Collection Development of Western Language Materials: Taiwan's National Central Library

This study examines the collection building of Western language materials in a Third World national library. Given the multitude of demands and needs of a developing country, national libraries are confronted with basic problems, including convincing the government that the library is an important national institution, contributing to the nation's development and worthy of financial support. In addition to resource constraints, there is also the question of spending wisely for one's domestic collection as well as foreign publications, the latter being crucial if the Third World country is embarked upon a determined program of modernization. With limited resources on the one hand and the need to procure information from the developed world on the other, libraries in Third World countries could best meet their goals through careful planning. When collecting Western language materials, constructive planning could be achieved through a collection development policy in which Western collections are systematically and rationally built to assure collection growth and maximum utility.