In 2013-2014, Region of Waterloo Library (RWL) moved from a branch-based collection refreshed through “collection exchange” to a system-based collection shared through “floating”. Our library went “all-in” with floating, in that all of our branches float materials, and our entire collection (print and AV) floats, with few exceptions. This change not only resulted in improvements to both customer service and collection management, but also required a major shift in processes and procedures for all staff across our 10 branches. In this session, three librarians from RWL will outline our step-by-step process for setting up a floating collection, the benefits and drawbacks of floating, how we managed this change, what we learned along the way, and the tools that helped us to make this change successful (e.g., Google Sheets, CollectionHQ).
Learning Outcomes
Participants will learn:
1. How to set up a floating collection for their public library (step-by-step)
2. Tips and tools for success (including change management)
3. Pitfalls to avoid
