The New Collection Development: Planning and Assessment to Promote Innovation

Library collections are in the midst of a radical transformation. Rapidly evolving technology, innovations in distributing and accessing content, new models of pricing, repurposing of library spaces, and shrinking collections budgets create a new environment for collection development. This new environment requires that librarians participate in a variety of new collection development activities beyond just selecting content. In the emerging library collection development landscape librarians must engage with the disciplinary content of collections as well as a range of other areas. New areas of responsibility might include: information technology, including issues of personal data curation; copyright, open access, and scholarly communication; new modes for delivery of content; budgeting, development, fundraising, and stewardship of resources; collections issues regarding space, preservation, curation, and storage of collections in all formats; and integrating collections issues into instruction, reference, readers’ advisory, programming and other engagement with the library’s users, and funders and other stakeholders. These and other activities continue to take an increasing amount of time and effort on the part of collection development librarians. In many cases, however, librarians and library administrators are not adequately prepared to incorporate these activities into their portfolios. The audience will engage in a dialog about incorporating new and emerging collection development activities into training programs, strategic plans, work plans, and assessment activities. Attendees will leave with tools for incorporating innovation into their institutions’ operations.