1. Collection Management: getting it right Debby Shorley Librarian University of Sussex

2. What is a collection development policy?  a clear statement explaining what the library collects, and why  it must reflect the mission of the library  it must be capable of change  it must work

3. Building a collection development policy  involve all stakeholders from the start  agree the purpose of the library collection e.g. to support research/training  how can the collection best do this e.g. journals vs books, electronic vs paper

4. Involving the stakeholders  why? - your library needs their support  who? - teachers, researchers, administrators  teachers - to make sure you have the resources to support their teaching  researchers - need prompt access to all material to do their work  administrators - must be certain you are spending the university’s money wisely

5. How?  establish a working group  set a deadline for the publication of the policy  ensure the whole institution has the chance to contribute to the process

6. Key decisions to make  subject coverage  balance between journals and books  balance between paper and electronic  disposal policy  gift acceptance

7. Publish collection development policy  publicise it widely  use it to inform all decisions  review it regularly

8. University Library Debby Shorley Librarian University of Sussex D.C.Shorley@sussex.ac.uk www.sussex.ac.uk/library