The concept of collection development in the digital world

Examines definitions of the library as a collection to demonstrate the centrality of collection development to library and information professionals, before moving on to the issue of collection development as a concept, showing how professional discourse on the subject has suffered from confused terminology. Uses a four-phase framework to review the impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on libraries, concentrating on its effects on collections and their development. The final part of the chapter returns to academic and practitioner conceptions of collection development in digital environments, concluding with a set of questions for reflection on the future of collection development