Nonfiction & Reference Resources for Children

Building a Strong Collection


The Steps to Developing a Strong Nonfiction and Reference Collection for Children

IDENTIFICATION

Identification involves the process of determining what is needed in the collection and what is available to fill those needs. A document that aids considerably in this process is the Collection Development Policy. It defines the overall collection plan in sections which describe the patron base, give details of subject areas and formats, state who shall make selections and how they shall be made, describe the processes of deselecting and evaluation, and define the procedures for the receipt of gifts and the handling of complaints.

SELECTION

Selction involves the process of choosing specific titles and formats from the many options available. The professional librarian will use many tools for this process such as catalogs, bibliographies, booklists, and reviews. An important facet of selection is the deselecting or weeding process. The same types of criteria are used as in selection. The difficult parts are making time for weeding and overcoming the "reluctant weeder" syndrome.

For a list of selection tools see:
  • Selected Sources for Reviews and Information
  • Links to Related Web Sites
  • For information on specific selection guidelines see:

  • Evaluating Nonfiction and Reference Materials
  • Specific Types of Reference Materials
  • Evaluating Software
  • Other useful web sites:

  • What Makes a Great Web site? An American Library Association ALSC Site
  • Out for a Spin: A School Librarian Test Drives 14 CD-ROM Encyclopedias, By Stephen Del Vecchio, Sep 1, 1997. School Library Journal Online
  • A Road Map to Choosing Formats, By Stephen Del Vecchio, Sep 1, 1997. School Library Journal Online
  • AQUISITION

    Acquisition is the actual ordering and receiving of the items. Currently, ordering can be accomplished by postal mail, faxed orders, telephone ordering, or electronic ordering. Often, basic catalog records are recorded or downloaded at the same time.

    ORGANIZATION

    Organization refers to the process of making decisions on how to provide access to the information. The professional must make decisions such as whether to separate children's nonfiction and/or reference from adult's, how to organize biographies, whether to provide internet access to children and/or adults, etc. For information on how libraries are making these decisions see:

  • Treatment in Libraries -- Survey Results.
  • PREPARATION

    Preparation involves ownership processes such as stamping the items with the library's name, adding security strips, covering, labeling, etc. Special labels that denote, for example, award winning items or holiday items are often added to children's materials.

    STORAGE

    Storage decisions relate to how the item will be kept in the library. (examples: in a file, on the shelf, at the reference desk, or in a electronic record format)

    UTILIZATION

    Utilization depends upon such factors as the hours of operation, dial-up capabilities, staffing in the reference and patron service areas, signage, ease of access to items needed, etc.

    DISSEMINATION AND CIRCULATION

    Getting the information to the patron who needs it is the ultimate goal of all libraries. This is aided by all other aspects of a well-staffed and organized library. Children are helped the most when rules do not limit their use of the resources unnecessarily, and there are enough circulating copies of reference and informational nonfiction to serve their needs.

    For a list of resources used in the research of information for this web site see:
    Sources of Information & Credits

    Your comments or suggestions are welcome. Send e-mail to:
    Janice Felker at jfelker@visi.net

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