Issues in Collection Building: The Process

For the past six months (and with no end in sight) I have been reading and evaluating the collection development and materials selection policies of libraries from all over the country. Not only does this include academic and public libraries, but thrown in for good measure are some school, special, and state library documents. Some are good, and some aren't so good, but what it all boils down to is, what goes into the making of a successful policy?