Plain English collection budgets: a collection plan for public libraries Available to Purchase

The public library of Des Moines has addressed problems of a neglected materials collection and inadequate materials budget through a new and innovative collection plan based on quantifiable local standards. The library measures median collection age, and shelf availability of recently circulated items. The collection plan is based on a standard size determined for each library collection. Items added each year equal the number of items withdrawn. Collection budgets are calculated using formulas that will provide a five‐year median age and at least 50 per cent availability in all types of materials. The library has succeeded in reducing the median age from 16 to eight years and has achieved 50 per cent availability in almost all collection areas.