General Approaches to
Building the GCPL Collection

Purchase Within Scope

Purchases are based on the Materials Management Policy and Plan, which broadly define our customer base and materials of interest to our community, with a specific emphasis on popular materials.

High Anticipated Demand

Demand is sufficient to warrant purchase and inclusion in the collection based on these predictors: 1) Past performance of titles by the author 2) Past performance of titles on this subject 3) Many customer requests for this title/subject matter/format 4) Significant initial print run by publisher and/or ample stock available from major distributors.

High Anticipated Use

Similar to "high anticipated demand" but usually refers to nonfiction titles. The projected future use of the title during the whole time it would be included in the collection justifies the cost of purchase, or the amount of shelf space that will be needed to house the item.

System Coverage

Selections are added to provide sufficient copies of a title already in GCPL's floating collection, to meet anticipated future demand and to minimize customer wait time whenever possible.

Positive Reviews

Professional and/or popular book reviewers have given the material a favorable evaluation or indicated that it is a suggested purchase for public libraries.

Items in Print and/or In Stock

The book is readily available in sufficient quanitities.

Available from Library Vendors

The major book vendors have sufficient stock, and the system can avoid additional costs associated with purchasing materials from smaller vendors, in which the cost if often too high in relation to projected interest/use of the title.

Complement to Curriculum

The library pursues titles that present the subject for general audiences and laypersons. Selections complement titles typically purchased for a strictly curricular or academic audience.

Suitable Format

Materials are purchased to withstand multiple circulation. (Formats such as write-in workbooks, journals and/or spiral bound materials can quickly become damaged and/or and not suitable for circulation, and therefore not purchased.)

Self-Published/Print on Demand (aka P.O.D.)

Experience has shown that print-on-demand materials often lack the visual appeal and quality of production that our customers have come to expect and are therefore not added to the collection. Please note that some exceptions are made for self-published/P.O.D. titles intended for the special Gwinnett Authors collection.