Collection Development at the Public Library
Personal Statement as Collection Development Librarian
I have been working at the McCracken County Public Library in Paducah, Kentucky since 2009. In my time here I have managed collections of movies on DVD, Music CDs, Graphic Novels, and Video Games. I love that working with patron requests keeps me up to date on what's new and what's trending in popular culture, and in our community.
As a Collection Development Librarian for The McCracken County Public Library in Paducah, Kentucky I strive to make popular and useful materials available to library patrons in a timely manner, and in the formats which best suit the patron needs. Using multiple review sources, statistical usage analysis, staff and patron requests and feedback, I manage the collections to keep them relevant. I have learned many things about collection development and maintenance through my ongoing work with the collection and with front-line library services at the McCracken County Public Library. For instance: I stock extra copies of the first in any popular series, and I have learned to utilize Interlibrary Loans to fulfill niche or obscure requests. I work with the public and I personally respond to patron questions and requests. I care for the collection, make displays, and weed the collection as necessary. I also purchase titles for the collection, and make sure they come in catalogued accurately, and for findability.
When I first started in collection development my favorite website for spirit lifting and pep talks about weeding a collection was Awful Library Books. It was written and maintained by collection development experts Mary Kelly and Holly Hibner who speak at conferences and are well known in library circles. I have used their tag line from the web site: "Hoarding is not collection development, " as my personal collection maintenance mantra. It takes constant maintenance including visual and statistical analysis to keep collections relevant.
I have enjoyed every aspect of collection development. I have done collection audits for diversity inclusion, I have downsized and expanded collections, I have defended titles that have been challenged by concerned parents, and I have made many themed reading and watching lists for special occasions and current events.