Collection Management (Library Learning)

Suggested resources to help librarians prepare and respond to challenges.

“Library collections exist to meet the diverse lifelong learning needs of their users and communities. Laws and policies guide practice. Efficient workflows and practices help provide organized and expedient access to users.” (Competency Index for the Library Field, pg. 14)

800# Interlibrary Loan and Reference Support Service
AkLA 2017: Crowdsourcing Your Special Collection
Harness the power of the Zooniverse to analyze photos/texts in your collections - classify, count subjects of interest, etc.
Catalogers Reference Shelf (CRS)
The Catalogers Reference Shelf is a one-stop reference resource for catalogers and technical service staff, providing access to 21 MARC manuals and other reference works published by The Library of Congress.
Cataloging, ILL and Automation Resources
CREW: A Weeding Manual for Modern Libraries
Shelving with Dewey
WebJunction "provides a great introduction for any library staff, assistants or volunteer needing to learn how to shelve items by the Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) system." You will need to create a username and password to access the course. WebJunction online courses are free to all library workers.
Simple Book Repair Manual
"The web version of the Simple Book Repair Manual was created by members of Preservation Services, Dartmouth College Library. Copyright 1996 the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for copying and redistribution as long as this copyright notice is included."

Webinars

Public Librarians’ Chat: Updating Your Collection Development Policy [YouTube, 52 min]
February 17, 2022 Is updating your library's collection development policy getting you down? Does your collection development policy need to be revised to reflect new formats and service delivery models? During this chat, we will share information on why it is essential for your library to have an update collection policy, review elements to include in your CD policy, and some helpful resources.
Supplemental Materials:
Public Librarians’ Chat: Alaska Literature for Children [YouTube, 59 min]
December 12, 2019 During this webinar, Sue Sherif (retired librarian and Alaskan literature lover) and Katy Spangler, Ph.D., (Professor of Education, University of Alaska Southeast) shared resources and tips for selecting age appropriate, culturally sensitive and highly recommended books about Alaska for youth.
ASL | Public Librarians' Chat, TinyCat ILS [YouTube, 38 min]
October 20, 2016 An introduction to the TinyCat interface that transforms LibraryThing into an OPAC. Webinar presented by Kristi Kennedy of LibraryThing to Alaska librarians via WebEx. Please note: audio from the librarians is not available in this video.
Public Library Chat June 2016: Every Story Matters [YouTube, 43 min]
June 14, 2016 This chat focused on Juneau Public Library's StoryCorps Project, Every Voice Matters: Recording and Sharing Alaska Native Educational Experiences. Our guest speakers were Andrea Hirsch, Electronic Services & Outreach Librarian for the Juneau Public Library, and Beth Weigel, Programming and Events Coordinator for the Juneau Public Library.
Archiving 101: Alaska State Library Public Library Chat [YouTube, 65 min]
February 16, 2016 Archiving 101: What to do when you discover that cache of historical papers, letters or photographs in your library collection. Our guest presenter was Larry Hibpshman. Prior to his retirement, Larry was the Senior Archivist for the Alaska State Archives. During this webinar he provided information on statewide archival resources, training opportunities, funding sources, how to arrange and describe your collection, important conservation and preservation tips and much more!
Supplemental Materials:
Public Librarians' Monthly Chat 21 Nov 2015: Collection Development, Reader’s Advisory & Novelist [YouTube, 43 min]
November 21, 2015 We shared tips, resources and strategies that will help you build a library collection that continually excites, surprises and delights your community. Also, we shared some freely available resources that will help move you from being a RA newbie to an RA expert!
Supplementary Materials:
- Chat 21 Slides [PDF]
ASL: Public Library Chat #15, When Library Materials Are Challenged [YouTube, 34 min]
April 21, 2015 Guest presenter Kristin Pekoll, Assistant Director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, begins the chat with a brief discussion on what to do when your library receives a challenge to library materials.
Supplementary Materials:
- Office for Intellectual Freedom
ASL: Public Library Chat #14, Selecting children's literature depicting Native experiences [YouTube, 62 min]
March 17, 2015 Guest presenter Sorrel Goodwin from the Alaska State Library Historical Collections educates librarians on how to select children's literature that accurately depicts Native experiences.
Supplementary Materials:
- Raven Goes Mainstream? [PDF] - The Challenges of Transference and Translation of Northwest Coast Indigenous Oral Traditions to Modern Children's Literature