Category: Practical Librarian

(This series was originally written in 2011. All data is as originally published since it was such a big project at the time, but the methods and concepts presented are still valid. Start with Shelf Balancing, Part 1.) Let the

Originally published on March 1, 2011 at http://hhibner.blogspot.com/2011/03/shelf-balancing-study.html Image creative commons courtesy of https://www.flickr.com/photos/61056899 Comment from Holly on 11/19/2014: This is a series of posts I wrote in 2011. It was a HUGE project, so rather than update all the

My library has a Materials Selection Policy that is roughly a page and a half long.  We also have a separate, five page “Collection Management Guidelines” document for staff.  Here’s the difference: Materials Selection Policy The word policy means it’s

As we discussed in my post Using Excel in Collection Analysis, go slow and work a small data set into the ground until you feel comfortable. While you are in “learning mode”, use enough data to fit comfortably on the screen, so

Holly and I are in the process of writing a new edition of Making a Collection Count. As we go through the chapters and start really re-thinking the content and updating this book, I really wanted to make the idea

There is more to understanding a collection age beyond average and thanks to Emma, who made a comment on my last collection analysis post, I thought it would also help to discuss median age in a collection. My experience has been

Now that we’ve talked about using publication dates, let’s talk about metrics that use call numbers. What do we still have in the collection after that big weed? It’s too big a chart to include here, but I can tell