Collection Development Plan

Do you have a School Library Plan? Does it include a collection development section explaining how you choose resources for your school library? Now would be a great time to create one if you don’t already have one. Do you have new school librarians in your district? At your next meeting, ask them if they need any help with this. Here are some things to get you started.

Resources

School Library Collection Criteria from ALA

The Representation of Social Groups in U. S. Educational Materials and Why it Matters, A Research Overview, Amanda LaTasha Armstrong

Standards for Selecting Materials for Classroom Collections and School Libraries An Addendum to the NYC DOE Collection Development Policy

Can Diverse Books Save Us? In a divided world, librarians are on a mission. School Library Journal, 2018

University of Maryland University Libraries Collection Development Policies

Frederick Douglass High School Media Center Collection Development Policy (thank you, Kelli Reno)

JCPS Selection of Instructional Materials 2023

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence… I’m still unsure about much of it, but it can be a tool to help you with the blank screen of your library plan you are looking at. Here are some examples:

ChatGPT4

Prompt: I'm a school librarian and need to create a collection development plan that includes selection and deselection criteria. Help me with a plan and outline for this document?

Response: (with a few edits from me)

Creating a collection development plan for a school library is a critical process that ensures the library's resources are current, relevant, and supportive of the school's educational goals. Here's a comprehensive outline for your plan, including both selection and deselection criteria:

### Collection Development Plan Outline

1. **Introduction**

   - Purpose of the plan

   - Scope of the collection (age groups, subjects, formats)

   - Alignment with the school’s curriculum and educational goals

2. **Responsibility for Selection**

   - Designation of who will be responsible (librarian, committee, etc.)

   - Involvement of teachers, students, and other stakeholders in the process

3. **Selection Criteria**

   - **Relevance to Curriculum:** Support of specific subjects and courses

   - **Age Developmental Appropriateness:** Suitability for the age and developmental level of students

   - **Diversity and Inclusion:** Representation of diverse cultures, perspectives, and authors

   - **Accuracy and Currency:** Up-to-date and factually correct material

   - **Literary and Artistic Merit:** Quality of writing, illustrations, and production

   - **Demand and Popularity:** Student interests and popular topics

   - **Format and Accessibility:** Availability in various formats (print, digital, audio)

   - **Budget Considerations:** Cost-effectiveness and funding availability

   - **Reviews and Recommendations:** Use of professional reviews and awards

4. **Deselection (Weeding) Criteria**

   - **Physical Condition:** Removal of damaged or worn items

   - **Currency of Information:** Weeding out-of-date or misleading materials

   - **Circulation Statistics:** Low usage or lack of interest over a period

   - **Relevance:** Alignment with current curriculum and student needs

   - **Duplication:** Removal of unnecessary duplicates

   - **Space Constraints:** Management of physical space in the library

5. **Special Collections and Resources**

   - Development of collections that support specific school programs, initiatives, or school/district mission/vision

   - Inclusion of digital resources and online databases made available on the school/school library website

6. **Challenged Materials**

   - Policy on handling challenges to materials by parents or community members

   - Review process for contested items

7. **Acquisition Procedures**

   - Process for selecting and acquiring new materials

   - Vendor selection and relations

   - Budget management and allocation

8. **Collaboration and Outreach**

   - Engagement with teachers, students, and community

   - Feedback mechanisms for suggestions and requests

9. **Evaluation and Assessment**

   - Regular review of the collection's effectiveness and alignment with goals

   - Metrics for evaluating usage and impact

10. **Policy Review and Updates**

- Schedule for regular review and update of the collection development plan

- Adaptation to changing educational needs and technological advancements

### Additional Considerations

- **Professional Development:** Stay informed about new literature, educational trends, and library management techniques.

- **Sustainability:** Consider environmental impact in procurement and disposal of materials.

- **Legal and Ethical Considerations:** Adherence to copyright laws and ethical guidelines in collection management.

This plan should serve as a living document, adaptable to changes in your school's curriculum, student interests, and educational trends. Regular review and stakeholder parties of interest input are essential to ensure the library remains a dynamic and relevant resource for the school community.

Claude2 AI

Here is another example from AI: Claude2 using the same prompt:

Here is an outline for a collection development plan for a school library that includes selection and deselection criteria:

# Collection Development Plan

## Selection Criteria

- Alignment with curriculum and learning standards

- Appeal to students' interests and needs

- Literary and artistic merit 

- Accuracy and timeliness of information

- Contribution to diversity and inclusion

- Format, durability, and ease of use

- Budget and cost

## Selection Sources

- Recommendations from teachers, students, parents

- Reviews from professional journals

- Award winners and bestseller lists

- Vendor catalogs and websites 

## Deselection Criteria

- Poor physical condition

- Outdated or inaccurate information

- Low circulation and use

- Availability elsewhere including digitally

- Outside scope of curriculum and standards

## Deselection Process

- Physical inspection of collection

- Circulation reports to identify unused materials

- Teacher and student input

- Comparison to curriculum and standards

- Withdrawal and disposal procedures

## Challenges to Materials

- Policy and process for concerned stakeholders to contest materials

- Committee formed to review contested materials

- Committee issues ruling on whether material should be removed

- Appeal process

Let me know if you would like me to expand on any part of this outline. I'm happy to provide more details on specific sections.

Then… if you need it, you can ask the AI to expand on details for one of those sections. For example…

Prompt: Could you give more details on the "Selection Sources" section?

Response:

Here are some additional details for the Selection Sources section:

### Recommendations from teachers, students, parents

- Send out forms for teachers to recommend materials tied to curriculum units, learning standards, and student interests

- Survey students annually to get suggestions for books, magazines, databases etc. they would like to see in the library

- Provide a suggestion box for ongoing recommendations from parents and caregivers

### Reviews from professional journals

- Consult journals like School Library Journal, Booklist, and Horn Book Magazine that specialize in reviewing children's and YA literature

- Read professional review sources to identify highly rated materials in different genres and formats

### Award winners and bestseller lists

- Consider major book awards like Newbery, Caldecott, Coretta Scott King Awards when selecting titles

- Refer to annual best books lists from ALA, AASL, state library associations

- Purchase bestselling titles for teens and tweens based on lists like the NYT Bestsellers

### Vendor catalogs and websites

- Review catalogs and websites from vendors like Follett, Mackin, and Perma-Bound who specialize in library materials

- Use vendors' selection tools and librarian reviews to identify well-rated materials

- Take advantage of approval plans and discounted packages vendors offer