Selector and Collection Developer/Manager, Milwaukee Public Library
September 2010 – October 2011
Competencies demonstrated:
At MPL, I worked with a variety of popular and heavily used collections, for adults, teens, and children. Using system-wide priorities, circulation statistics, reviews, articles, patron suggestions, and many other tools, I selected, weeded, and evaluated items for our collections. At the Central library, I selected and maintained the collections on world travel, general history, and geography; European history and travel; and our special collection of local and world maps. The budgets ranged from over 10,000 (history and travel) to only a few hundred dollars (maps). As a youth branch librarian, I ordered YA and children’s paperbacks in English and Spanish. I also weeded, replaced, and maintain the children’s and YA collections there. Prior to that, I oversaw duplicates and replacements for media for the large downtown children’s room. I primarily used B&T TitleSource for adult titles and BWI TitleTales for children.
Competencies demonstrated:
- Builds and maintains a collection of resources in many formats based on a determination of community needs
- Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of the library’s collection (subject ranges, age, size,level, strengths and shortcomings) and applies the knowledge to the decision-making process
- Demonstrates broad knowledge of authors, literature and publishers
- Consults a wide variety of sources and connects with other professionals to stay informed about new materials, resources and technologies, and their potential to deliver improved services or reach new target audiences
- Pursues a variety of information sources, including popular media, to keep current on topics relevant to library users
- Strives to build a collection that is diverse, current and relevant, one that reflects the ethnic diversity of the community and promotes cross-cultural understanding
- Assesses and responds to the community’s changing needs and interests to inform the ongoing development of the collection
- Understands and employs basic budget and finance concepts
At MPL, I worked with a variety of popular and heavily used collections, for adults, teens, and children. Using system-wide priorities, circulation statistics, reviews, articles, patron suggestions, and many other tools, I selected, weeded, and evaluated items for our collections. At the Central library, I selected and maintained the collections on world travel, general history, and geography; European history and travel; and our special collection of local and world maps. The budgets ranged from over 10,000 (history and travel) to only a few hundred dollars (maps). As a youth branch librarian, I ordered YA and children’s paperbacks in English and Spanish. I also weeded, replaced, and maintain the children’s and YA collections there. Prior to that, I oversaw duplicates and replacements for media for the large downtown children’s room. I primarily used B&T TitleSource for adult titles and BWI TitleTales for children.
