Developing Library and Information Center Collections (Library and Information Science Text Series) [Paperback]

G. Edward Evans (Author), Margaret Z. Saponaro (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1591582199 | ISBN-13: 978-1591582199 | Publication Date: September 30, 2005 | Edition: 5th

This latest edition continues to cover all phases of collection development—from needs assessment, policies, and the selection process (theory and practice), to publishers, serials, protection, legal issues, censorship, and intellectual freedom. Each chapter has been extensively revised to reflect changing practices, policies, and technologies. To this end, some chapters—electronic materials, government information, audiovisual materials, and resource sharing—have been almost completely rewritten. In addition, electronic serials, introduced in the 4th edition, has been combined with its print counterpart in a single chapter. New to this edition is a CD containing supplementary material; a companion Web site () will also be maintained to ensure URLs referenced throughout the text are kept up to date. As the authors put it in their introductory chapter, whatever environment one works in, collection development is an exciting challenge that requires lifelong learning. Students and practitioners alike will benefit greatly from this state-of-the-art text.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Evans and Saponaro's work has been the standard text and authority on collection development for all types of libraries. It still is….So if you are a current student or want to get serious about updating what you learned long ago in library school, then this is certainly the core center of professional reading….Evans and Saponaro is recommended as a central work."

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Teacher Librarian

"[A] wonderful resource that every student should keep in their professional library and refer to as issues pop up during their career….[I] recommend it as a tool for library administration and librarians at all levels….Highly recommended as a text and as a reference for practicing librarians."

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Technical Services Quarterly

Book Description

This latest edition continues to cover all phases of collection development. A new addition is a CD containing supplementary material; a companion Web site () will also be maintained to ensure URLs referenced throughout the text are kept up-to-date.

Product Details

• Paperback: 472 pages
• Publisher: Libraries Unlimited; 5th edition (September 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591582199
• ISBN-13: 978-1591582199
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,170 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very solid and practical guide...., June 2, 2008

By 

A Pilgrim (San Jose, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Developing Library and Information Center Collections (Library and Information Science Text Series) (Paperback)

This volume by Evans and Sapanaro was a textbook in my collection development class. Given the very pragmatic approach of my instructor, I'm not surprised she selected this book.

First of all, collection development can be a very politically charged responsibility, especially in a public library. While this book may not give you all the nitty gritty details of how to deal with every situation that can threaten your library or your career, it can certainly provide helpful introduction on how to write a comprehensive and useful collection development policy that will guide the selection and deselection process, and insulate your library from a public relations fiasco.

In chapter 2, the authors provide a thorough but not overwhelming chapter on different approaches to assessing the information needs of your patrons, depending on the library you work (i.e. Public, academic, special library). Thankfully, they spare you from the fine grained details of research methods and statistical methods. In fact, they recommend hiring a consultant to help out with such procedures, since it might not always be practical to hire such a specialized staff member full time.

Chapter 4 provides a hefty and substantive overview of how to select materials for your library and how to evaluate these materials. Other chapters discuss the unique issues of evaluating and selectings serials and electronic resources.

While just about every chapter appeared to have very useful information, some noteworthy (personally speaking) chapters address legal issues, fiscal management, and deselection.

If you have been assigned this text consider yourself lucky. If not, it could be a good supplementary text. Professionals new to collection management will probably find this text to be a useful resource. Veterans of the field might not find much in this text, but it could serve as a good refresher to collection development practices.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Assigned text for class, but enjoyed it so much I bought a copy, June 27, 2010

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K8thegr8 - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Developing Library and Information Center Collections (Library and Information Science Text Series) (Paperback)

I was assigned this book as a text for a collection development class. I thought this book provided a very good foundation for the subject; it was clear, straightforward, and easy to read, with the 4 main types of libraries represented. I don't know that I would recommend it for someone who has years of experience in collection development, but if you're new to it, this is a great resource.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential resource, August 1, 2008

By 

Diana Tixier Herald "Genrefluent" (Leaping Lizard Ranch, CO United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Developing Library and Information Center Collections (Library and Information Science Text Series) (Paperback)

Covering the spectrum of what is involved in true collection development, this is an essential resource.