ETL503 - Selection

I really identified with the summary of the collection development evaluation techniques provided by Latham and Poe “quality of content, ability to meet the need of the curriculum, relevancy, accuracy, availability in other and/or better sources and price.” And I consider this a good guideline for the selection process.

            So who selects? I think all stakeholders should have a say, especially in schools where different KLA’s have different needs. However, if the budget is in the hands of the librarian then the final decision should also fall with them.

            I think the diminishment of print is a result of the ‘post-literate’ society in which we now apparently live. Personally, I would want a combination of all three areas suggested by Arthur. I need print but realise that today’s learners are more comfortable with digital media.

            Moody discusses the idea of when selection (or non-selection) becomes censorship. Obviously not everything can be selected, but then the question becomes ‘what influences what is selected or not selected?’ And if it is a whisper in the ear, or fear of a community backlash, or a personal distaste for the particular material that influences the choice, then it is censorship. It’s not as if librarians deliberately choose texts that are going to offend or provide points of conflict. It is important that the librarian “defends and promotes intellectual freedom” (IFLA) and gives “unrestricted access to information and ideas” (ALIA). I agree that all issues, and all sides of those issues, need to be represented in libraries. And if an individual or group does not like it then they don’t need to borrow those resources. I think a librarian really needs to be aware of these threats to liberty. It seems very easy to fall into covert or unconscious forms of censorship.

            I guess overall selection needs to be diverse. Diverse materials, from diverse sources, to meet the needs of a diverse community.

The pressure of choosing these resources makes selection a very important part of the librarians job. Despite this immense responsibility, I think it could also be the most fun part too.