Sometimes I get the question, "How do you decide what things to add to the library collection?" This is an excellent question!
The library is fortunate enough to have a decent acquisitions budget to spend every year. This money can be spent on things like online databases, e-books, hardcover books, music CDs, DVDs, etc. Taking popular taste and trends into account is high on my priority list when adding materials to the library. There is a list of over 120 authors whose works we automatically receive upon publication. These include people like James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Catherine Coulter, Nora Roberts...the biggies. This helps ensure that we don't miss anything people would want.
I also try to make sure we aren't missing volumes in series, as it can be frustrating to realize you started in the middle, or you are half-way through a long series and suddenly have to stop. There are a lot of series, and going over them all is a constant project!
With movies and music, I check weekly to see what has been announced as upcoming, and make sure we have those things ordered which I know will be in-demand. I also enjoy digging deeper and broadening the collection with classic and foreign movies that people may not be familiar with.
I consult critical reviews and opinions when making decisions on what to purchase. However, high demand for an item plays a very important factor, as well!
I welcome any and all suggestions for materials to add to the library collection. These suggestions can be made totally anonymously if desired, and left in our "comments/suggestions" box located just inside the library entrance. I check the box every few days, and give every single suggestion thought, and try to order all that I can.
Adding materials to the collection is a large and very enjoyable part of my job, and my goal is to create a diverse and well-rounded library for Berryville.
Mark
Library Director
