Methods
Supplier Selection is used for a large proportion of our fiction and non-fiction stock. The contracted main supplier selects new stock for our network, using very specific criteria in conjunction with community profiles for each library. The selections are created monthly online, and are then viewed and edited, if required, by Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Library Services’ staff, before orders are confirmed. This allows us to exploit suppliers’ expertise and knowledge of the publishing industry, whilst ensuring that our criteria for selection are adhered to and that staff involvement in stock selection processes are time and cost effective. Staff have a monitoring role to ensure that the right balance of stock is achieved within their respective areas.
Titles short-listed for major book awards are supplied on standing order.
Supplier selection is supplemented by:
- purchases from stockists of specialist material
- stock selected by staff from a variety of suppliers to address identified stock gaps or to
- develop new collections to meet identified need
- stock purchased to satisfy requests
- standing orders for annual / reference materials
- stock selected from as a result of staff and customer feedback
An increasing number of resources are available online. The great benefit of this is the currency of information and wider access for library members. Subscription and license costs vary greatly so the usage of our digital resources is monitored to ensure that value for money is achieved.
Responsibility
Co-ordination of the selection and management of stock within each of the six operational areas rests with the designated staff with responsibility for stock.
The Library Development Officers take a countywide overview of, and co-ordinate stock development and purchase, in line with agreed objectives and priorities, and constantly review coverage, range and quality. Overall responsibility lies with the Corporate Lead for the Library Service.
In selecting and managing our stock, we draw on the widest range of expertise to make use of specialist subject knowledge in order to avoid subjectivity, and to reflect the broad range of community needs. Where appropriate, we also draw upon the specialist skills and knowledge of members of the wider community, including statutory and third sector agencies with whom we work in partnership on a range of projects.
Criteria
Decisions on stock selection consider the following range of criteria and assessments:
Quality and presentation
Is it appropriate for library use in size, shape, binding style? Is the binding sufficiently durable? Is the paper quality and print appropriate for the intended readership? Is the cover attractive? Are there any loose attachments such as maps? Is the author well regarded in the field? Does the publisher have an established reputation in the field? Is the book a new edition or revision of a standard work?
Content
Is the information accurate and current? At what level of readership is it aimed? Do the contents page, index and layout make it easy to use? Are illustrations, tables or diagrams appropriately placed and helpful? Is there a bibliography? Do reference works include full bibliographical details?
Relevance, scope, range, and coverage
What contribution will it make to existing stock? How does it compare with other material available on subject? Is it part of a series? Are earlier volumes in the series in stock? Is it replacing, updating or enhancing existing stock? Will it meet the needs of existing and potential users?
Popularity
Have there been requests or stock suggestions for the title/subject? Is there curricula demand/ does it appear on reading lists? Does it have topical or seasonal demand? Note: whilst the likely popularity of the title is important, so too is having stock available to meet the more obscure enquiries.
Potential use and value for money
Will it provide the required stock balance in the intended location and across the network as a whole? Is it expensive in relation to similar items or in relation to its expected usage and lifespan? Is it available in other formats (eg paperback, or digital) offering better value for money?
Local interest
In addition to all other stated criteria, is the item locally relevant? (See also Local Studies materials)
Ethnicity
Do we have material to meet the needs of our changing communities? (See also Access for all: equality and diversity)
Rights
Do UK rights exist for the item?
Digital stock
Where possible, can the resource be accessed in libraries as well as remotely by customers at home? Can the resource be accessed by multiple customers concurrently? (Though we recognise that publishers’ licensing conditions do not always permit this.) Is the platform easy to use? Do the resources fit well into our collection as a whole? Does the resource offer the best content? (See also Electronic resources).
Exclusions
The following categories of stock will normally fall outside the scope of our collections:
- items unsuitable in format for their purpose, for example - ring-bound items for lending stock unless the information they contain is unavailable in any other form
- expensive luxury editions
- reading schemes and workbooks primarily intended for use with, or by, a teacher
- items intended for individual ownership, for example - workbooks with spaces left for the owner to complete
- items containing practical information inapplicable to UK conditions or regulations
- some items above undergraduate level
- the output of Vanity publishers
- items banned under UK law
- items restricted for purchase by territorial rights and publisher restrictions
Though not necessarily excluded from the library service’s provision, titles in the following areas are not purchased as part of the supplier selection process.
- re-issues, reprints and omnibus editions
- titles from the following publishers/imprints – Readers Digest; Sapphire; Nexus; vanity publishers; Authorhouse
- books with the following formats - spiral bound, pocket books, cased volumes, unsuitable covers
Whilst Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness Libraries may at times purchase self-published works, especially if they have a local link or relevance, we reserve the right to decline to purchase books published in this way, and all such items will be judged against the stock selection criteria outlined above. All self-published books (except for Local Studies materials), must have a full MARC record available for download from BDS, which includes an ISBN.