Developing Collecting Policies for Manuscript Collections

Collecting policies should be a component of programs that seek to eliminate future problems, lessen competition, and provide an avenue for deaccessioning. Collecting policies can also assist the curator in fulfilling the mission of the manuscript collection, but guidelines for producing such policies have not yet been formulated. A method for dealing with the complexity of manuscript collecting must be devised. The American Library Association does provide a beginning with its "Guidelines for the Formulation of Collection Development Policies," but these guidelines are not designed for manuscript collections. A model that can be used to develop a well-planned, written collection policy for manuscripts is needed. Included in this study are suggested ways of developing written collecting policies for manuscript collections. Also considered are such matters as goals and objectives, deaccessioning, research potential of materials, and procedures for carrying out policies. The basis for a model outline for formulating collecting policies is developed through an examination of appropriate literature.