Collecting Profile - Children's Literature
To be read in conjunction with the overarching principles and general principles for reference material or heritage material as relevant.
Purpose
Our collecting focus in this area is toward developing a collection of outstanding resources that are actively used to encourage literacy and the understanding of the story in all its forms.
Collecting intent
This collection focuses on significant children's literature titles from Australia and overseas that support library activities promoting children's literacy, specifically children from 0-12 years of age.
We collect in two main areas:
- outstanding children's literature resources to be used for programs/activities and browsing
- a smaller collection that directly supports research and literacy activities.
Coverage
The emphasis of this collection is on outstanding titles with a significant representation of Western Australian and Australian works and a smaller representation of distinguished works from overseas.
An important focus of collecting is Western Australian children's literature.
Rare and out of print material relating to important children's literature, in particular Australian or with a direct influence on Australian authors and illustrators, are acquired selectively.
We collect archival material where it supports outstanding children's literature.
We actively acquire pictorial resources, in particular original children's illustrations, within budget constraints or by donation, to build on the already strong collection in this area and to add depth to literacy related activities. The strength of this collection is based on a collection of original illustrations donated by Peter Williams supplemented by copies of all titles with illustrations in this collection.
We collect children's books by local Indigenous authors that reflect their stories and selectively collect other outstanding Indigenous stories for children.
Collaboration
This collection complements the Better Beginnings family literacy program and support children's literature and literary agencies in Western Australia such as the Fremantle Children's Literature Centre.
Format
Print dominates this collection however we provide selective access to digital resources that encourage children's literacy and reading.
Duplication
Outstanding children's literature titles will be duplicated for loan in Western Australian public library collections.
We selectively collect duplicate copies, up to a maximum of three, of Western Australian children's literature titles - one for the heritage collection as a preservation copy, one for the research collection and one to be used in children's literacy programs.
We selectively collect variant editions, where there are significant changes, a new significant format or a commemorative edition.
Language
The majority of the collection is in English though, dependant on prominence, we collect some bilingual and Indigenous language titles.
Collecting analysis
This collection is an emerging and dynamic collection, using the previous Research Collection of Children's Literature as its core. Regular analysis of the quality and usage of the collection to determine further collection development is conducted.
Budget emphasis
The budget emphasis will be on the collection of in-print outstanding children's literature and also original illustrations.
Page last updated: Tuesday 23 November 2010
