[Publib] Best strategies for getting to know my collection

[Nicole Hershberger]

Hello all!

I am a newly-minted librarian, recently responsible for both the
children's and young adult collections at a well-used suburban library.
Though I've taken courses in children's and YA lit, and read some of it
for pleasure, I'm no expert. And I'm painfully aware of the fact that I
don't know my collection all that well.

"Get to know your collection" shows up constantly in collection
development and outreach guidelines...but how best to do it? I know that
weeding is a good way to do it, but at our library, this is often done
by clerks (and they do a great job of it). I do lots of walkthroughs,
just browsing. And I do talk to the kids who come in as much as
possible. 

I know there's no instant way to become an expert on my collection, and
I'm planning to do continuing education activities and such. Meanwhile,
I do have a budget I need to spend and purchasing decisions to make. So,
great collective mind: what are your best tips for me? What is the
fastest way for me to get to know my collection?

Nicole Hershberger
Children's Librarian
NOPL Cicero


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