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Collection Development and Materials Selection Policy
Youth Services Reference The Reference collection in the Youth Services Department consists primarily of sets of general encyclopedias and specialized sets, such as Lands and Peoples and science encyclopedias. Indices to children's songs and poetry, bibliographies and guides to children's literature, biographical sets of children's authors and illustrators are important components of the reference section. Influencing Factors The Reference collection primarily responds to the needs of the Youth Services Department's staff to have materials available to answer the informational and educational needs of their patrons - adult or child. Children and adults utilize this collection to find materials and answers to their questions. Some materials on children's literature, for example, are unique to the Reference collection in the Youth Services Department. In response to classroom assignments and other informational needs, a basic reference collection in a children's department should contain certain standard tools, such as the Guinness Book of World Records, World Almanac, animal encyclopedias, etc. Encyclopedias, with the exception of the most recent year in any set, circulate on short term loan. World Book has always been very popular with users, although The New Book of Knowledge has also become an important reference tool for children. Junior Britannica's articles are on a lower reading level and do not seem to be used as heavily. Biographical encyclopedias, such as Something About The Author, are frequently used by adults taking courses in children's literature. Because the focus of the Youth Services Department is generally limited to preschool through grade 6, all indices to science fair information are located in the Adult Reference Department. However, several sets which feature science projects in different areas have recently been purchased. Photocopying these experiments is encouraged by the publishers. The standard selection tools are used for the reference collection. In addition, publishers' sales representatives are regularly consulted to keep general and specialized encyclopedias current. The Adult Reference Department and the Youth Services Department alternate in ordering current encyclopedias. (If Children's has the 1990 World Book for instance, Adult will have 1991, and so on.) The specialized encyclopedias in science and other subjects should be regularly updated to maintain currency. As new general encyclopedias are added to the collection, the current reference volumes become circulating and the oldest year in the circulating collection is withdrawn and put in the book sale. Statistical compendiums, supplements to existing standard guides to children's literature and authors, and indices to children's poetry and songs will be regularly added to the reference collection. Areas that need new titles or additional titles include the following: space/aviation encyclopedias and dictionaries, timetables of history/chronologies, newer sets or individual titles dealing with animals, newer books dealing with American history, titles that detail daily life in other eras, titles dealing with aquarium fish -- tropical and fresh-water, etc. |
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