College of the Sequoias

LS 202

George Pilling & Elainea Scott

Fall 2007

Assignments

I. “Volunteer” time

Students will spend at least five hours at another library of their choice. They should work with the librarian to help weed and develop the collection in a particular area. The results can be used in combination with the assignments below. For example: If you have decided to update your collection of books about ancient civilizations, you should spend some of your volunteer time working with that section in another library. You will gain knowledge of the subject and titles available and ideas for developing your collection list. You should also spend time surveying another collection so that you can survey your own by comparison. You can also find weeds at another library – in fact, this is better than finding them at your own.

For those students not working in a library, you can truly “double-dip.” You will need a library to complete your assignments, and the one you volunteer in is the easiest.

Due February 14: One page comparing your library’s collection with the one you volunteer in, or if you do not work in a library, one page of your observations about the status of the collection overall.

II. Collection Development Policy

Write your ideal Collection Development Policy.  It should include the following elements:

            A.   Philosophy or objectives of the collection

            B.   Selection criteria (may include these topics)

                        i.          Authenticity

                        ii.          Use

                        iii.         Content

                        iv.         Curricular uses

                        v.         Technical qualities

                        vi.         Relevance

                        vii.        Is the item worth the price?

                        ix.         is it significant?

                        Accompanying guides

            C.  Needs assessment instrument

            D.  Gifts

            E.  Weeding

            F.   Reconsideration of challenged material statement & policy

III. Weeding Report

Students will bring to class on September 12 three books, from any library, that are examples of why weeding is important. Due February 14: One short paragraph on each book explaining why it should no longer be in the collection. Students who do not work in libraries, or anyone who uses another library than his or her own for this assignment, should borrow the selected books.

IV.  Procedures manual

At the end of this class, your procedures manual should have collection and weeding policies, vertical file information, and budget information. Due for discussion February 14.

V.  Bibliography Project

Each student will create a list of 25 books or other materials that meet their library’s criteria for adding to the collection. This group of items must all be on a specific narrow subject or in a specific and narrow genre. If it is aligned to a particular curriculum standard for a particular grade or subject, it is even better!

For example:

Easy books about animals for grades K-3 (Life Science standards, K-3)

Mysteries with female protagonists

High Interest, Low Reading Level books for high school students reading at 5^th grade level.

Not acceptable examples:

Adventure stories (for whom?)

Books about antiques (Price guides? Museum catalogs? Art works? Popular works?)

This bibliography should be presented in a format that could be submitted for a grant or given to a community group as suggested purchases.

Follow the guidelines below for the desired grade:

Due:  February 14:  the above information presented on an Excel spreadsheet including prices and total cost.

Topics to be covered

Wednesday August 15  

            Overview

            Collection Development Policy

                        Request for Reconsideration

                        Curriculum Standards

                        Selection Criteria

            Mapping a Collection (Collection Assessment)

Monday August 20

        Overview of and sign up for work study units. Kathie Lewis            

        Selection of books

         Selection of audio-visual materials

         Selection of periodicals

Wednesday August 22  

            Selection Tools

            Weeding

Monday August 27

            Excel

Wednesday August 29  

            Budget development

            Ordering

            Vendors

            Inventory

Wednesday September 5

            Censorship (Intellectual Freedom)

Monday September 10 

            Publishing Industry

                        Categories

                        Process

                        Marketing

                        Customer Service

                        Wholesalers/Resellers

                        Remainders

                        Bindings

Wednesday September 12

            Due and open for discussion:

·         “Volunteer” time report

·         Weeding Report

·         Collection Development Policy for your school

·         Bibliography of 25 books to be added to your library

Procedures Manual update to include material on material selection, weeding, budget, ordering, etc.