View and Reflect

Discussion Questions

Quality vs. Quantity

How do you balance the need for a robust collection with the importance of maintaining a clean, accessible, and high-quality library space?

Weeding as a Foundation

What challenges or resistance have you encountered when weeding your collection, and how have you addressed them?

Knowing Your Community

In what ways do you gather feedback from your patrons to guide collection development, especially when serving a small or rural population?

Creative Use of Space

How have you reimagined or repurposed library spaces to better serve your patrons’ needs beyond just accessing books?

Genrefication Debate

What are the pros and cons of genrefying your collection, and how do you decide whether it’s the right fit for your library?

Montana or Local Collections

How do you determine what belongs in a local or regional collection, and what strategies do you use to keep it relevant and useful?

Recording

(58:19)

MSL Resources and Consulting

🧠 Philosophy and Reflections

• Change is gradual and should be responsive to community needs.
• Patron feedback—both verbal and behavioral—is a key indicator of success.
• Trust and familiarity with the community (Jonna grew up in Plentywood) help ease transitions and build support.
• “If it doesn’t work, that’s okay—we’ll go back.”

📣 Final Call to Action

“Weed your collection.”
It’s the foundation for everything else in collection management.

You can learn more about creating a quality library environment in a variety of ways.

• Webinar Slides 3 Keys for Collection Management and Creating a Welcoming Library Environment 
• Take the Navigating the Elective Roadmap to Library Excellence: Better Access to Materials course

Contact your MSL Consultant with questions and suggestions.

Your next activity is What's Next?