Manhattan Public Library:

Analyzing and trimming the children's collection

LI855
Alphild Dick, Ruth Harries, & Melendra Sanders

Community Served: Manhattan, KS

2010 Census Total Population White alone American Indian & Alaska native alone Asian alone Black or African American alone Native Hawaiian & other Pacific native alone Hispanic or Latino origin Number 52,281 43,645 261 2,689 2886 83 3,053 83.48% .5% 5.14% 5.52% .16% 5.84% Percent

Other race alone

Two or more races

907
1,810

1.73%
3.46%

Children of Manhattan

According to the 2010 Census, in Manhattan, there are:

o 2,902 newborn to four-year-olds (5.6% of population) o 2,193 five to nine-year-olds (4.2% of population) o 1,792 ten to fourteen-year-olds (3.4% of population)*

Some MPL statistics for 2011:

o 10,757 children hold library cards to MPL o 44,248 items currently in the Children's collection

o Children's materials circulated 345,508 times

* U.S. Census Bureau: American FactFinder: DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics 2010.

Others served by the collection

Manhattan: Parents and guardians Teachers KSU education and literature students

Children & Parents of

surrounding communities:
- Geary and Pottawatomie Counties - Fort Riley

The Collection Policy

Children's librarian responsible for children's collection Materials selected:

o o

Reflect community demographics and areas of interest Are based on popular demand, timeliness, positive reviews, artistic merit, etc. Stimulate the imagination Provide materials to read, view, and listen for pleasure Support early literacy Help patrons find, evaluate, and use information

Collections are intended to:

o

o
o o

Children's Collection at MPL: Formats

Boardbooks Juvenile fiction Book discussion kits

Novelty books

Juvenile non-fiction

Professional collection
Parents & Teacher Shelf Readers' Advisory

Discovery packs

Juvenile graphic novels Juvenile foreign language

Easy Readers

Toddler books
Storybook Boxes

Large print
Magazines

Scope and Levels

Format Boardbooks Easy Readers Picturebooks Novelty Books Storybook Boxes Toddler Books Discovery Packs Juvenile Fiction Juvenile Non-fiction Target Infant-2 years K-2nd grade Preschool-2 years K-6th grade 1 year-1st grade Infant-3 years K-6th 3rd-6th grade K-6th grade Level 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2

Juvenile Graphic Novels

Juvenile Reference

K-6th grade
Adult

1
2

Scope and Levels, par deux

Parent's Shelf Juvenile magazines Juvenile Audiobooks Juvenile DVDs Juvenile Music CDS E-books Adult toddler--6th grade Preschool-6th grade Baby-6th grade Baby-6th grade Preschool-6th grade 2 2 1 1 1 1

Current State of the Collection

Books
o

For very young readers Board Book: 770 Easy Reader: 2,984 Picture Books: 10,856 Toddler Book: 951 For older readers Fiction: 7,940 Graphic Novel: 1,420 Non-Fiction: 9,571 Reader's Advisory: 129 For teachers and parents Parents' Shelf: 698

Current State of the Collection, cont.

Media
o Audio Book Bag: 342
o Blu-Ray: 157 o Book on CD: 785 o DVD: 2,121
o

Music CD: 627

Miscellaneous
o o o o

Book Discussion Kit: 13 Discovery Pack: 50 Magazine: 32 titles (not included in children's budget) Storybook Box: 46

Assessing the collection: Turning data into action!

Current Book Budget Allocations

Easy Readers Juvenile Fiction Juvenile Graphic Novels Storybook Boxes, Discovery Packs Juvenile Spanish or other languages Juvenile Large Print Fiction Juvenile Nonfiction Novelty books Special events giveaways Parent & Teacher books Juvenile Picture books/Toddler books/ Board books Juvenile Reference - Readers' Advisory Professional Collection 4,000 13,000 5,500 500 300 200 9,000 200 500 1,000 18,000 300 500

Totaling $53,000

Current AV Budget Allocations

Audiobooks Music CDs DVDs Blu-rays 3,200 800 10,000 2,000

Totalling $16,000

Collection Areas, Circulation Statistics, & Budget Information

Collection Children's Discovery Pack Storybook Boxes Children's Blu-Ray Children's Audio Book Bag Books on CD Children's Music CD Children's Picture Book Toddler Book Board Book Children's Graphic Novel Children's DVD Children's Easy Reader Children's Fiction Large Print Fiction Children's Nonfiction World Languages Juvenile Reference Novelty books Parents & Teacher books Special events giveaways Professional Collection Lifetime Circulation Items Average use/ item 3,047 47 65 5,432 45 121 7,150 192 37 9,788 360 27 30,092 810 37 26,289 637 41 526,410 11,781 45 47,527 1,101 43 25,089 925 27 49,828 1,549 32 164,592 2,595 63 194,789 3,440 57 238,123 8,951 27 Unable to distinguish in this report 281,568 10,527 27 Unable to distinguish Non-circulating 141 Non-circulating Unable to distinguish in this report 13,436 831 16 Do not remain in collection Storytime Resources & Professional Development Budget 500
2,000 3,200 800 18,000

5,500 10,000 4,000 13,000 200 9,000 300 300 200 1,000 500 500

Strategic Thinking

Low-hanging fruit
o Collections with low circulation or that few people use
o Collections with associated technology issues o Collections that do not "belong" in the children's area

Initial Cuts to the Budget

o o o

15% budget cut = $10,350 Easy Decisions:

Novelty Books = $200 Parent & Teacher Books = $1,000 Readers' Advisory Books = $300 Professional Collection = $500

Total = $2,000

Left to cut = $8,350

Collection Children's Discovery Pack Storybook Boxes Children's Blu-Ray Children's Audio Book Bag Books on CD Children's Music CD Children's Picture Book Toddler Book Board Book Children's Graphic Novel Children's DVD Children's Easy Reader Children's Fiction Large Print Fiction Children's Nonfiction World Languages

Lifetime Circulation 3,047 5,432 7,150 9,788 30,092

Items 47 45 192 360 810

Average use/ item 65 121 37 27 37

Budget 0 -2,000 -1,000 0 1,425

26,289 637 41 526,410 11,781 45 47,527 1,101 43 25,089 925 27 49,828 1,549 32 164,592 2,595 63 194,789 3,440 57 238,123 8,951 27 Unable to distinguish in this report 281,568 10,527 27 Unable to distinguish in this report

0 -2,000 0 -1,425 0 -500 0

The rest of the cuts: $8,350 + previous $2,000 = $10,350!

Future Strategies

Develop a collection development policy specific to children's materials

o

Use criteria such as supplying classics, collecting popular materials, and books with awards

Assess data regularly to determine whether or not to continue collecting in certain areas Regularly evaluate standing order circulations
o Determine which series to eliminate, increase, or find readalikes for

Plan for the future inclusion of electronic resources in the children's collection

Future Assessment of Budget Cuts

In 5 years, assess whether and how proposed eliminations have affected:

o o o o

Library patrons Library programming Library services, such as Readers' Advisory Children's material circulation statistics