The grim underpinnings of collections policies: 'your mountain is waiting'
Author
Faculty Advisor
Date
2023
Keywords
library collections policies, library policy analysis, academic libraries, library documentation, library collection development, policy intent, policy transparency
Abstract (summary)
Many libraries continue to write and update collections policies and upload them to library websites for public consumption. It is assumed that these documents positively influence a variety of aspects of library work, such as building relevant collections, increasing patron understanding of library operations, and encouraging communication and cooperation within the librarian community. However, these policies may expose hidden agendas or even overt prejudice, either explicitly or implicitly. What less desirable qualities do library collections policies possess, and how are these grim underpinnings harmful to our patrons? A careful examination of three collections policies at MacEwan University in Edmonton, Canada, written or edited by the author in the past decade, reveals a need for closer scrutiny of the purpose, intent, and underlying messages conveyed when these documents are displayed to the public. The three policies in question are an overarching or main collections policy, a donations policy, and a specialized policy dedicated to collecting resources by, for, and about Indigenous peoples. This paper, based on a poster presented at Charleston 2022, will outline exactly whom collections policies are written for (other librarians), what their purpose is (justifying saying no to patrons), and what their most significant harm might be (perpetuating prejudice). Proposals for how the collections community can initiate change and improve upon the traditional practice of engaging users via collections policies will be put forward.
Publication Information
Garstad, R. (2023). The grim underpinnings of collections policies: 'Your mountain is waiting.' In B. Bernhardt, L. Hinds, & L. Meyer (Eds.), The Charleston conference proceedings 2022 (pp. 265-276). Michigan Publishing Services. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.14369519
Notes
Item Type
Article
Language
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND)
