"Collection Development? Is that the new politically correct term for hoarders?"
That is a good one, but not quite. Without a collection development policy, a library could easily turn into a hoarding center.
According to Joan M. Reitz, author of the Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science, the definition of collection development is: "The process of planning and building a useful and balanced collection of library materials over a period of years, based on an ongoing assessment of the information needs of the library's clientele, analysis of usage statistics, and demographic projections, normally constrained by budgetary limitations. Collection development includes the formulation of selection criteria, planning for resource sharing, and replacement of lost and damaged items, as well as routine selection and deselection decisions."
Reitz also offers on the subject, "Large libraries and library systems may use an approval plan or blanket order plan to develop their collections. In small- and medium-sized libraries, collection development responsibilities are normally shared by all the librarians, based on their interests and subject specializations, usually under the overall guidance of a written collection development policy."
School of Library and Information Science (SLIS) course description for Collection Development (LIS 7340): http://slis.wayne.edu/cour
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