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Collection assessment is an “organized process for systematically analyzing and describing a library’ s collection.” Assessments are conducted to provide several kinds of important information to libraries:

• to help clarify the library’s goals in the context of its mission and budget;
• to supply data used to set funding priorities; and
• to build a base for long-range planning and administration.

The basic premise underlying all assessment is that they will:

• Gather data for better collection development decisions.
• Assess how well the collection can meet the needs of present and future users.
• Allow librarians to see if the directives of a collection development policy are being carried out.
• Review the performance of current selectors.
• Reduce the subjectivity that is inherent in the selection process.

Assessment techniques that can be used by school and academic libraries include the following:

• Shelf list analysis
• List/Bibliography checking
• Shelf scanning
• Expert opinion (faculty or consultant)
• Client-centered analysis
• Computer-assisted analysis

Criteria for Selection:

1. All types of materials:

• Educational significance
• Contribution that the subject matter makes to the curriculum and to the interest of the students
• Favorable reviews found in standard selection sources
• Favorable recommendations based on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel
• Reputation and significance of author, producer, and publisher
• Validity, currency, and appropriateness of material
• Contribution that the material makes to breadth of representative viewpoints on controversial issues