Attitudes and qualities of selectors of fiction in New Zealand public libraries

Abstract

Reports on the results of a mailed questionnaire survey of fiction selection in New Zealand public libraries. The survey was completed by 48 out of a possible 62 respondents, providing a 77% response rate. Respondents came from a variety of different sized libraries throughout New Zealand. The majority of respondents showed support for selection by user demand, although this was not necessarily carried through to the library's practices. Only half of the libraries had a collection development policy for fiction. Ten distinguished between levels of fiction. Almost 20% of respondents neither had a policy, nor were contemplating one. Fiction selectors in smaller libraries on average had more contact with the public than those in larger libraries, which could indicate a greater likelihood that they would select for demand, although this was not borne out when their attitudes were measured. Marketing of the fiction collection was carried out by many libraries, but user surveys were less prevalent. Virtually all respondents had some type of library qualification, but only half had another tertiary qualification. The majority were in senior positions in the library hierarchy, and mostly worked alone in the selection of fiction. Only 4 libraries had a team that selected fiction.