Collection-Conspectus-5-2-24

Sep 2, 2026

Collection Conspectus guidelines outline how to build and maintain library holdings across multiple subject areas, defining collecting priorities, selection sources, and weeding timelines. The material specifies when to buy additional copies, how to respond to holds and demand, and how to replace damaged or worn titles. It also sets space-related weeding practices, including removing low-circulation items after defined periods. Additional instructions emphasize updating classics, targeting high-loss areas, and balancing genres and diverse author perspectives.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages76

Reading Time3 h 12 min

AccessFree to download

Collecting Guidelines

Selection and Weeding by Major Subclasses

Action Items and Space Management

| Major
Subclasses | Collecting Guidelines | Selection Sources | Weeding Guidelines | Action Items | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Class as a whole | Buy multiple leased copies of items in heavy demand.
Regularly purchase attractive new editions of classics or habitually missing or billed books.
Follow MHLS Resource Sharing guidelines--at least one copy for every seven reserves. | Booklist, LJ, PW, NYT, local newspapers, popular media. Online sourcesAmazon, TS3 .
Goodreads Various bestseller
lists Bibliographies Patron suggestions BookLetters MHLS High Demand
Holds | Refer to Crew Manual for general guidelines.
Weed classics by condition, weed pop fiction when demand subsides, replace worn items still in demand
Generally, weed items with no circs in 3 yrs
Weeding must be frequent to keep up with space constraints | Continue to weed as space is limited and we buy fiction heavily.
Buy more urban fiction to meet demand. Genre subject to heavy losses.
Focus on books by authors from diverse backgroundsand points of view. | | Mysteries Mys | Declining popularity however replace/buy popular authors if possible. | Same as standard Fiction | By condition No circs in 3 yrs | | | Science
Fiction Sci Fic | Monitor very popular author/series and buy if MHLS demand warrants. | Same as standard fiction | By condition No circs in 3 yrs | | | Bestsellers | Purchase multiple copies. Buy new copy for every 7
holds Buy everything on NYT
bestseller lists Purchase materials
through the WOW program | Pre-Pub lists in LJ and Booklist MHLS High Demand
Holds Media
Patron suggestions Amazon best seller
lists | Books will rotate out of
this classification as they fall off the list and are replaced with newer titles. | Display on New book shelf. After 6 months move to regular fiction. Review demand and discard most duplicates. | | Graphic Novel GN | Collect Diverse Titles | PW, Booklist, All Flying No Tights, LinkCat Monthly Lists, Comics Worth Reading, Etc... | Weed by usage and condition, no circs in 3 years. | Add Shelf Space for Growing ADR Collection | | eBooks | Collect popular, in demand fiction | Many materials preselected in bundle subscriptions, eg. Overdrive or Hoopla. Individual titles considered by demand. | | | | Major
Subclasses | Collecting Guidelines | Selection Sources | Weeding Guidelines | Action Items | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Class as whole | Small collection, except for computer & technology books | Standard review
sources Publishers' Catalogs Amazon, B&N
PW, LJ | Check at 3-5 yrs
Only titles of continuing interest, or historical significance, should be kept more than 10 yrs | | | Computers 004-006 | Collect for beginning through advanced users
Concentrate on operating systems, office applications, databases, Internet, programming
Very high circulation and very high turnover rate. Collect heavily. | TAB, Prima, Que, Microsoft Press, O'Reilly, IDG, SAMS, Sybex, Osbourne, Waite, Peachpit, Wiley
Computer best-seller lists
Known series | Consider for weeding after 3 yrs. Keep titleson programs still inuse.
Internet titles-two yrs Most titles weeded after
5 yrs. | | | Library
Science
020-029 | Especially titles for public libraries
Some desk copies
Support for the Professional collection for Mid-Hudson Library System member libraries as part of Central Library role. | LJ, Scarecrow Press, Neal Schumann, ALA Press | Most title weeded after 10 yrs | | | General Encyclopedias 030 | Internet has reduced importance of general encyclopedias–No new purchase of print encyclopedias | | Only keep a couple of sets. Do not retain for more than 5 years; preferably 3 years maximum. Make most circulating. | | | Journalism 070 | Collect popular, general interest, particularly in support of writers. Some media history should be retained | Standard review sources. | Agent directories should be no more than 3 years old. | | | Major

FAQs

What principles guide purchases when overall demand is high?

Purchase multiple copies of items in heavy demand and regularly add attractive new editions of classics or frequently missing/billed titles, following resource-sharing rules for reserve coverage.

How are weeding decisions typically handled for library materials?

Weeding is performed frequently to manage space constraints, with general rules such as weeding items with no circulations over a set period (e.g., 3 years) and retaining titles by ongoing interest, condition, or historical significance.

What is the approach for technology and computer-related collections?

Collections focus on operating systems, office applications, databases, internet, and programming for users ranging from beginning to advanced, with heavier collecting for high circulation and turnover and consideration for weeding after a few years depending on ongoing program use.

Sep 2, 2026

Uploaded by River Wang