The document discusses the concept and purpose of a library collection through several definitions and perspectives. A collection is summarized as an aggregation of related resources gathered to support a specific audience or function. It further describes a collection as a single organic entity that exists to serve the needs of its patrons and mission, such as supporting an educational curriculum. Finally, it notes that organizing and managing a collection ensures it can efficiently achieve its intended purpose.

1. LIB 630
Organizing and Managing Library Collections
Spring 2012
Organizing and Managing
Library Collections:
Why?

2. What is a collection?
collection
3. concr. A number of objects collected or
gathered together, viewed as a whole;
a group of things collected and
arranged:
• in a general sense; e.g. of
extracts, historical or literary materials.
b. of scientific specimens, objects of
interest, works of art, etc. spec. The range
of clothes (as for a season, etc.) displayed
by a fashion designer; a display of such
apparel.
c. A quantity of anything, as water, which has
collected into one mass; an accumulation.
2

3. Another definition
collection
1: the act or process of collecting
2 a: something collected; especially
: an accumulation of objects gathered
for study, comparison, or exhibition
or as a hobby b: group, aggregate
c: a set of apparel designed for sale
usually in a particular season
3

4. Slides from Presentation: Collection Level Description [ PowerPoint]
[HTML] for Workshop at 8th International Dublin Core Metadata
Initiative Workshop (DC-8) Ottawa, Canada, October 4 - 6, 2000
4

5. From a cataloging website
What is a collection?
A collection is an aggregation of
physical and/or electronic items. e.g.
library collections; museum
collections; archives;
library, museum and archival
catalogues; digital archives; Internet
directories; Internet subject
gateways; collections of text; images;
sounds; datasets; software etc. A
collection may be made up of any
number of items from one to many.
• CLD Online Tutorial
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6. More from the same site
What Is A Collection?
A collection is a group of
resources that are related to each
other in some identifiable way.
The relationship might be
through a topic, a place, a person,
an organisation or a type of
object.
• About This Document
– This briefing document provides a brief
introduction to the concept of
Collections.
6

7. library collection
The total accumulation of
books and other materials owned
by a library, cataloged and
arranged for ease of access, often
consisting of several smaller
collections (reference, circulating
books, serials, government
documents, rare books, special
collections, etc.).
− http://www.abc-
clio.com/ODLIS/odlis_l.aspx#libcollec
7

8. Ranganathan’s 5th Law of Library Science
The Library is a Growing Organism
The 5th law tells us about the vital and
lasting characteristics of the library as an
institution and enjoins the need for a
constant adjustment of our outlook in
dealing with it. Libraries grow and
change, and will always do so. Collections
increase and change, technology changes
and budgets change. Change comes along
with growth, and in order to be healthy, that
change and growth requires flexibility in the
management of the collections, in the use of
space, in the recruitment, retention and
deployment of staff, and the nature of our
programs.
• Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan (1892-1972)
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9. What is a collection?
A collection is a set of resources
brought together for a particular
audience or to serve a specific
function.
• School Library Collections
http://eduscapes.com/sms/access/cd1.html
• ©2004-2010 Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson
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10. So, what is a collection?
A collection is:
“an aggregation of physical
and/or electronic items”: “stuff”
It may have “research potential”
It is “a group of resources that are
related to each other in some identifiable
way”
It is “total accumulation of books and
other materials owned by a library”
It is a “growing organism”
It is a “set of resources brought together
for a particular audience or to serve a
specific function.”
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11. Two crucial concepts
1. The collection as a single organic entity
e. g. “The British Library manages its collection as
a single entity.”
– British Library Catalogues and collections
“As school media specialists, we need to
begin to adopt the „stone soup‟ approach to
collection development and interlibrary
loan. Our building collections should not
only be regarded as a single entity, but
also as a unique part of a larger regional
or state collection.”
– Doug Johnson, A Stone Soup Mentality –
November 1998
http://www.doug-johnson.com/dougwri/stone-soup-mentality.html
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12. Two crucial concepts
2. The collection as an entity that exists to serve a
specific mission

http://shsmc.weebly.com/mission-statement-and-goals.html
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13. What is a Collection?
Why manage a collection?
It exists for a purpose:
The purpose of building a collection is
to support the needs of students and
teachers in addressing the curriculum.
It is essential that all educators be
involved in developing this collection.
The teacher librarian must develop
partnerships across grade levels and
subject areas to ensure that the
collection addresses the needs of the
curriculum.
• Information Access & Delivery: School
Library Collections
June 3, 2008 13

14. What is a Collection?
Why organize a collection?
Why Organize Your Library?
An organized . . . library should be
efficient to use so you know what
resources you have and exactly
where they are.
• Adapted from a Q & A for Lentz
Libraries Architecture and Design
Library Services
June 3, 2008 14