[Conntech] Material Selection input from public/patrons

[Bridget Quinn-Carey]

Hello everyone - Happy New Year! For many years (well before my tenure
began) the Essex Library Association bylaws have called for a Book Selection
Committee, which is now called the Library Resources Committee. Here's the
background: this committee has historically been charged with providing the
library staff with suggestions for titles and general types (genres and
formats) of materials. In practice, a small group of committee members (some
board members, some regular users/readers) met with me and each brought 2-3
titles of books each month to recommend. This is advisory only, and the
staff retains the full responsibility of selecting (and deselecting)
materials.

 

We temporarily disbanded this committee recently  because most of the
recommendations provided each time were for items we already had or were on
order, or were from NYT reviewed books. Despite repeated efforts to refocus
the committee and provide additional resources for reviewing material, the
long-time members did not want to change format, even though the suggestions
were not particularly helpful in making selections for the collection.

 

So, my question to you all now since we are reorganizing and regrouping this
committee, is: do any of your libraries have a formal and ongoing way of
soliciting suggestions for and/or feedback regarding your collections? Our
Board is by no means attempting to control the collection development
decisions or ultimate purchasing decisions of the library staff, but feel
(which I agree is worthwhile) that having some way of encouraging
suggestions strengthens the communities' relationship with the library, and
helps to ensure that we are providing the materials our users want and need.


 

Thoughts, suggestions, ideas - all are appreciated. 

 

Thank you in advance for your time and responses,

Bridget Quinn-Carey

Essex Library

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mylist.net/archives/conntech/attachments/20080104/a949abbe/attachment.htm