Collection management and the budget crunch: are we adequately preparing library students for current practices?

Abstract

IntroductionIn an ideal world professional practice, library associations' standards and library education would reflect one another. For many aspects of library science education, professional standards are abundant. However, with regards to collection development and management practices there are few actual standards dedicated solely to collection development practices. Three guidelines are available from the RUSA site: writing reviews, liaison relations, and bibliography In addition to considering the strategies for inclusion in the revision of the guide to collection policies, the authors wanted to see if these strategies are included in LIS curriculum. LIS educators who teach collection-related courses were surveyed in an effort to understand the influence of these practices on curriculum and to encourage a unity among practice, teaching and professional standards. Literature ReviewMany studies have examined the influence of practice on LIS curriculum. This usually takes the form of evaluating curriculum for evidence that supports professional standards, as well as surveying library educators, students and practitioners. Domain areas covered include reference, instruction, school media, and general accreditation standards. There are no existing studies that look specifically at collection management education, practice and professional guidelines. Several studies discussed below illustrate the importance of connecting the three aspects of professional education and development.In an overarching study, Lester and Van Fleet (2008) examined the use of professional competencies and standards documents by LIS educators for curriculum planning, by public library directors for hiring and professional development decisions, and by state library development officers for certification requirements and developing professional education. A content analysis of program presentation documents submitted to the American Library