December 6, 2006

To: RCPL Trustees

From: G. Chapman, Director

Re: Collection Development Action Steps

Mary Bushing Consultant Report

Attached with this memo is a report regarding the collection development review by Consultant Mary Bushing. The report is sent as a confidential attachment to this memo because of personnel issues referenced in the document.

There have been previous consultant reviews for the purpose of collection development. Today, as you are aware, the access and delivery of library materials continues to evolve at pace that requires ongoing analysis of access, training support and the circulation of the materials. This is a direct impact upon procedures regarding staff resources, acquisitions, and access to materials. RCPL has approximately $330,000 for materials with an average annual circulation of 600,000 items. As the social networking applications provide for more consumer driven content replacing more traditional publisher produced content, collection assessment is integral to adding value to materials purchased. The change in publication of content has a direct impact on the librarian’s abilities to find, access and delivery information resources. The paradigm in my opinion is larger than the launching of Internet access for the library community. The difference this time is there is not the equipment barrier for people to utilized social networking applications.

Given the consultant review and the evolving nature of library services the following are actions steps as outcomes:

§ Review of evaluation procedures

§ Assessment of job descriptions

§ Assessment of staff scheduling

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER