Book Recordings

General Comments

This collection provides patrons with stories on both cassettes and CDs. Some recordings may include an accompanying book. Classics of children's literature and recommended easy fiction works are collected. The audience for this collection is the pre-school through second grade child. Junior selections (third through sixth grade) are purchased within the adult collection.

Development Plan

The primary goal of this collection is to provide book recordings that meet the educational and recreational needs of the young patron. In order to meet these needs, the Library:

• strives to provide a core collection of recommended easy-fiction titles.
• strives to provide a balance of hardback and paperback formats along with the cassettes or CDs.
• strives to use dependable distributors of unabridged audio books to ensure replacement opportunities.
• evaluates patron requests either through reviews, or knowledge and popularity of the author or title. Patron requests are given serious consideration and added to the collection as warranted and as budget allows.
• purchases multiple copies of titles where patron demand warrants and as budget allows.

Influencing Factors

Purchases and buying patterns are determined in large part by:

• durability and sturdy packaging provided by reputable distributors.
• reading level.
• new works.
• budget constraints.
• circulation statistics.
• patron requests.
• shelf space.

Retention/Weeding

• Informal weeding takes place continuously as items are checked for damage as they are circulated and/or shelved.
• Circulation statistics are the principle deciding factor in the replacement or withdrawal of a title from the collection.
• As this collection continues to expand, shelf space, as well as circulation counts and new technology, will be factors to consider in the weeding process.