Guidelines for selecting items to add to a collection based on factors such as relevance, quality, and demand.
Collection development policy: The principles and guidelines used to build and maintain a library or museum collection.
Needs assessment: The process of determining what types of materials are needed in the collection based on user demographics and users' information needs.
Format selection: The process of choosing the most appropriate medium (i.e. print, digital, audio, video, etc.) for a particular type of material.
Acquisitions budget: The allocation of funds necessary to purchase new materials for the collection.
Vendor selection: The process of choosing vendors who can provide materials that fit the collection development policy.
Collection analysis: The process of analyzing the collection to ensure that it is meeting the needs of users and is consistent with the collection development policy.
Access and circulation: The policies and procedures that govern the circulation of materials, including loan periods, renewals, holds, and fines.
Collection evaluation: The process of assessing the value and usefulness of materials in a collection, and determining whether they should be retained, removed, or replaced.
Intellectual freedom: The principles that govern the provision of materials that reflect a wide range of views and opinions.
Copyright: The legal framework governing the use and reproduction of copyrighted materials.
Collection development in digital environments: The policies and procedures used to build and maintain collections of electronic resources.
Collaboration and consortia: The joint initiatives and agreements that allow libraries and museums to pool resources and acquire materials jointly.
Relevance: The degree to which a resource fits the needs and interests of the target audience.
Appropriateness: The degree to which a resource aligns with the mission, goals, and policies of the institution.
Currency: The degree to which a resource presents current and up-to-date information in the field.
Authority: The credibility and expertise of the author, publisher, or source of the resource.
Accuracy: The degree to which the resource contains reliable and error-free information.
Objectivity: The degree to which the resource presents a balanced and unbiased perspective.
Scope: The extent of the coverage and depth of the content provided in a resource.
Availability: The ease of access and availability of the resource.
Cost: The budgetary constraints and cost-effectiveness of acquiring the resource.
Format: The medium and format in which the resource is presented, such as print, electronic, or audiovisual.
Audience: The target audience or user group for which the resource is intended.
Language: The suitability of the language used in the resource for the target audience.
Cultural sensitivity: The degree to which the resource is sensitive to the cultural, linguistic, and social diversity of the target audience.
Intellectual freedom: The degree to which the resource supports the principles of intellectual freedom and open access to information.