What is the mission of libraries? How is that mission staying constant and how is it changing? Introduction to thinking about the purpose of libraries and collection development through the lens of one librarian at an independent school library in Los Angeles.

1. Collection
Development and
Management
IS 430 (UCLA)
Sarah Clark
Monday, September 30, 2013

2. CC Flickr @sashafatcat

3. Interview a Partner
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Name
Year in school
Undergraduate area of study
Best library memory?
Dream job? (this could be library job or not)
What is the best breakfast you can imagine?
After you interview your partner, you will introduce he or she to the class.

4. The Purpose of
Libraries
musings on the past, present and future

5. The Purpose of Libraries
In groups, answer these three questions about
the purpose of libraries:
1. What have libraries done in the past that is
becoming or has become defunct?
2. What is constant and unchanging about
the purpose of libraries?
3. What is new and emerging about the
library’s purpose? What is on the horizon?

6. The purpose of library collections
How should this
discussion inform
how we think about
library collections?
CC Flickr @ethermoon

7. Your Goals for this Course
Please respond to the following questions on a piece of
paper to hand in:
● What do you hope to gain by taking this
course?
● What knowledge and/or experience would
you like to have by the end of this course?

8. Windward
School Library
my background and philosophy

9. Considering Institutional Mission
My question for myself:
● What are the purposes of libraries? Which
library missions resonate with me?
● What specifically is the purpose of a school
library?
● And what is my own institution’s mission?

10. NYPL Mission Statement
“The mission of The New York Public Library is
to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge,
and strengthen our communities.”
http://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/mission

11. UNESCO School Library Statement
The School Library in
Teaching and Learning for All
The school library provides information and ideas
that are fundamental to functioning successfully
in today’s information and knowledge-based
society. The school library equips students with
life-long learning skills and develops the
imagination, enabling them to live as responsible
citizens.
http://www.unesco.org/webworld/libraries/manifestos/school_manifesto.html

12. Windward CTL (Library)
The Center for Teaching and Learning at
Windward School aims to foster a love for
learning based on original inquiry so students
may develop into self-directed and engaged
adults.

13. What Makes School Libraries
Unique?
● The library's primary purpose is to support
education and curriculum.
● School libraries aim to equip students with
research skills so they excel in college and adult
life.
● Resources in school libraries are specialized in
order to suit the age of the students, curriculum,
and specific class projects.
● Many librarians, especially at private schools,
have a lot of freedom to decide how and when
to use their budgets.

14. Large Libary = Grocery Store
I-5 Design & Manufacture

15. Small Library = Restaurant
SMcGarnigle

16. School vs. Larger Libraries
UCLA has 9 million
items
LAPL has over 6 million items
*Windward School has 7,000 items
*Windward School has 7,000 items
Sources: ALA Factsheet
and LAPL website

17. Windward School
and building a library (nearly) from scratch.

18. ● Location: Mar Vista, Los Angeles
● Population: 525 students, Grades 7-12
● Founded in 1971

20. The Center for Teaching
and Learning (CTL)
New building opened in 2009.

21. Library History
"We don't need a
librarian."
"I never thought to
bring my classes here
to do research."
Floyd Brown
"There aren't any
books. And when I
look them up, they
aren't on the shelf."

22. WW Takes a Chance
2009: new building,
new beginnings,
and testing out a
librarian
Goal: Weed and
rebuild collection
and build a library
culture.

23. Step 1: Weed the Collection
DISCLAIMER
Don't try this at work: best practice says wait a year before
weeding at a new workplace.
Arty Smokes (deaf mute)

24. Step 2: Collect Fiction and Pleasure
Reading Books

25. Step 3: Build Library Culture

26. Step 4: Build Relationships with
Faculty and Students

27. Collection
Development
Policies at WW
connecting with departments one at a time.

28. What we collect:
● Books to support curricular
projects
● Fun/free reading books
● Textbooks
● College and test prep
books
● DVDs
● A few board games
● Magazines
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Laptops
Computer chargers
Phone and iPad chargers
Calculators
Video cameras
Point and shoot cameras
Mini tripods
Computer mice
Ethernet cords
Headphones
Office supplies
Rulers
Markers, colored pencils

30. Grab and Read

33. Our online resources
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Historical newspapers
Scholarly journals via
JSTOR
NoodleTools for citations
and notetaking
Resource guides
(LibGuides) specific to
projects involving research
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Vimeo account to
showcase student work
CTL website to tell
classroom stories

34. What we don't collect
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VHS tapes
Newspapers
Back issues of magazines
Printed scholarly journals
Reference books
CDs/music
Materials in most
languages other than
English

35. Formal CD Efforts
Since 2009, we have worked with UCLA
interns, department by department, to create
collection policies/plans.
History: 2010-2011
Theater (Performing Arts): 2010-2011
English: 2011-2012
Art and Art History: 2012-2013
Studio for Writing and Rhetoric: 2012-2013
Windward's Collection Development Process Overview

36. CD Lessons Learned
● Always begin with your community, not
your collection.
● Connecting with faculty gives you a chance
to understand their needs and a chance to
sell your collection and services.
● Test new online resources in real project
situations.
● Involve students when assessing and
considering your resources.

37. Studio for Writing and Rhetoric,
opened fall 2012

39. Nuts and Bolts
inside statistics, reviews, and community
feedback.

40. Evaluating Resources
● Timeliness how quickly can you respond to a user's
information need?
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Longevity/Durability
Cost-Benefit
Access
Ease of Use
User Education how much time will you need to
spend educating your users on how to use this
resource?
Organization and Display how can you
present this item so people will want to use it?

41. Tools and Reviews for School
Librarians
Earlyword
School Library Journal
Library Journal
YALSA
VOYA
Booklist
LA and NY Times
Amazon and BN.com
Goodreads
Develop a ritual for reading
reviews so this is not you!

42. Track your purchases and wishes
Sample book order list

43. Statistics, Surveys, Feedback
Learn to love and respect Excel:
Usage and Acquisition Stats example

44. Surveys with Perks

45. The Commons
building collections, services, and
opportunities that are meaningful to your
community.

47. Jack M., 8th Grade
CTL Leader

49. Final Thoughts
A collection is one
service out of
many that you
provide to your
community.
Ask yourself: what does
my community want
and need? How can I
support them?

50. Thank You!
Sarah Clark
Windward School Library
ctl.windwardschool.org
@s_elaineclark
@WindwardCTL