Criteria upon which selection decisions are made for mobile library collections

Abstract

There is currently a lack of literature to guide New Zealand mobile librarians with the selection of their collections. The purpose of this study was to discover the criteria upon which mobile librarians make their selection decisions. In this study "criteria" referred to various factors including: how the process of selection was carried out on mobile libraries; how mobile librarians judged materials prior to selection; and whether mobile librarians were achieving a balance between needs and wants. This study had a qualitative approach and interviewed six mobile librarians from New Zealand about the selection of their collections. The findings showed similarities and differences among participants in the way they selected and in their attitude toward the needs versus wants debate. The findings also showed no substantial relationship between the nature of the mobile libraries and the serving of needs and wants. This study indicates that the mobile librarians studied achieve a balance between needs and wants to some extent when selecting and that, despite some differences, make selection decisions based on a number of common criteria.