Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil.
Collection development as a research topic has not been given the same prominence in the context of the public library as in that of the university library. In South Africa the
future of public librarianship may well be dependent on its selection policies. The selection of fiction in public libraries has been a controversial subject since the dawn of public librarianship in the late 19th century. Librarians are still being criticised, either for their elitist attitude, because of their bias towards literary works; or for their supermarket
attitude, because of their preference for popular fiction. The demand versus quality debate seems to remain unresolved. Furthermore, the role of the librarian as a developer of a particular collection, has become so confused with the role of the censor in society, that the differences between the two roles warrant an exploratory study. The aim of this study is to analyse the elements and contextual factors on a macro level that may have influence on the micro decision of selecting individual fiction titles. The study focuses on three main subject areas. Firstly, literary theory as a field of scientific research underlying the practice of literary criticism is examined to obtain perspective on the phenomenon literary quality. Secondly, the development of censorship in the Western World is reviewed as a necessary background to the interpretation of the research that has been done on reader response and reading effects in a number of disciplines. Thirdly, selection theory pertaining to the public library is explored to evaluate the amount of clarification it has brought about in major problem areas. As this is mainly an exploratory study of theories, no hypotheses have been formulated to be confirmed or rejected. Rather it must be seen as qualitative research that might
generate hypotheses. The scientific aim can be described as the development of a model to visually illustrate the selection decision process and the relationships of the
relevant variables within its contextual framework. Literature study, description, definition, critical analysis, contextualisation, tabulation and graphical representation,
constitute the methods that have been used. The role of the selector of fiction can be clearly differentiated from that of the literary critic and the censor. It has however been found that they are interdependent because of their shared interest in the text, and because their functions are theoretically based in a body of interdisciplinary knowledge. The selector of fiction can only fulfil his role effectively when he becomes conversant
with this body of knowledge. It has become clear that the public library as an open system which continually interacts with its community, has to define its own mission to provide direction and motivation to all its activities, including selection. In response to its
environment the objectives of the public library must be adaptable to changes. The model which has been developed, illustrates how the selection process can resolve the problem of quality versus demand, by way of the priorities given to the phases of decision-making. It has come to the fore that there is a difference between censorship and publications control. The professional selector must know that difference and be able to handle the latter as a part of the reality of the environment in which the library operates. The research has been done from the viewpoint of Reader Studies. One of the major insights gained from the study is the close relationship between this discipline, Literature Study and Ethics, as well as the other human sciences with an
interest in the interaction of readers with texts. A systems approach to literature communication, that will bring about the common involvement of these disciplines, could only be beneficial to our knowledge of readership.