2017 Charleston Library Conference

It is not uncommon for impactful collections decisions to be made behind closed doors and have an air of mystery surrounding them. Library users and non-collections librarians may be surprised to discover that a well-loved resource is no longer available or that a lesser-regarded resource was purchased instead of a resource they specifically requested. Management or non-collections librarians may fumble to answer questions about how their collections funding is being spent or how a resource is being received by users. How can collections librarians effectively and thoughtfully communicate their activities and the impact of their decisions to these various groups, particularly when those decisions are likely to be unpopular with their communities?

The objective of this presentation is to discuss ways in which librarians have communicated collections decisions, changes, and challenges to internal and external stakeholders. Best practices for data visualization and survey design, as well as advocacy and networking strategies are examples of some topics that will be addressed. Attendees can expect to be part of an interactive discussion on how to tailor messages about collections to their audience, create effective visuals for relaying data, foster important relationships, and improve communications within their libraries and across their institutions.