Collection Management Strategies for Archivists

How can librarians and archivists effectively carry out the traditional responsibility of collecting, organizing, preserving, and providing information in the turbulent environment of the next decade? It is clear that the traditional ways of operating are being transformed. The continuing excellence of libraries and archives will depend on the ability to direct this transformation. Collection management—the systematic, planned, documented process of building, maintaining, and preserving collections—provides effective tools to shape archival collections in the future. Specifically, it encompasses four components. Planning is the most essential function in collection management, and the development of a written collection development policy is a crucial step in this planning process. A second important aspect of collection management is efficient selection or acquisition of needed materials. The third component of collection management is the ongoing evaluation and analysis of collections. Finally, fundamental to collection management is the concept of cooperative collection development and resource sharing. In summary, collection management aims to apply the basic components of the planning process to building and maintaining collections.