Collection Development Policy
The collection is the Library's greatest asset. It is a resource of immense historical significance and a source of current and contemporary information. It has been valued at $1.88 billion. It must be maintained, made accessible, preserved and continue to grow in order to remain relevant.
The Collection Development Policy defines the Library's collection for government, stakeholders in other libraries and cultural institutions, the public and for Library staff to define our priorities and strategies for all parts of our work.
The Collection Development Policy is a dynamic entity and will continue to evolve and change in response to service and information requirements of the public.
The State Library's first comprehensive CDP was issued in 1990 and revised in 1993. In late 2002, the current review began, building on existing principles combined with a new approach:
- to describe and define the Library's Collection in 'plain English' with the electronic web version as the principal format
- to capture staff knowledge about the Collection through their direct involvement and contributions
- to reflect changes to the Library's collecting and service delivery priorities
- to review and describe significant subject profiles
- to provide documentation about the Collection for other Library activities and functions
The CDP Review began in late 2002. The first stage, Documenting Life in New South Wales, comprises detailed subject profiles of research-level holdings of the State Library. The second stage (to come) will cover broader subject collecting policies for 'general' Library holdings.
