Coaching Your Librarian to Excel for Accreditation Visits

—The Collection Conundrum: From Dusty Tomes to Digital Treasures

"Because Your Library’s Value Is More Than Just Shelf Space"

Long gone are the days when a library’s worth was measured by how many books could be squeezed into its shelves. In today’s academic world, a well-rounded collection means balancing print, e-books, databases, and multimedia resources—ensuring students and faculty can access information whenever and wherever they need it. Accreditation teams want to see a library that evolves with the institution’s programs, not one clinging to a nostalgic past of encyclopedias and microfilm. This post will explore how to curate a collection that reflects the modern academic landscape (and yes, that might mean making peace with AI-generated research assistants).

Accreditation standards have evolved beyond measuring libraries by square footage or book counts. Instead, evaluators SHOULD look at how well your collection supports the institution’s academic programs. A well-rounded collection now includes:

✅ Print vs. Digital Balance – Really evaluate if physical materials are still valuable for any of your programs if you have any in-person. Maximize the accessibility of e-books, e-journals, and multimedia resources.
✅ Database Subscriptions & Open Access – Does your library provide the latest research tools, or are students relying on Google Scholar and paywalls?
✅ Program-Specific Resources – A nursing program needs up-to-date medical journals, while a film studies department requires access to streaming archives. Your collection should reflect your institution’s unique needs.
✅ Usage & Relevance – Accreditation teams want to see that resources are not just there but actually being used. Circulation stats, database analytics, and interlibrary loan activity help tell this story.

What Accreditation Teams Expect:

Libraries are no longer judged by how many books they have, but how well their resources align with academic programs and research needs. Evaluators will ask:

✔️ Does your collection support the disciplines offered by your institution?
✔️ Are digital resources available for distance learners and 24/7 research needs?
✔️ How do you ensure that your materials stay current and relevant?
✔️ What’s the balance between print, digital, and multimedia resources?

How to Prove Your Library’s Collection Is Accreditation-Ready

🔹 Align Resources with Curriculum – Work with faculty to identify essential resources for each program. Create collection development policies that document how you acquire materials.

🔹 Showcase Your Digital Shift – Provide data on e-book usage, database subscriptions, and open-access materials. Highlight how your library ensures off-campus students have the same research opportunities.

🔹 Demonstrate Continuous Review – Have a process in place for regularly weeding outdated materials and adding new ones that reflect industry trends and evolving academic disciplines.

🔹 Use Data to Tell the Story – Accreditors love numbers. Track circulation statistics, database usage, and interlibrary loan requests to show that resources are actively used.

📌 Pro Tip: Don’t just focus on what’s in the collection—focus on how students and faculty use the collection.