Network Bulletin No. 04-33
Date: July 9, 2004
Subject: Collection development
Index term: Collection Development Advisory Group -- 2004 recommendations and
NLS responses
Enclosed is a copy NLS's responses to the recommendations made by the Collection
Development Advisory Group at the meeting held May 26-28, 2004.
Enclosure
For further information contact:
James Herndon
Head
Collection Development Section
(202) 707-0507
[log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________
__Collection Development Advisory Group, May 26-May 28, 2004__
__Recommendations__
1. The Advisory Group recommends NLS continue to reissue and update the collection of
classic books in braille and audio formats, including titles that are on school required
reading lists.
Response: This will continue.
2. The Advisory Group recommends NLS produce more titles on vocabulary building and
writing skills for adults and young adults in braille and audio formats.
Response: This will be done.
3. The Advisory Group recommends NLS expand its Special Foreign Library Collection
by purchasing more popular books and magazines for all ages, with emphasis on materials
in Spanish.
Response: This will continue.
4. The Advisory Group recommends NLS continue to identify and produce titles in series
in the same format and work to reissue older titles in series that are depleted.
Response: This will continue.
5. The Advisory Group recommends that NLS not produce nonfiction bestsellers that will
be outdated by the time they become available.
Response: NLS will reduce the selection of bestsellers likely to be quickly outdated.
6. The Advisory Group recommends that NLS increase the production of clean, young
adult fiction titles on the topics of contemporary problems, coming of age, and adults
starting out in life; and that NLS correspondingly decrease the number of titles on these
topics having descriptions of sex, violence, and strong language.
Response: This will be done with regard to discretionary title selection; however, NLS
will continue to produce bestselling and award-winning titles on these topics regardless of
content.
7. The Advisory Group recommends NLS produce more high-interest, low-vocabulary
titles for children and young adults in braille and audio formats.
Response: This will continue.
8. The Advisory Group recommends NLS increase the production of African-American
adult and young adult titles such as biographies, mysteries, westerns, and romances.
Response: This will continue.
9. The Advisory Group recommends NLS continue to produce cultural history titles.
Response: This will continue.
10. The Advisory Group recommends NLS produce more titles by gay and lesbian
authors, with gay and lesbian protagonists, and on gay and lesbian topics.
Response: This will be done.
11. The Advisory Group recommends NLS produce more general titles on career
exploration and development for adults.
Response: This will be done.
12. The Advisory Group recommends NLS produce more titles on sports such as
swimming and wrestling for children in grades five and above in braille and audio formats.
Response: This will be done.
13. The Advisory Group recommends NLS produce more fiction titles for holidays other
than Christmas and Halloween for children and young adults.
Response: This will be done.
14. The Advisory Group recommends NLS produce more do-it-yourself titles in braille
and audio formats.
Response: This will be done.
15. The Advisory Group recommends NLS include RC and BR book numbers with titles
appearing in "Also by This Author" opening announcements.
Response: Adding NLS book numbers to titles listed in "Also by This Author"
announcements presents a problem relating to the dynamics of collection development. At
the time a book is recorded or brailled, not all titles given in the "Also by This Author" list
will have been done by NLS. Likely, some books in the list would have book numbers and
others would not. Some books in the list may be produced or reissued afterwards and their
book numbers would not appear in the list or would not be current. Book numbers given
in "Also by This Author" lists would be, at best, a snapshot of a dynamic collection.
Therefore, NLS feels the implementation of this recommendation would not be productive,
considering the limited accuracy and increased production time involved in such a process.
Book number listings for other books by an author can best be found by searching the NLS
catalog or by contacting reader advisors.
16. The Advisory Group recommends NLS produce more current titles on military history.
Response: This will be done.
17. The Advisory Group recommends NLS produce more braille titles on knitting with the
pattern descriptions given in the text rather than in visual charts or diagrams.
Response: This will be done as appropriate titles can be identified. Unfortunately, the
great majority of knitting books rely on visual illustrations and do not easily lend
themselves to production in braille formats.
18. The Advisory Group recommends NLS produce more audiobooks of titles published
by museums such as Mystic Seaport.
Response: This will continue.
19. The Advisory Group recommends NLS include in the "In Brief" section of __Talking
Book Topics__ information on how titles are selected and distributed and on how readers
can contact their regional libraries with title recommendations.
Response: This information may appear in a future edition of __Talking Book Topics__ or
another publication (such as a Factsheet) yet to be determined.
20. The Advisory Group recommends that NLS revise the large-print version of __Talking
Book Topics__ so that: 1) pages are produced in full-text format instead of newspaper-
column format; 2) a line space or some other indication is added between entries to better
distinguish the beginning and end of entries; 3) the page numbers are located on the center
outer edges of the pages; and 4) a separate section is included for young adult titles.
Response: The column format of __Talking Book Topics and Braille Book Review__ was
designed for optimal ease of reading by visually handicapped persons, based upon
extensive national research. While this format may not be optimal for some types of
magnification readers, it is the appropriate large-type format for the majority of users.
Increasing line spacing between entries and adding page numbers to margins would greatly
increase the cost of __Talking Book Topics__ and, thus, is not feasible.
__Commendations__
1. The Advisory Group commends NLS for continuing to reduce the production time of
books.
Response: Thank you.
2. The Advisory Group commends NLS for producing more science and technology books
for the layperson.
Response: Thank you.
3. The Advisory Group commends NLS for maintaining the number of braille titles
produced.
Response: Thank you.
4. The Advisory Group commends NLS for continuing to investigate alternative sources
of titles, including obtaining the rights to commercial audiobooks.
Response: Thank you.
5. The Advisory Group commends NLS for producing biographies of persons of historical
and cultural significance in braille and audio formats.
Response: Thank you.
6. The Advisory Group commends NLS for achieving and maintaining the number of
titles produced in print braille format.
Response: Thank you.
7. The Advisory Group commends NLS for continuing to produce award-winning titles
for children and young adults.
Response: Thank you.
8. The Advisory Group commends NLS for promoting interest in the Lewis and Clark
expedition.
Response: Thank you.
9. The Advisory Group commends all NLS narrators for their tireless efforts and
professionalism.
Response: Thank you.
10. The Advisory Group commends NLS director Frank Kurt Cylke, for furthering the
NLS mission of promoting interest in the financial support for the NLS program.
Response: Thank you.
11. The Advisory Group commends the NLS Collection Development Section, Jim
Herndon and staff, for the outstanding facilitation of this meeting.
Response: Thank you.
12. The Advisory Group commends NLS Collection Development staff for excellent work
during a time of staff shortage.
Response: Thank you.
13. The Advisory Group commends chairperson Oakley Pearson and secretary Sue Walker
for their excellent work during the meeting.
Response: NLS also thanks the members of the 2004 Collection Development Advisory
Group for their work and efforts.
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