The Collection Development and Evaluation Section (CODES) of RUSA addresses the collection development interests of reference and user services librarians in libraries of all types. Issues of collection development, evaluation, and readers' advisory are more complex and exciting than ever as Web and print publishers offer more resources and as new modes for serving our users become available.
CODES has ten committees and two discussion groups devoted to the issues just mentioned. The activities of these committees can be found by following the "Our Section" link above. The CODES Web site follows the same navigational menu items as does the RUSA Web site, while sharing the Contact, Join, and Volunteer pages.
Every five years, each section and committee of RUSA undergoes a review. The review, like the re-accreditation process for academic institutions, asks the section or committee to evaluate itself using a list of standard questions to ensure that it is doing what it says it's doing, to encourage it to take stock of its organization and accomplishments as well as its role in the Division, and to help it plan for the future. CODES submitted a report on its 1999-2004 review in May, 2005, to the RUSA Board. For the full text of the section review and the individual committee reviews, see "Our Section". Please be in touch with Barry Trott, CODES Chair, if you have comments about the review or want to participate in any of the initiatives that will grow out of it. CODES is a strong organization because its members volunteer their time and brainpower to many active committees; you can help maintain that strength by reading the section review and volunteering for the committee or project of your choice.
We study questions of reference collection development and maintenance, readers' advisory, user communities, and reference publishing; we compile two nationally important lists of book awards through the Notable Books Council and Outstanding Reference Sources committee; we think about how to meet the changing professional development needs of librarians; and much more.
CODES is a lively place for academic and public librarians to meet colleagues with similar interests and to talk shop in ways that provide information, inspiration, and guidance both for our daily work and as we chart future directions. Interested in getting involved? We welcome your contribution to our committees and section in this time of challenge and opportunity.
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