Creating a Collection Management Policy for your Service

The collection management policy of a service determines how resources will be selected or deselected in the light of the collection as a whole. The term 'collection' refers to the items currently described in, and pointed to by, the catalogue.

Collection Management involves de-selection (weeding) as well as selection. The criteria listed below may be used to justify adding or removing a resource from the collection. These criteria account for the fact that a resource may be selected at one point in time, whereas it would not be selected at another. As the collection grows, the coverage and balance of the collection will change, and this may affect the selection process.

The criteria are listed in the main headings and the left hand column. The right hand column contains some hints and checks that might help to discern whether a resource meets with a particular criterion.
Collection Coverage and Balance 
  • What's already in the collection?
  • What is the relative value of the resource in comparison with others already in the collection?
  • Is the information unique within the context of the total collection or does it duplicate?
  • Do a search to avoid duplication
  • Browse to see which areas are well covered - identify gaps in the collection
Availability of Internet Resources
  • What's available outside the collection?
  • What is the relative value or the resource in comparison with others available on this topic? Is there similar/better subject material available?
  • Does the site contain information that is not readily available?
  • Look for other resources with value added to the information
Availability of Library Resources
  • What's available via other information sources?
  • Does the resource provide access to information that is not easily obtained in other formats/not held in many libraries?
  • Does the resource provide access to information that users may not be able to find/get access to in libraries?
  • Look for resources which compliment existing information/library collections


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