When it comes to collection development, libraries are making more complex choices based on what patrons want and in what format they want it. Print books come in hardcover and paperback, with an ever-growing selection of large print; library binding, while less popular than it once was, is still an option. Ebook models are more varied than ever, but libraries must pay attention to licensing restrictions, term and use limits, and subscription models. Audiobooks, which are experiencing steady gains in appeal, present some of the widest range of format choices: CDs, downloadable audio, and preloaded players. Librarians need to know not just what content their patrons will want six months from now but how they want to receive it, and-since the answer is almost always "all of the above," at least for the biggest titles-in what proportions. Like all collection development decisions, this balancing act is informed by community demographics, past circulation statistics, current use, and patron-driven requests.
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