Collection Development for a New Century in the School Library Media Center

As the role of the school library media specialist continues to evolve, and dependence on technology increases, collection development for the school library media center becomes increasingly complex. Collection Development for a New Century in the School Library Media Center provides an overview of the issues and problems along with strategies for solutions. A complete list of collection development resources will aid the library school student, new librarian, and experienced librarian alike in building a collection that best meets the needs of their school in the 21st century.

Beginning with a discussion of collection development as both art and science, the author demonstrates how a collection should reflect the culture of the community that it serves. He advises school library media specialists on creating collection development policies, particularly with regard to protecting the collection from censorship, and presents strategies for balancing print and nonprint resources. He concludes with an individual examination of each of the major aspects of the collection (fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and biography), with suggestions for developing each. School library media specialists, using the principles outlined here, will be empowered in assisting both teachers and students with quality resources to support the school curricula.