During the Monarch Library System's Youth Services Meeting yesterday, the discussion focused on collection development in the age of COVID-19. Subtopics included weeding, overcrowded shelves, shifts in purchasing priorities, and collection development tools.While each library is unique, some common themes, questions, and solutions emerged. Here are the resources shared during our meeting. You'll notice that some of these weren't answered in depth and we welcome hearing from you if you have additional ideas or questions.
Background Reading
- Article--“Collection Development During COVID” by Abby Johnson
Weeding
Do it if you have time! If you don’t have time, don’t beat yourself up.
CONSIDER: Tips for finding time. Making it more efficient.
- Collection turnover and pruning less used collections
- Evaluating number of circs given time in the collection
Where to go with weeded books
Sell on Amazon
Sell with Better World Books
Outside the Box. https://outsidetheboxfamily.com/
Books on Bikes (Sheboygan)
Local Correctional Facility
How do you accommodate for skewed usage statistics because of decreased circulation, especially if your library has been closed?
Overcrowded shelves. How do you increase circulation and/or find more space?
Market your Collection!
Video: Now, More Than Ever, Your Library MUST Market the Collection! Here's Why, by Angela Hursh
CONSIDER: Tips for increasing circulation
Videos showcasing new books to your library
Book bundles
Book displays—choose areas that are overcrowded. Use book carts to fill with books.
See if a school/daycare/senior center would allow you to bring bags of books for the kids to check out at the school.
Doing curbside? Use flyer stuffers in bags to promote book bundles, personal shoppers, etc.
Reader’s Advisory brochures, bookmarks, online book lists....
CONSIDER: Tips for finding more space
Weed your collection
Workroom collection for duplicates or lesser used books
Book displays—choose areas that are overcrowded. Use book carts to fill with books.
Display books on the tops of shelves or ends of shelves—offers more space and increases circ.
Changing buying habits
With delays in book publishing and with decreased traffic through the library, you might be purchasing less new books.
CONSIDER: Besides newly-published books, what other materials have you purchased recently?
Tips for purchasing e-books. By Abby Johnson
Budget
CONSIDER: Tips for what to do when your budget is cut
Selection tools for collection development
Kirkus
Goodreads
School Library Journal
Growing Minds, a Baker & Taylor publication
Booklist
CCBC: Collaborative Children's Book Center
CAT’s Title Talk: https://cats.baker-taylor.com/
Barnes & Noble
BookPage
Leah Langby & Anne Hamland's Starred Reviews (this is a listserv email)
New York Times bestseller lists
Amazon bestseller lists
Ask your school teachers and librarians what is popular. What they need for their students.
Instagram & YouTube videos from authors & book influencers
Blogs such as Imagination Soup or Read Brightly
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