Realising our potential through collections

1. Realising our potential through collections Margaret Warren Director, Content Management

2. Dive in… What’s a favourite book / film and why?

4. Access Services The Access Services team is responsible for storing and maintaining State Library’s over 40 km of physical collections. It also coordinates the selection of physical and electronic resources for access by clients and libraries across Queensland. To facilitate client access, the team manages State Library Membership and delivers a request service for copies, images and loans, enabling access to a wide range of national and international resources.

5. Metadata Services The Metadata Services team coordinates the acquisition, description and arrangement of State Library collections. It provides high quality cataloguing information which ensures content is discoverable within the One Search and Aurora catalogues. The team also looks after the life cycle of eresouces, from contract negotiation to making the items accessible to State Library and clients and public libraries across Queensland.

6. What makes a great library collection?

9. Physical Collections Core Collection Each Council receives 1.5 physical collection items per resident. However, as a minimum, each Council receives 1,000 items, regardless of population.

13. Branch libraries Branch libraries will also receive a minimum collection of 1,000 physical items, regardless of population in the Council area. In some circumstances (where the Council or IKC cannot accommodate 1,000 items) the collection items per resident will be negotiated with the library or IKC.

15. Additional collections New books purchased by State Library are regularly supplied to all RLQ libraries and IKCs. After all reservations are actioned the new books are distributed to RLQ libraries and IKCs. New books are usually despatched at the time of receipt, but may be included with collection exchanges.

16. Additional collections A library/IKC may request a collection item from another library/IKC on behalf of a client. The requesting library/IKC retains the item and may lend it until requested by another library/IKC. A Library Service with multiple branches can also implement a regular exchange of stock between the branches to ensure collections remain current and clients have continued access to a variety of resources.

17. Collection exchanges To keep collections current and appealing, portions of RLQ and IKC collections are exchanged a maximum three times per year, refreshing the collection with material from State Library’s facility at Cannon Hill. The titles included in collection exchanges are developed in consultation with libraries and IKCs to meet the needs of their communities. When scheduled to receive an exchange, libraries and IKCs select items to return to State Library, providing an opportunity to remove damaged, low use and outdated items and maintain their collection allocation.

19. Statewide collections Statewide collections are acquired for all Queensland public libraries and IKCs providing access to specialised content. This content is selected, acquired, managed and distributed centrally by State Library to deliver a cost effective and efficient statewide service and meet the specific needs of communities. Libraries and IKCs are responsible for requesting statewide collections.

22. Technology resources State Library offers the loan of technology kits to Qld libraries, in support of digitally literate and future-ready communities. We have a range of kits available to RLQ libraries, which can be reserved via the library management system or online catalogue. We also have a small range of resources available state-wide, subject to availability, with bookings negotiated on a case by case basis.

24. Eresources State Library liaises with Queensland public libraries to evaluate eresources for use in public libraries and IKCs. State Library negotiates a price for access by all Queensland public libraries and IKCs, as well as State Library members.