ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on value rather than simply responding to demand appears to place emphasis on the needs of the serious user. In the United Kingdom, few of the respondents quoted in Ann Goulding's survey of public librarians' opinions seemed to be terribly worried if public library book lending should be driven by quality or quantity, value or demand. A review of correspondence in the British press shows that many library users, unlike some professionals, are aware of the dangers of an over concentration on populist material. Demand is often short term and the vast majority of ephemeral populist publications are readily available from many other sources. Public librarians should be expected to know what constitutes quality in books and other library material. The selection process requires continuous adjustment and librarians need to undertake a detailed analysis of their current provision. Collections that are the result of well founded policies and procedures that strike the right balance between value and demand.
