Strategies
If you read this section we hope that you will gain a much clearer idea of what we are doing to develop our stock collections.
Every public library is designed to be comprehensive, so you should be re-assured that we will try to help you whatever your interests, but the balance of what people want, lifestyles and technology have had a huge impact and we need to reflect that.
Changing publishing patterns can have a negative affect on choice, but is outside our control. We know that some regular customers can become concerned at seeing fewer titles of the sort they used to like, but that is usually because they are simply not being published. It has always been true that recreational readers have had to adapt and find new authors and types of books. After all, every authors output is finite.
Stock changes
After speaking to many hundreds of library users it is odd to realise that many fail to realise the amount of books that naturally flow in and out of the library shelves. Space is finite and many thousands of titles have to be moved to store or withdrawn to make space for new items.
There are many reasons to withdraw a book including - age, condition, poorer than anticipated demand and use, etc. There are also the pressures to improve the physical condition of books - a rising priority as expectations rise.
The national press likes to refer to withdrawn library books with images of skips taking thousands of books away from customers. While withdrawals are an essential part of stock management, we would never even consider taking books away if they are being used (except to rebind or replace tem to improve physical condition)
We promise that we will not withdraw any item that is in demand and that we will provide for re-stocking any books that users need.
Since the first stage of computerisation was completed about a year ago, we have begun a radical re-evaluation and integration of stock
This process requires...
Further detailed assessment of stock – requiring many more withdrawals, the purchase of more part and complete sets, increased marketing, more rotation of titles, new special collections and more.
The development of integrated stock management and a system of regular review of stock (especially at the point of new orders). We are able to manage and develop the colelction as a whole and need to do that for the benefit of all users.
Full access to data from all possible sites, including extended customer interaction/reviews (website). Through e-mail, surveys and other means we are getting much more feedback from a wider range of users and non-users.
Integration with reader services and promotion is key to the changes and requires that we develop a more personal and direct relationship with users. We hope that "Have you read this" and "What do you need" will become more and more commonly heard between staff and customers.
A new staff team has been set up to co-ordinate the purchase of new stock and evaluate existing collections