Problems of Developing Library Collections: a study of colleges of education libraries in Botswana

The paper examines the problems militating against the development of useful library collections for the Botswana colleges of education students and lecturers. Using questionnaires and interviews, information was obtained from the study population which comprised the senior librarians and Deputy Principals (Academic) of the colleges and the Chairperson of the Board of Affiliated Institutions of the University of Botswana, as the colleges are affiliated to the University. The study revealed the following as some of the major problems militating against collection development in the libraries: lack of constant training for the librarians, inadequate staff for the libraries, lack of administrative support, and unavailability and non-use of collection development policies. The study concludes that, among others, there is the need to train the college librarians on collection development, provide more staff for the libraries, and there is the need also for the librarians to produce and use adequate collection development policies.