Stock Selection, Stock Management, and 
                                          Reader Development 
                  
                 POLICY 
                  
                 1. Stock Selection and Management Policy 
                  
                     •   Stock, along with staff and buildings, is one of Essex County Council 
                         Libraries’ key assets and has a major role to play in helping to provide an 
                         excellent service.  
                  
                     •   Stock is selected and managed on a countywide basis: 
                  
                             •   Individual library collections try to reflect the needs of the local 
                                 community as closely as possible, but the benefits of economies of 
                                 scale available to a large authority are also exploited 
                              
                             •   Staff at every level have a valuable role to play in the selection and 
                                 management of stock to ensure the best experience for the customer 
                                 and the most efficient use of resources 
                  
                             •   Stock should be attractive, relevant and well displayed.  
                              
                             •   Location of less popular/more expensive material is normally limited to 
                                 larger libraries. Nevertheless, access is possible to all lending items on 
                                 the Library Catalogue, via the request service, from any library 
                  
                             •   Paperback books are preferred to hardback as they are more popular 
                                 with most users, and provide better value for money. Hardbacks are 
                                 still bought where they are the only format available for requested titles, 
                                 and in anticipation of demand 
                  
                             •   Hardback titles are also bought for non-fiction items where there is a 
                                 considerable delay for the paperback version, or when it is unlikely that 
                                 a title will ever appear in paperback 
                  
                             •   Requested titles are bought according to a ratio of copies per hold 
                                 which ensures that customers do not have to wait an unreasonable 
                                 length of time  
                  
                             •   The primary purpose of most audiovisual collections is to generate a 
                                 surplus of income over expenditure. For this reason, DVDs are not 
                                 stocked in every library, but customers can still reserve them and have 
                                 them sent to their local branch.  The exception to the income 
                                 generation  rule is audiobook provision, as the majority of audio book 
                                 customers are exempt from charges due to their difficulties in 
                                 accessing printed sources  
                  
                             •   Libraries are a key place for people to access reading in accessible 
                                 formats and we aim to give customers as wide a choice as possible. 
                                 We buy stock in Large Print, audio books on CD and downloadable e-
                                 audio. To widen choice we also signpost the RNIB National Library 
                                 Service.      
                                  
                             •   Public Libraries under the Equality Act 2010 have a duty to promote 
                                 equality and diversity. The range of stock we purchase should both 
                                 reflect and celebrate our diverse community, and promote good 
                                 relations across all equality areas including race, disability, gender, 
                                 religion and sexual orientation  
                  
                             •   Children’s stock should be available in a wide range to ensure there 
                                 are titles to appeal to children of all ages and abilities.  Children’s stock 
                                 should be attractive and engaging to encourage children into reading at 
                                 all ages  
                  
                 2. Reader Development Policy 
                  
                 Reader Development is about helping people of all ages and abilities to enjoy 
                 reading and get the most out of it.  
                  
                 Reading books, and talking about them, is something anyone can enjoy doing.  As a 
                 library service we look to: 
                  
                     •   Build confidence for non-readers and emerging readers to enjoy reading, and 
                         improve their literacy levels 
                  
                     •   Ensure customers know about the range of resources for them to enjoy 
                         including different formats, authors, and subjects as well as how to access 
                         them 
                  
                     •   Encourage customers to try different types of reading experiences 
                  
                     •   Give the reader a sense of satisfaction from the whole experience, from 
                         thinking about what to read to sharing their thoughts afterwards 
                  
                     •   For children, it is especially important to ensure that books are available to 
                         appeal to every age, as well as every reading ability.  It is also important to 
                         remember that every year a new group of children will be starting to visit the 
                         library, and discovering classic titles for the first time. 
                  
                 Types of activity we undertake to support reader development: 
                  
                     •   Putting together a great display  
                     •   Talking to customers about reading 
                     •   Working with partners such as Skills for Life tutors  
                     •   Having a well organised and suitable book stock 
                     •   Finding out what a customer already enjoys and making recommendations 
                     •   Directing customers to new reading ideas such as those on our website  
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                     •   Organising author talks and readings 
                     •   Helping a customer set up or join a book group 
                     •   Suggesting what a customer could read next 
                     •   Encouraging customers to share their thoughts on what they’ve read 
                     •   Extra support for customers who may have difficulty browsing or choosing  
                         independently 
                      
                 3. Stock Selection and Management: Practice and 
                 Procedures 
                  
                 Books – what we stock 
                  
                 Essex County Council is the provider of a major library service, provided through 74 
                 static and 10 mobile libraries, ranging from the very small through to one of the 
                 busiest libraries in the UK.  
                  
                 To maintain this service we aim to provide a comprehensive selection of material in 
                 both fiction and non-fiction. 
                  
                 For fiction this encompasses new titles, classic and perennially popular titles, 
                 backlist titles and titles out of print. We stock popular bestsellers, minority interest 
                 titles and actively support new authors. 
                  
                 We stock works in translation, books written in English but from other cultures, and 
                 provide books in their original languages where there is local need. 
                  
                 For non-fiction this includes a full range of non-fiction up to but not necessarily 
                 including undergraduate level. It includes leisure reading, all sorts of practical guides, 
                 and titles to support both formal and informal learning.  
                  
                 We stock books reflecting different political views and opinions, and different views 
                 on issues where there is current debate, such as climate change. The range of stock 
                 we provide should both reflect and celebrate the diversity of the population. 
                  
                 Books – what we don’t stock includes 
                  
                         •   Coffee table and other “gift” books 
                         •   Books that involve some filling in – Sudoku, check lists, question/answer 
                             etc 
                         •   Stapled or spiral bound books (with very occasional exceptions) 
                         •   Books that include clothing kits, cards, dice, etc, where they are essential 
                             to the use of the book 
                         •   Books that are used in conjunction with an online source where only the 
                             first borrower can register for this use 
                         •   Books cobbled together from Wikipedia and other free Internet sources 
                         •   Expensive “Special editions” 
                         •   Books that are aimed specifically at University students, unless there is 
                             some more general appeal to them 
                         •   Classroom teaching packs 
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                 Adult Book Selection 
                 When making decisions about which books to buy, and in what quantities, there are 
                 a number of criteria to consider: 
                  
                 Fiction 
                 Factors to consider include; the performance of previous titles by same author, the 
                 popularity of the genre, the scale of the promotional campaign, the rating from the 
                 supplier, and, to some extent, the price.  Hardback fiction should only be bought 
                 when a waiting list is expected for the title.  For new authors, little-known or less 
                 anticipated titles, the hardback would not be bought, and we would wait for the 
                 paperback edition to be released. 
                  
                 Series of books are bought for the same libraries for consistency.  The next book in 
                 the series will always be bought if the earlier books are issuing.  However, books 
                 within a series can get moved or withdrawn over time leaving gaps.  If staff notice a 
                 gap in a series they should inform the Stock and Resources Manager.   
                  
                 A title’s predicted popularity will influence how many copies to buy.  Books likely to 
                 be very popular will be bought for every library.   Other titles will be bought in smaller 
                 numbers and circulated around smaller libraries.  Certain ‘must-have’ titles will be 
                 bought in multiple copies for the largest libraries.  At all times our stock should offer a 
                 great range of titles, whilst managing demand and ensuring the waiting lists for very 
                 popular titles are manageable.  The influence of the media can lead to some 
                 exceptional titles experiencing extremely high demand.  In these cases we will buy 
                 more copies than usual, to protect our reputation of providing access to the newest 
                 and most popular titles.    
                  
                 Stock is bought in languages other than English. Material is provided in a range of 
                 languages where a need is identified.  
                  
                 Non-Fiction 
                 Factors to consider include; the performance of previous titles in a series, the 
                 popularity of the subject, how specialist the material is, quality and appeal of the 
                 book, and, to some extent, the price.   
                  
                 Replacement Stock Purchase  
                 This is done in various ways 
                             •   New editions of an old item may turn up on the supplier’s list  
                             •   Staff or customers may flag up gaps in our collections 
                             •   The Stock and Resources Manager looks systematically at areas 
                                 where replacement stock purchase is required  
                  
                 Children’s Book Selection 
                 Aims and outcomes for children’s book stock selection in Essex Libraries 
                     •   Children should have access to a wide range of books; both fiction and non 
                         fiction 
                     •   The books should be of high quality – appearing up-to-date and inviting 
                     •   There should be books at a wide range of ability levels and interest ages so 
                         that every child can find the book that is right for them. This includes reluctant 
                         older readers, who should be able to find books that appeal to them and are 
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