 2428 tel(02)65917269 fax(02)65917373
chris [email protected]

HOW MANY LIBRARIANS DOES ITTAKE

TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB? ......
Four. One to install the bulb and three to test it in staff mode
for three months before the patronsget to use the light.

Three. One to change the bulb and two to talk abouI

how uLmprofessicnal changing Ught bulbs reaUly is.

None. One chooses the bulb; one contacts a vendor and orders
a bulb; one receives it; one places the bulb on the bulb shelf;
one charges the bulb out; but the usersfinally must change
the bulb themselves.

Well, what type of light bulb areyou interestedin?

Eight One to do the actoal tooknd the reet to Ybr

cornmlfl7f l derermrne whether it rly needs co be changad

Ten. One special collections librarianto archive the old burnt

out bulb; one acquisitionslibrarianto order new bulbs; one
cataloguelibrarian to catalogueand classify the bulbs by i
wattage, colour, fluorescence or incandescence etc.; one serials
ic librarianto check the bulb into the serials record; one reference
c
librarian to make sure the bulb is what the patron really wants;
one interlibraryloan librarianto order the bulbfrom another
library if it is not on the shelf; one media services librarian
to make sure the bulb meets stated instructionalobjectives;
one circulation librarianto check out the bulbs; one library
administratorto supervise the entire system; AND one student

ApDis 14(3) September 2001 107

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TITLE: Development strategies for library collections in a digital

environment
SOURCE: Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services 14
no3 S 2001
WN: 0124404919004

The magazine publisher is the copyright holder of this article and it

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