A collection is an aggregation of related items gathered together to serve a specific purpose. It can consist of physical and/or electronic resources and is a growing organism that libraries and cultural institutions curate and manage as a single entity to meet the needs of their audiences. A library collection specifically refers to all materials owned, including books, serials, documents, and special collections.

1. What is a library collection? Defining the concept: LIB 610 Collection Management Summer 2009

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.

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

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

5. June 3, 2008 What is a Collection? 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

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. June 3, 2008 What is a Collection?

7. What is a Collection? library collection The total accumulation of book s 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://lu.com/odlis/odlis_l.cfm#libcollec

8. What is a Collection? What is a library collection? The Library uses this word in several ways. In its most general application, it refers to all the items that have been either purchased, donated or acquired through legal deposit since the Library was first established. It is also used to describe material that is logically grouped together under a format like maps, or a subject area such as the arts. http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/about/pastfuture/collections.html

9. What is a Collection? Ranganathan’s 5 th 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)

10. What is a Collection? 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 ©2004-2007 Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson.

11. What is a Collection? 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.”

12. What is a Collection? 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

13. June 3, 2008 What is a Collection? 2. The collection as an entity that exists to serve a specific mission The philosophy of this media center is to achieve excellence by focusing on the integration of library media instruction with classroom learning. The media center will provide a quality, diverse collection in order to meet the needs of the faculty and students. It will stimulate the development of a lifelong love and appreciation of reading and learning. The Florine Dial Johnston Media Center (this statement is unfortunately no longer available on the web) Two crucial concepts