Southern Ontario Library Service

EXCEL: A certificate programme in managing a small public library

E14-Non-book materials

ASSIGNMENT 4

Submit this assignment to your tutor by the date given on the schedule accompanying this course. The topic for this is building or expanding a music collection, but it differs from Assignment 3 in its focus.

Note that you will be answering either questions 1, 2 and 3 OR questions 1, 2 and 4.

Be sure to put your name on each page of the assignment and to keep a copy.

1. Using the questionnaire on page 3 of this module as a guide, ask 10 library users and 3 non-users about their interests in music and the availability of equipment. Record this information in your report.
    
2. Find out what is the nearest retail source of audiorecordings (it might be as close as across the street or as far away as 400 km!). Record this information in your report.
    
3. If you already have a music collection in your library, write a one page description of your music collection.

   Be sure to:

   • state the types of music presently in the collection
   • compare the results of your “informal” survey in question 1 with your present collection. Defend your choices for types of music in the collection.
   • state how musical recordings are presently selected and acquired for your collection
   • based on what you know, select 10 new music recordings for your collection

   Finally, comment on whether you think the collection has been successful and what could be done to improve both the content and the promotion of the collection.
    

4. If you do not have a music collection in your library, write a one page description of how a music collection would be developed in your library.

                Be sure to:

• include information on how the idea of a music collection would be presented to the board

• include information on the types of music which would be collected and in which formats. Defend your choices.
• describe selection tools and acquisition sources which would be available to you
• based on what you know, select 10 new music recordings for your collection
  

Finally, describe how you would promote your new collection to the Board, to the staff and to the community (library user and non-users)

*End*
Revised 2007