Can anyone explain how public libraries (generally) select and

[Old Troop]

purchase their books? In other words, do most libraries have a committee that selects and purchases books or do they have agreements with publishers to automatically receive bestsellers and other tomes?

[Xithras]

1. Books are usually selected by the head librarian.

Some libraries have the librarians compile purchase lists and approve them beforehand, but it's still the librarian making the call.

[arbusto_baboso]

3. This, plus.....

Certain library benefactors (friends of the library groups, large individual donors, etc.) may contribute money for specific items for a library's collection.

[tanyev]

2. My library has a few librarians who select books for the entire system.

I do believe that there is some sort of automatic arrangement for new releases/expected bestsellers, especially in the collections that have a lot of circulation (Adult Fiction, YA Fiction, Children's Fiction), but the selectors also consider ordering books that have been requested by the public.

[CaptRandom]

4. more or less the librarians select..

when I was 15 I found a pristine and beautiful copy of '1001 Arabian Nights' from 1912 that had migrated from the New York City library. For a second I thought about taking it, but put it back in the stacks.. Im sure someone ended up slicing the art panels out or put it on Ebay...

bigger libraries also do bulk transfers of books between each other..

[MountainLaurel]

5. Patron requests also play a role

Particularly if the book is relatively new and/or on the best seller lists. Some libraries require a certain number of requests before they buy the book, others not so much. This is especially true if the book fills a subject gap in the collection (eg, based on 2 requests from me, my local library now owns two particular books on polyamory and atheism. And, of course, awards, reviews, author reputation and popularity, age of the existing collection, and patron needs all play a role. An upper-class suburb may not buy a lot of English as a Second Language learning materials, and a community where most of the patrons are elderly isn't going to spend a lot on books on how to write a resume.

[trof]

6. People also donate books.

I prefer to think that's why books by Coulter, Limbaugh, Beck, and Rove desecrate our library's shelves.
:-(

[queenjane]

15. Coulter, Limbaugh, Beck, etc pretty much ALL my library buys

Each new vile tome, the library buys at least FOUR copies. Not kidding. When I complained, I was told they bought what the locals want to read. Friends of the Library donates much of the money. Which is why I don't join Friends of the Library.

[gvstn]

7. I think it is the librarian that makes final decisions

My local libraries seem to have distinct personalities judging from the "New Book" sections. One seems to get many more Non-Fiction rather than fiction entries. One seems to include many more small name/independent novels than the others (my favorite). Some get fewer DVDs or fewer magazines. Etc.

I think there are a few resources that librarians use to get ideas other than the major best sellers. I haven't looked for a while but Booklist and Library Journal come to mind as publications that give reviews geared towards library collections.

http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/book/890906-421/fiction_reviews_july_15_2011.html.csp

[alarimer]

8. Our local library system has a committee composed of librarians

My boyfriend is a librarian and he was on this committee. The problem is that many libraries are short of funds and can't buy much. Our city council voted to build a new library without supplying any funds for books. You know, those things that a library is supposed to have. :eyes:

[u4ic]

9. The public can also request books for them to buy

at my local library. I've requested a or so dozen books/DVD's over the years, and all have made it to the shelves.

[RushIsRot]

10. Our local library has purchsed three or four books that I requested

they get for me from inter-library loan. Guess they liked my choices.

[OhioBlue]

11. I will defer to the above posters on how libraries

generally select their books... but I also know that groups donate books. The local Republican group in my community donates a book a month. They have a lot of money. Our small and not rich Dem group just tries to pay the bills to fund a HQ a few months before and up to the elections.

[murielm99]

13. They don't have to accept all gifts.

If you are a patron and taxpayer, you can object to the slanting of the collection by a group of wealthy patrons. Suggest books that will put the collection in balance. Attend a library board meeting if necessary.

Tell these repubbies to start their own library in their local headquarters, if they have so much extra money.

Suggest to the board and library director that if this group has so much money, they could be donating other things to the library. Maybe they need new computers, or new carpeting. Maybe they need money for the children's summer reading program.

I would never have stood still for that type of thing in my home library.

I do remember receiving a large memorial gift from a patron. The family wanted us to purchase all books that pertained to environmental issues. I asked for help from them, and from patrons who knew a lot about the subject. We ended up buying those types of books, and a large number of books about animals, plants and insects, too. The family was happy with our final choices.

[murielm99]

12. I was a librarian in a small public library.

The library director selects, with a great deal of input from staff. Patron suggestions also play a role.

Of course there are gifts, but they can be refused.

Most libraries have a written selection policy. That helps in cases of censorship, too. Many libraries have challenges to existing books, with patrons insisting titles be taken off the shelves.

We take courses on selection and reference when we attend library school. We also consult many professional review sources.

Academic libraries are different. They may have heads of departments who do the selection, and have their own budgets. How would a general library director know about selecting German or other foreign language books, or technical science books, without their input?

When I ran the children's department, I submitted all my selections to the library director. The only time she vetoed anything was for budgetary reasons.

Besides being trained and aware, professional librarians have to know their collections and know their communities.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. To listen to the tea baggers, it's the Gay Agenda and communists that make the selections

because the government employed, unionized over-compensated over-educated librarians can't be bothered to do their jobs.

[WCIL]

16. Our library uses the book selection committee approach

The Director, Reference Librarian and head of Circulation are permanent members and the other 5 slots shift among different staff members of the library each year. The rotating group helps to assure a more balanced collection. In addition the committee evaluates, weeds if necessary, and purchases new books for different subject areas. This year the focus seems to be on the 200's (religion and mythology). The Children's Librarian and the head of the A/V department choose their own materials.