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?