Rethinking Collection Management Plans: Shaping Collective Collections for the 21st Century

Abstract

The emergence of shared print repositories has created new opportunities for libraries to provide cost-effective stewardship through collaborative collection management. This opportunity also presents challenges, as libraries must reenvision collection management in the context of local, regional, and national priorities. In previous decades, collection management plans were used to communicate an institution's strategies for managing local collections. As libraries prepare to participate in cooperative agreements, formal collection management plans and policies can and should be used once again as a practical framework for decision making. The authors offer practical advice on developing a collection management plan in a collaborative context.