Includes bibliographical references and index.

From selection to collection management -- Assessing user needs -- Selecting materials -- Acquiring materials -- Assessing collections and the library -- Cooperation, collaboration, and consortia issues -- Print, media, and related issues -- E-resources and technology issues -- Preservation issues -- Legal issues -- Access, ethics, and intellectual freedom.

Introduction : Longevity of libraries ; Is reading dying or already dead? ; LIbraries' societal value beyond preserving information ; Content vs. the package ; Libraries' bright future -- From selection to collection management : Concepts and terms ; Collection management and library types ; Standards and guidelines ; Taking on collection management responsibilities -- Assessing user needs ; Concepts and terms ; Why spend the time and effort on service community studies? ; Data collecting and analysis techniques -- Selecting materials : Selection starting point: the collection management policy and its value ; Engaging in selection activities ; Variations in selection by library types ; Closing thoughts on selection: quality or demand -- Acquiring materials ; Acquiring collection materials ; Selecting the vendor ; Vendor evaluation ; Retail outlets ; Out-of-print and antiquarian dealers ; Fiscal management -- Assessing collections and the library : Collection assessment methodologies ; Deselection: weeding -- Cooperation, collaboration, and consortia issues : Background: Sharing collection items ; Shared collection building ; Sharing collection storage -- Reasons for engaging in joint ventures ; Collaboration on the personal level -- Print, media, related issues : Producers of library collection resources ; Types of producers ; Serial producers ; Media formats ; Government documents information -- E-resources and technology issues : Differences between traditional and e-resources ; Selection issues ; E-formats ; Managing electronic resources -- Preservation issues : Libraries and cultural patrimony -- Preserving the investment in the collection ; Digital preservation ; Conservation -- Legal issues : Gifts and the IRS ; Inventory control ; Lending rights and the first sale doctrine ; Copyright laws and libraries ; Licenses and contracts -- Access, ethics, and intellectual freedom : Libraries, the First Amendment, and intellectual freedom ; Ethics, personal beliefs, biases, and collection management ; Privacy ; Access: filtering ; Bibliotherapy: readers advisory activities.