Acquisitions
Acquisitions in libraries refers to the process of selecting, ordering, and receiving new materials for the library's collection. This includes books, electronic resources, journals, and other media. It's similar to purchasing or procurement in other industries, but specifically focused on library materials. People working in acquisitions help decide what to buy, manage budgets, work with vendors and publishers, and ensure the library gets the resources it needs. They might work with both traditional materials like books and modern formats like e-books or online databases.
Examples in Resumes
Managed $500,000 annual budget for Acquisitions of academic materials
Streamlined Acquisitions process reducing order processing time by 30%
Coordinated Acquisitions and Collection Development for main library branch
Typical job title: "Acquisitions Librarians"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Acquisitions Librarians
Professional Associations
Job Boards
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you manage a significant budget cut while maintaining essential resources?
Expected Answer: Should discuss strategies like analyzing usage statistics, negotiating with vendors, considering consortium deals, and prioritizing core materials while maintaining service quality.
Q: How do you approach the transition from print to electronic resources?
Expected Answer: Should explain balancing user needs, budget considerations, access methods, and training requirements while maintaining service continuity.
Mid Level Questions
Q: How do you evaluate potential vendors and negotiate contracts?
Expected Answer: Should discuss comparing prices, service quality, reliability, and building relationships with vendors while getting the best value for the library.
Q: Describe your experience with collection development policies.
Expected Answer: Should explain how they use policies to guide purchasing decisions, maintain balanced collections, and respond to community needs.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What's your process for handling rush orders?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic ordering procedures, prioritization methods, and communication with vendors and requestors.
Q: How do you track and process new material orders?
Expected Answer: Should explain basic order tracking, using library management systems, and following up on outstanding orders.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic ordering and receiving
- Using library management systems
- Budget tracking
- Vendor communications
Mid (2-5 years)
- Vendor negotiations
- Collection development
- Budget management
- Electronic resource management
Senior (5+ years)
- Strategic planning
- Large budget management
- Team supervision
- Policy development
Red Flags to Watch For
- No experience with library management systems
- Poor understanding of budget management
- Lack of vendor relationship experience
- No knowledge of electronic resources
Related Terms
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