Book Selection By Dr Muhammad Ismail Presentation Definitions

Book Selection By Dr. Muhammad Ismail Presentation

Definitions • The process of choosing books for library collections. (ALA Glossary of Library Terms) • The process used for selecting materials for different kind of libraries. (Harrods Glossary) • Some of the main Principles of Book Selection are:

Study Your Community • Community mean people or the readers associated with the library who can become regular members of it. • Understanding the reading tastes, educational qualifications, professional association, literary pursuits, and requirements of the readers is the first thing that should be kept in mind before selecting library books. • Books should be selected according to the needs and requirements of the community concerned. • Surveys be conducted to know the interests of readers. • Demand Register should be maintained and must be kept at a visible place.

Representation of all subjects • Each and every subject should be represented in the collection. • Particularly books on religion, history, literature etc should be given due consideration. • So that if a reader want to read other subjects, other than his own field, the library should posses it for his interest.

Local history • Users always take more interest in local history. Therefore books on local history should be selected as many as possible. • Because every individual want to know about the history of his city or town, or even village. • They are usually interested to know about their forefathers, their community, tribes etc therefore such books must be given due consideration.

Needs of organized groups • If there are organizations, and organized societies, their members and staff would definitely come to library for their needed information. • Therefore books should be selected keeping in view their demands and requirements.

Relation with the curriculum • In the academic libraries students are more interested in text books. Therefore those textbooks should be selected, which are approved by the board or university concerned. • Thus books should be selected concerning the curriculum/syllabus of the academic institution.

Existing demand future demand • Present demands and future demands of books should be kept in mind. • It is essential to know the present and future activities of the community and their demands for the time being and for the time to come. • For this purpose surveys can be conducted to know their demands in present and future. • For example if new courses are to be started or new faculties are expected to be opened, then books on such subjects should be selected in advance.

Classics and great works of literature • Some books are evergreen and red throughout the ages. • They always look new and informative and are red by every one and people of every subject. • These sort of books always attract readers. Therefore these must be selected as well. • For instance, Paradise lost by Milton • Shakespare’s books • Dewan-i-Ghalib • Tuzk-i-Babury • Etc.

Impartiality • It mean that the process of books selection should not involve personal likeness and dislikeness of the selector. • Books should be selected without any bias and complete impartiality should be observed. • The personal belief, or religion, or political affiliation should be kept aside at the time of selection.

Specialists and their needs • It mean that needs of the specialists and researchers must be kept in mind at the time of selection • In university libraries ususally the specialists and researchers take more interest due to their richness. Therefore those books shold be selected which are research oriented.

Preferences • The Librarian or selector should use his own judgment what to prefer and what not. • Sometimes in less valuable book the readers take interest, while ignore valuable books. • Therefore the librarian should use his own judgment as per the taste of his readers what to select and what not to omit. • So preference must be given to those books in which the community take more interest and which are concerned with the welfare of the community.

Avoid out dated material • It means that always select those material which are fresh/ • Outdated material like old editions should be ignored. • Particularly medical books, Year books, computer science books etc. , soon becomes outdated.

Avoid Fetish Purchase • Books should not be selected blindly, but great care should be taken. • Select those which are best and your library lack them. • Hardbound books be given priority. • Immoral books, banned books, controversial books etc be avoided.