"The library should provide varied, authoritative and up-to-date resources that support its mission and the needs of its users."

from Standards for Libraries in Higher Education

Collection Development is the process whereby decisions are made concerning selection and evaluation of materials in collections of the University of Memphis Libraries, and it encompasses library resources in all available formats. The process is carried out by the cooperation of Library Liaisons (members of the faculty or staff of the University Libraries) and Departmental Library Representatives (faculty or staff from the teaching departments).

The Collection Development Department provides leadership for this process. It assigns and reviews Library Liaison responsibilities. It provides or arranges for training in collection development and the various resources within the collection. The Department works with the Dean of University Libraries to determine the annual distribution of collection development funds.

Working with the Acquisitions Librarian, the Collection Development Department sets the annual schedules for ordering deadlines, monitors spending and ensures funds are properly spent or encumbered by the established deadlines. Adjustments are made to departmental allocations as needed to ensure that funds are spent and needs are met.

The Collection Development Department leads in the planning and implementing of collection assessment. It works with Library Liaisons to assess specific sections of the collection and to also maintain an overall assessment. It also develops and maintains a mechanism whereby the Collection Development Program can be evaluated on a regular basis.

This page was last reviewed 08/09/2011
please send questions / comments / suggestions to
Kevin Merriman, Head of Collection Management