Page 223 - DLIS003_LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

Library Administration and Management

Notes Ascertaining demand
Acquiring sources
Allocating funds

Arranging personnel
12.2.2 Selection Procedure

There can be two sets of operations in the selection of periodicals: those relating to continuing
titles, and those relating to new titles.
(i) Continuing Titles: Every library will have a set of periodicals that are currently received.
The subscriptions for them have to be renewed every year. The procedure involved in this
renewal work can be outlined as follows:

Preparing be current list
Reviewing the current list
Consulting the cooperating libraries
Reviewing the financial position

Selecting items for deletion
Consulting the experts, and
Obtaining sanction
A complete list of currently received periodicals should be made with the new subscription
amounts payable against each title. This list must then be subjected to a review by examining
the desirability of continuing each item. Such a review and revision of the list will become
necessary due to many reasons, like the unworthiness of certain periodicals, the appearance
of new and more worthy publications, the change in the requirements of the clientele, or
inadequacy of funds. Although deletion of items once taken is an unhealthy practice,
deletion would become unavoidable in certain circumstances. At be same time it must be
remembered that periodicals have a permanent value. Even if a temporary decline in
value can be found in the case of a particular periodical, it is more prudent to continue the
title than cancel it. Collection building with regard to periodicals is a work that requires
great forethought. Frequent deletions from current lists only indicate lack of this
forethought in the original selection. There may be occasions when a cooperating library
in the neighbourhood also is subscribing to the same journal. In such a case, an
understanding should be arrived at between the two libraries to avoid duplication.
Deletions effected through such arrangements can be replaced by new titles. In any case,
necessary consultation with subject experts is a pre-requisite in finalizing the list. The
final list is then presented to the sanctioning authority for sanction. The list is then ready
for ordering.
(ii) New Additions: The procedure in the selection of new titles can be outlined as follows:

Suggestions from experts
Preliminary checking
Details collected from sources
Enquiries from publishers
Finance

218 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY