[Libs-Or] Public Libraries and CD collections

[Haun, Burton]

Here is my story in Wilsonville:

I usually order 15-20 popular CD titles each month. This is fewer than in years past. I do add “best of…” collections that come via donations and will buy other trending bands and genres.  Circulation of cds has already leveled and seems to be trending slowly downward.

It is disheartening to watch, but I don’t think that it has a direct correlation to my purchasing fewer titles. Our reference desk is next to our collection, so I watch people browse the collection and the number of browsers over the last few years has noticeably decreased. I think most of our circs go to other libraries in the county and music aficionados who eagerly seek new music to put on hold.

After reviewing sites like Hoopla, I am not ready to commit. I am not sold on the benefit or value for the cost. We also do not get requests for these services, nor are they requested during library surveys. It is very difficult to know exactly how the future will play out for this collection, but I feel that downloadable music services will probably continue to increase in popularity. Will the library be a significant participant in the patron/corporation relationship? For smaller libraries? hmmm.

Burton


Burton Haun

Reference Librarian

Wilsonville Public Library

503-682-2744

________________________________
From: Libs-Or [libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] on behalf of Michael Grutchfield [mgrutchfield at JosephineLibrary.org]
Sent: Tuesday, September 09, 2014 1:58 PM
To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: [Libs-Or] Public Libraries and CD collections

Hello fellow librarians,

We’ve been wondering about public libraries and CD collections at my library. Are CDs on the way out, or do they still circulate in respectable numbers? As our younger and tech-ier patrons shift to downloadable music and services like Pandora, are libraries changing collection policies/procedures to reflect this? How are you envisioning the future of CDs at your library – or are you?

I would appreciate any examples or feedback from others involved in these decisions.

Thank you,

Michael Grutchfield, MLIS
Collection Development Librarian
Josephine Community Libraries
200 NW C Street
Grants Pass, Oregon 97526
mgrutchfield at josephinelibrary.org
office: 541-476-0571
fax: 541-479-0685
“Libraries allow children to ask questions about the world and find the answers. And the wonderful thing is that once a child learns to use a library, the doors to learning are always open.<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/laurabush335923.html>”
-Laura Bush<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/l/laurabush335923.html>



-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20140910/3bfd1694/attachment.html>