Kendall Young Library

An online database is easier to use and more current

Ketta says the library previously used the print version of Core Collections to determine whether to buy or weed books. Later, the State of Iowa purchased an online subscription for all libraries, and Ketta “fell in love with it, because the online version was so much easier to use.”

“The Core Collection has been useful in keeping our collection current and identifying areas where we needed new and updated books while providing quality titles,” explains Ketta. “Core Collections really helped fill in areas that we had overlooked, because of a lack of subject knowledge or interest."

"I love how this one database combines all of the core publications. Not only does it recommend titles, but it also includes book reviews. I don't have to keep years and years of catalogs or magazines, because I can easily look up citations directly in Core Collections. It is so helpful to have a tool that doesn’t require storage space."

The full suite serves the reading needs of the entire community… and the staff

Kendall Young Library has all seven Core Collections, including Core Collection en Español, to meet the needs of its entire reading community.  

“I added the Spanish Core Collection because our Spanish-speaking population is growing, and the board had requested that we purchase more Spanish books,” explains Ketta. “And for me, purchasing Spanish books is very overwhelming. I want to make sure we provide them with quality information that our Spanish-speaking patrons want to read."

Ketta says Core Collections helps new staff members learn how to build a robust and responsive collection. Many are new to library work, and asking them to build a collection is daunting. Ketta is grateful to have Core Collections to help her guide her new employees when making purchasing and weeding decisions.

And, as a long-time employee with a vast knowledge of library work, she also finds the database more helpful than internet searches.

“I love that we can search by Dewey Decimal,” exclaims Ketta. “I am always looking for new nonfiction books. When I type in the subject into Amazon, for example, I get 5,000 hits, and they have nothing to do with what I want at all.”

“I love that I can search by Dewey Decimal within the Core Collections and see a list of books that fit that area. It really helps me narrow down my options and makes selecting the right materials much easier."

Free trial helps libraries see the value of Core Collections for their library

Any library interested in purchasing Core Collections can ask for a demo and free trial. After all, you wouldn’t buy a new car without a test drive! Ketta says the trial gave her a clear view of all the features and helped her to envision how the tool would work in her specific library.

“It allows you to see what Core Collections is and how it works, and how easy it is,” advises Ketta. "During the free trial, I reviewed our collection by selecting a range of materials and compared them to the Core Collections recommendations to see if we were on the right track.”

Ketta discovered the advanced searching and filtering options, which make her work much easier. She often narrows her search to a specific collection, like children’s, to help her focus. And she says the recommendation levels help her make decisions quickly and easily.

“As you know, money is tight for all libraries, and so I like how they divide it into different categories,” says Ketta. “If I'm debating between two books, and I don't know which one I would like to purchase, I look to see if it is essential, recommended, or supplemental. I use that as a way to make the most impactful choices.”

Reviews and awards help libraries defend their purchasing decisions

Core Collections contains authoritative recommendations that are vendor and publisher-neutral, and all titles are chosen by expert librarians. That can help libraries that may face questions about their purchasing or weeding decisions.

“I love how Core Collections includes references to reviews and notes when titles have won awards,” declares Ketta. 

Ketta also uses Core Collections to defend her decisions when a patron challenges a book.