Collection Development Flashcards

What document guides a library's decisions about what materials to acquire, retain, and weed?

Answer: Collection development policy

A collection development policy (or collection management policy) outlines the library's philosophy, scope, and criteria for selecting, acquiring, and deselecting materials.

What is 'weeding' in the context of library collections?

Answer: Removing outdated, damaged, or little-used materials from the collection

Weeding (deselection) is the systematic process of removing materials from the collection that are outdated, physically deteriorated, superseded, or consistently unused.

What does the CREW method stand for in collection weeding?

Answer: Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding

CREW (Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding) is a systematic weeding method developed for public libraries that uses age, usage, and condition criteria for deselection decisions.

What is a 'standing order' in library acquisitions?

Answer: An arrangement to automatically receive new volumes in a series or annuals from a publisher

A standing order is an agreement with a vendor to automatically send and bill each new volume of a series, annual, or publisher's continuation as it is published.

Which usage statistic is commonly used to justify retaining or weeding a print book?

Answer: Last date checked out (circulation date)

The last checkout (circulation) date is a key metric in weeding decisions; books that have not circulated in several years may be candidates for deselection.

What is the purpose of a 'gift policy' in collection development?

Answer: To outline rules for accepting donated materials and the library's rights to discard unwanted gifts

A gift policy clarifies the library's right to accept or decline donations, discard or sell unwanted gifts without obligation, and maintain sole discretion over the collection.