Reading Response Chapter 1

I don't usually read the preface of books,but for some reason, I did this time. I thought it fitting that the authors chose to add a CD to the printed and bound copy of the book because of editing concerns. It underscores the fact that ours is an age where information is not limited to books, and the libraries in which we are preparing to serve are changing to meet the needs of an ever-changing flow of information. I liked the idea that the authors brought out regarding the need for a physical place, the library as a hub, in the information highway.

I also liked this quotation because it serves as a summary of the need for researching a library's intended consumer: "Knowing who is using what, for what purposes and how often, as well as knowing what sources exist that can supply the information in the most cost-effective way, is the keystone of present and foreseeable collection development work." (p. 5)

An aspect of collection development that I had not really thought about is that selection of material for libraries is a very subjective pursuit and "it is a matter of systematically determining quality and value." ( p. 9) The person selecting the material is the one who has to determine if an item is "essential, needed, marginal, nice or luxurious." Wow. The power! This presents a very big challenge because if the needs and wants of the library community are to be the foundation of a collection, the librarian selecting materials really must try to be impartial and act in the best interests of the library's patrons. I also thought it interesting that different types of libraries really must employ different means by which their material is selected and must include more specialized people to help determine what is purchased for the library.

In walks, chapter two. This chapter details the importance of needs assessment. must take break, more to come . . .