Clearinghouse of Professional Information

Collection Development Resources

This section includes links to various electronic collection development resources, and it has been expanded to include links that support a number of EXCEL courses. See also Développement des collections et ressources littéraires for a more in-depth coverage of French language collection development resources and literature and fiction sites. Most lists of recommended books and lists by genres will be found on the pages entitled Public Services Resources and Readers' Advisory Resources and on the page entitled Literature and Fiction Resources.

SOLS services in this area are described on Information, Advice and Specialized Assistance page. SOLS consultant Helene Golden is available for advice by telephone or in person and can also be reached by e-mail at

OLS-North provides assistance with Collection Development within its general advisory services. Further information is available on the OLS-North web site assistance contact Steven Kraus at


Topics include

General Resources | Canadian materials selection tools  | Collection Evaluation | Collection PlansCollection Policies | Core Collections | Genres | Developing Internet Resources | Developing Multicultural Collections | E-books | Professional Journals | Reviews | Vendors | Verification Tools | Weeding
 

indicates an item written by SOLS staff

indicates an item written by OLS-North staff

Clicking on certain topics will open a new window, if the link is to a topic included in an other Clearinghouse page

General Resources
  • Book Reporter.com  - A searchable site that offers book reviews, reading club resources, lists of award winners, books to movies, and more.
  • BookWire The book industry's most comprehensive and thorough online information source. BookWire's content includes timely book industry news, features, reviews, guides to literary events, author interviews, thousands of annotated links to book-related sites, and more.
  • Collection Development Training for Arizona Public Libraries (Arizona Department of Library, Archives and Public Records) provides practical training in how to perform collection development activities especially in small and rural public libraries.
  • Planning Shifts of Library Collections (University of Oregon Libraries)
  • Publishers Catalogues
  • SELECTION-L (listserv) This list is intended for central selectors of materials in libraries. Here you can discuss best practices, latest trends, useful tools, give guidance to those new to centralized selection, and provide a sounding board.
  • 10 Websites for Book Lovers
Canadian materials selection tools
  • Canadian Children's Book Centre Encouraging, promoting and supporting the reading, writing, illustrating and publishing of Canadian books for young readers. The CCBC is a treasure-trove for anyone interested in Canadian books for young readers. Our programs, publications, and resources help teachers, librarians, booksellers and parents select the very best for young readers.
  • Canadian Fiction  By Sharron Smith
  • Library Bound Canadian library wholesaler of print and audio -visual (A/V) material including video, music, books on tape. They have great lists available, and will work with a library to build up an area.
  • Quill and Quire Canada's Magazine of Book News and Reviews
Collection Evaluation
  • Analyzing the Viability of Using Peer Group Holdings as an Evaluation Tool for Public Library Adult Fiction OCLC (1996) "The purpose of the study was: to contribute to the understanding of the nature of adult fiction collections in public libraries; to provide further insight into the nature of a "classic" work of fiction; and to clarify the potential utility of an OCLC generated list of adult fiction classics for public library collection evaluation."
  • Collection assessment using prescribed lists of titles: A case study (.pdf)  By Peter Abbott and Peggy Malcolm, Southern Ontario Library Service, December 2004
  • Library Service Centre. Analyzing Canadian Library Purchasing Power for Books and Materials. 1999 report analyzed the cost of books and materials for libraries that purchased material through LSC. The 2001 revision provided actual figures for 1999, 2000, and 2001. Based on these actual figures, projections for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004 were provided. The 2002 Revision provides actual figures for 2002 and projections for 2003. The 2003 Summary has now been added. Read the 2004 Revision. AND 2006 revision
  • Evaluating Public Library Fiction Collections: Is There a Core List of Classics? "This project used the (1997) OCLC Online Union Catalog (OLUC) of more than 30 million records to examine the nature and predictability of adult fiction classics in public library collections. The study identified those adult fiction book titles most widely held by public libraries whose holdings are represented in the OLUC. These approximately 400 titles were then analyzed to assess their general nature, to determine whether their presence would have been predicted by key recommended and best seller lists, and to explore the feasibility of using such a listing as part of a collection evaluation methodology."
Collection Plans
  • A Guide to Developing a Collection Plan.  December 2009, 102 pages.  (Library Development Guide # 6)  This guide will take you through the steps involved in the development of a collection plan, with examples and background information. 
Collection Policies
Core collections
  • 100 Best Books (The Telegraph UK) From classics and sci-fi to poetry, biographies and books that changed the world…  the ultimate reading list
  • Best Books for Children (Children's Literature Web Guide. Univ. of Calgary)   A Roundup of Annual Book Lists Published on the Web
  • Corecollections.net (H.R. Wilson) Includes best Lists, Editors' picks, etc. Contributions by librarians to the lists on this site.
  • Développement des collections et ressources littéraires   Liste de liens choisis par le SBO
  • Federal Publication Locator Service Provides you access to: Bibliographic records of Canadian federal government publications in the National Library of Canada Catalogue (a subset of the AMICUS database); Canadian library locations information for titles held in the National Library Catalogue; access to electronic Canadian Federal Government Publications.
  • French Collections and Services for Adults and Children (TPL) "The special role the French language plays in Canadian heritage and contemporary life as one of Canada's official languages is reflected in Toronto Public Library's collections and services. The library holds more than 162,000 French items, including books, newspapers, magazines, CDs and videos. Ten large circulating collections."
  • Graphic Novels Core Collection (H.R. Wilson)
  • MLS Public Core Reference List  (Metropolitan Library System, Illinois) Up until the 2003 6th edition, The Core List as a whole has been revised periodically. However, now that the list is no longer primarily a print document, the Metropolitan Library System Reference Advisory Committee, on the recommendation of the Task Force to Revise the Public Library Core List, has decided to revise the list by section, on a rotating basis. (previously the Suburban Library System or SLS)
  • Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12. National Science Teachers Association. The books that appear in these lists were selected as outstanding children's science trade books. They were selected by a book review panel appointed by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and assembled in cooperation with the Children's Book Council (CBC)
  • PIKA Canadian Children's Literature Database. "This database provides a unique window on Canadian children's literature. Contained in the database are records for all children's books held in the National Library's Canadian Children's Literature Service Collection-- over 35000 titles. The collection contains Canadian children's books in English, French and other languages, dating from the 19th century to the present day. Records for recent titles have been enriched by the addition of summaries and age levels, which have been generously provided by The Canadian Children's Book Centre and Communication-Jeunesse. And for the first time, we have also begun adding subject headings to fiction titles, beginning with the most recent, in order to provide improved access to Canadian children's fiction. The database will be updated on an ongoing basis as new children's literature titles are added to the collection."
E-books
Developing Internet Resources
Developing Multicultural Collections
Reviews - Books and Multimedia
Vendors
  • The Beguiling Specializes in graphic novels
  • The Book Depository (UK) Founded in 2004 with the aim of making "All books available to All" through pioneering supply chain initiatives, republishing and digitizing of content. Free shipping worldwide.
  • Library Bound
  • Library Services Centre (LSC)
  • Micromedia Proquest "Canada's leading publisher and distributor of proprietary and third-party financial, bibliographic, and directory database products for the corporate and library markets."
  • Lists of jobbers, vendors and distributors of  other language materials in Canada. Multilingual Resources and  Services Toolkit. Library and Archives Canada
  • National Book Service
  • Provincial Publications There is no central location at which one may obtain documents from all provincial governments. Those wishing to acquire provincial publications must contact the government bookstore in each individual province or territory. This site provides addresses, telephone numbers and website links for each provincial outlet.
  • S & B Books
  • Theytus Widely recognized in North America and internationally as the Oldest Indigenous Publishing House in Canada, Theytus is respected for its efforts in producing and promoting appropriate reading material and information created by Indigenous authors, illustrators and artists. Theytus strives to ensure that the Indigenous Voice and Vision is expressed in the highest level of cultural authenticity and integrity.
  • Tinlids (children's materials)
Verification Tools
Verify used books
Weeding
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