How do you decide which books to add to your collection, and which not to?
Hello, I have been managing a library collection for two years now. It's always been quite difficult deciding which new publications to purchase each month, and which to forgo, especially given how many excellent books are being published every month. I thought that this would become easier with time, but I'm finding that it has only become more difficult to choose. I always try to maintain a balance among new releases, award winners, diverse perspectives, patron requests, and core collection needs, etc.
What I'd love to get some advice on is what precisely you do when determining which new books to purchase, and which to forgo. I would like to have a more streamlined process so that I feel more satisfied about my decision, rather than something like FOMO about the books I didn't purchase (and likely won't be able to purchase next month, unless they are extra essential to the collection, as the next month will only have its own share of far too many compelling titles to choose from).
Thank you in advance for your expertise! 🙏