Building a Community-Centric Library: The Role of Effective Collection Development
Providing a balanced collection is a strategic effort to meet the evolving needs of your community and ensure that what's on the shelves is actually being used. This article explores why achieving this balance is crucial for libraries and how using data can pave the way for a more responsive and tailored collection that will increase circulation.
Connecting with Your Community
A balanced collection is the cornerstone of a community-centric library. It’s about creating an environment where every patron feels a sense of belonging. The goal is to tailor your collection to the unique needs of the community you serve, making patrons feel that the library was designed with them in mind by providing the resources they want.
Maximizing Resources
A key advantage to maintaining a balanced collection is optimizing the use of budget and staff time. We know that budgeting for a public library’s collection is a huge challenge and every dollar counts. We also know that staff time is valuable and should be spent where it will have the biggest impact. By providing materials that are actively being used, librarians can ensure their time is being used where it’s needed most and the budget is spent on materials that truly resonate with patrons and are used by the community.
Data-Driven Decision Making
Providing a balanced collection begins with data. Utilize circulation data in your ILS to identify what’s popular and what’s not circulating as well. Analyze trends in your community - do certain collections or topics experience higher demand at specific branches? Does one branch experience higher holds for a specific genre? Data can help identify gaps in the collection, allowing for informed decisions and redistribution of materials to meet demand and provide what patrons need at the point of need.
Achieving Balance
While the task may seem daunting, librarians with their inherent love for research and dedication to providing answers, already have the skills needed to curate a balanced collection. By leveraging their expertise, librarians can actively investigate circulation data, track trends, and make informed decisions that align with the needs of their community.
A balanced collection is a library’s testament and commitment to the community it serves. Through data-driven decision-making, librarians can ensure their collection remains vibrant, relevant, and tailored to the evolving needs of their community.
But if doing comprehensive data analysis seems completely unrealistic due to a lack of time or resources, we get it. That’s why we created an analytics platform that makes it easy to understand your library’s data. The LibraryIQ Platform is a one-of-a-kind tool that integrates data from your ILS and translates it into consumable, actionable insights. The Platform’s newest feature - CollectionIQ Balance - guides you on how to manage your collection by identifying areas of the collection that are in demand, missing, or in need of replacement or expansion.