Biography

Reviewed April 2008

General Comments

This collection provides biographical and autobiographical information about important historical and significant contemporary figures.

Development Plan

Collected are works on contemporary figures, national and international, in diverse fields, and popular sports and entertainment figures, with a minimal emphasis on historical figures. Biographies of people who are not famous but who are in interesting lines of work are acceptable, though such sources receive reduced emphasis.

If sources contain a great deal of critical analysis of authors' works, as well as biographical information, they are classed in the 800s. True crime biographies are classed in the 364.1 section.

Influencing Factors

Purchases and buying patterns are determined in large part by:

• electronic/Internet sources availability.
• new works.
• budget constraints.
• circulation statistics.
• patron requests.
• present and potential relevance to the community.
• shelf space.
• access to a fully developed collection at the main library

Retention/Weeding

• Sources on world figures are weeded as their subjects pass into obscurity.
• Biographies of deceased movie stars of lesser stature are weeded.
• Works on pop culture figures whose popularity has passed are weeded, unless having enduring influence or celebrity.
• Biographies of people who are not famous but who are in interesting lines of work are weeded as timeliness of subject fades.
• Worn or torn titles unsuitable for circulation are weeded.