How do you assess the impact and value of your collection development activities?

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Collection development is the process of selecting, acquiring, and managing library materials to meet the needs and preferences of your users. But how do you know if your collection development activities are effective and valuable? How do you measure the impact of your decisions on your users and your library's goals? In this article, we will explore some methods and tools to assess your collection development activities and improve your practice.

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1 User feedback

One of the most direct and simple ways to assess your collection development activities is to solicit feedback from your users. You can use surveys, interviews, focus groups, suggestion boxes, or social media to ask your users about their satisfaction, preferences, needs, and expectations regarding your library's collection. You can also analyze their usage patterns, borrowing statistics, and requests to identify gaps, trends, and demands. User feedback can help you evaluate how well your collection meets your users' information needs and interests, and how you can adjust your selection criteria, policies, and procedures accordingly.

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Sigy George

Sr. Librarian at Delhi Public School- Vasant Kunj
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Set Objectives: Define goals to guide efforts. Track Usage: Monitor circulation, downloads, and event attendance to identify trends. Gather Feedback: Engage users through surveys and focus groups to understand preferences and satisfaction levels. Analyze Collection: Assess subject coverage, currency, and relevance to user needs to identify areas for improvement. Evaluate Cost: Compare acquisition and maintenance costs with usage metrics to ensure cost-effectiveness. Align with Mission: Ensure materials support the library's mission and strategic priorities, enhancing user experience. Benchmark: Compare performance with industry standards or peer institutions to gain insights and identify best practices for optimization.

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2 Collection analysis

Another way to assess your collection development activities is to conduct a collection analysis, which is a systematic and quantitative evaluation of your collection's characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. You can use various methods and tools to analyze your collection, such as bibliometric analysis, citation analysis, collection mapping, gap analysis, or overlap analysis. You can also compare your collection with other libraries' collections, standards, or benchmarks to measure its quality, relevance, diversity, and coverage. Collection analysis can help you identify areas for improvement, development, or deselection in your collection, and align your collection with your library's mission, vision, and goals.

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Robin Fay

Metadata & Cataloging Expert | AI Advocate | Instructor | Systems Migration | Archives | Data Interoperability & Remediation | Project Manager | Archives, Libraries & DAM >> Need metadata work or training? Contact me.
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One area that is often overlooked in a data driven approach across ALL resources across ALL platforms. Unfortunately with resources siloed in multiple and often proprietary platforms, an analysis of any one collection or platform, will only provide a very narrow view of usage or even relevance. Comparing collections to peer and aspirational libraries is important, but without knowing what resources a library has ACROSS all platforms, any data comparisons will be very limited.

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Emily Grace Le May

Public Librarian | Library Professor | Champion of Lifelong Learning & Inclusive Spaces
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There are many user-focused methods you can utilize to get an idea of what people are actually reading/requesting/using in your library. To start with, of course you can and should review your circulation stats and ILL data, as well as citation analysis. You can also test out some options that are "softer," such as surveys, focus groups, interviews, and observations or "walk-abouts." There's also list checking against prominent bibliographies and award winners, peer library comparisons (whether a current peer or an aspirational peer), and external collection standards set by professional groups and organizations.

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3 Impact assessment

A third way to assess your collection development activities is to conduct an impact assessment, which is a qualitative and holistic evaluation of your collection's outcomes and value for your users and your library. You can use various methods and tools to measure your impact, such as outcome-based evaluation, value-based evaluation, return on investment, or social return on investment. You can also use stories, testimonials, case studies, or indicators to demonstrate your impact. Impact assessment can help you communicate the benefits and value of your collection for your users' learning, research, or personal development, and for your library's reputation, sustainability, or advocacy.

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4 Professional development

A fourth way to assess your collection development activities is to engage in professional development, which is a continuous and reflective process of learning and improving your skills and knowledge in collection development. You can use various methods and tools to enhance your professional development, such as peer review, mentoring, coaching, feedback, or self-assessment. You can also use journals, books, blogs, podcasts, webinars, or conferences to keep up with the latest trends, best practices, and research in collection development. Professional development can help you update your competencies, standards, and ethics in collection development, and foster a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration in your library.

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5 Strategic planning

A fifth way to assess your collection development activities is to participate in strategic planning, which is a collaborative and proactive process of setting goals, objectives, and actions for your collection development in alignment with your library's strategic plan. You can use various methods and tools to facilitate strategic planning, such as SWOT analysis, environmental scan, visioning, or action planning. You can also use performance indicators, metrics, or dashboards to monitor and evaluate your progress and achievements. Strategic planning can help you define your vision, mission, and values for your collection development, and ensure that your collection development activities are relevant, responsive, and impactful for your users and your library.

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6 Ethical considerations

A sixth way to assess your collection development activities is to consider the ethical implications and responsibilities of your collection development decisions and actions. You can use various methods and tools to guide your ethical considerations, such as codes of ethics, policies, guidelines, or principles. You can also use ethical frameworks, models, or dilemmas to analyze and resolve ethical issues or challenges in collection development. Ethical considerations can help you uphold the values and principles of librarianship, such as intellectual freedom, diversity, equity, inclusion, access, privacy, or social justice, and ensure that your collection development activities are fair, respectful, and accountable for your users and your library.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you assess the impact and value of your collection development activities?

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1 User feedback

2 Collection analysis

3 Impact assessment

4 Professional development

5 Strategic planning

6 Ethical considerations

7 Here’s what else to consider

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