The Community College Library

Community college librarians craft tailored programs that unite equity-centered collections with data-driven technical services. Emphasizing cataloging, system migrations, and zero textbook cost initiatives, they empower diverse student communities and drive innovative models that strengthen local higher education. Community colleges are a cornerstone of higher education and serve the unique needs of the communities in which they reside. Collections and technical services librarians at these institutions need expertise in their area of library work, but also a deep understanding of the community they serve to curate and make discoverable the resources their users need. The Community College Library: Collections and Technical Services highlights the various approaches to collection development and the technical services work being done by community college librarians around the U.S. You’ll find strategies for developing equity-centered collections, data-driven acquisitions, cataloging, systems migrations, zero textbook cost degrees, and more. These programs can serve as a model, providing new and innovative ways to approach this work at your own institutions. Community college librarians are engaged in meaningful work designing and delivering library programs and services that meet the needs of their diverse populations and support student learning. ACRL’s “The Community College Library” series is meant to lift the voices of community college librarians and highlight their creativity, tenacity, and commitment to students.