How Libraries Build Collections
Every book in a library is there for a reason. Librarians carefully curate collections based on community needs and interests:
Librarians track what people check out, current trends, and patron requests to guide their selections. But selecting books isn’t just about picking bestsellers. Libraries follow collection development policies to ensure a diverse, balanced, and high-quality selection. Key criteria include:
Libraries don’t have unlimited budgets (in fact, some library budgets are very limited and continue to shrink), so every purchase is carefully considered. New materials often come from:
Libraries also invest in a variety of formats—including eBooks, audiobooks, research databases, large-print editions, and Braille materials.
Libraries strive to provide free access to digital books and information, but digital collections are more expensive than many realize. In 2024, library vendor OverDrive reported that 739 million digital books were borrowed globally—a 17% increase from the previous year. With demand rising, you may have noticed long wait times for eBooks and wondered: Why doesn’t the library just buy more copies?
Unlike physical books, which libraries own forever, eBooks come with restrictions that make them more costly to lend:
With tight budgets and rising costs, libraries must carefully balance digital and physical collections to ensure fair access.
Imagine if a library never removed books. Shelves would be packed with outdated health guides, obsolete computer manuals, and aging reference books listing Pluto as a planet.
Libraries aren’t book warehouses—they’re living collections that evolve with their communities. Every book on the shelf is carefully chosen, and every book removed makes space for something new, timely, and exciting.
That’s why libraries “weed” their collections—yes, it’s called weeding, just like in a garden. Removing books ensures collections stay current, useful, and accessible.
Books (and other materials) are removed when they are:
Libraries don’t just throw books away. Weeded books are often:
Weeding isn’t about getting rid of books, but rather about keeping collections fresh, relevant, and engaging.
So, the next time you browse your library, know that every title is there with intention—curated to serve, inspire, and ignite curiosity for all who walk through the doors.
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