Hoffman & Wood : Target audience policy

Target Audience Identification in Policies.:

“Audience statements can range from broad-based descriptions of clientele to highly focused user groups.”(Hoffman & Hill,p35, 2005)

“ General discussions of patrons-as opposed to demographic breakdowns characertizing community statements –tend to address exactly who is eligible to use the library collection.” .”(Hoffman & Hill,p35, 2005)

“Collection development statements are more likely to mention specific types of clients.” .”(Hoffman & Hill,p35, 2005)

Elizabeth Futas patron categories are included because “library materials specific to their needs are form a special or large segment of their collection, and they wish to bring this particular group to the attention of the readers of the policy.” .”(Hoffman & Hill,p35, 2005)



Hoffman & Richard put out a few interesting examples of Target Audience Statements, segments of which might be useful to us. The Target Audience policy features as a sub section of other policies. In the example given in Dane County Library it appears under the Selection Policy, where as every where else it appears under the general collection development policy.

For example this is taken from the National Art Library , Victoria and Albert Musuem: Collection Development Policy, the whole thing is written more like an narrative than any other of the policies I’ve read. I’ll summarise the and just quote a little bit as there is a bit there.

It begins, “ Anaylsis of a survey of library users in 1985/1986 showed that students , both undergraduate and postgraduate comprised 50% of the readership, the other 50% being made up of artists, designers, academic and private researchers ….”

It goes on to say that although the patterns are probably different now “the NAL is not funded to assume the role implied by the uncontrolled admission of undergraduates. The staffing levels of the NAL oblige it to ensure that only such students are admitted as can show that the materials they require are unobtainable elsewhere.” (Hoffman & Wood, p35, 2005)


This policy or section of policy sounds like their desired audience, more like a new posh night club might have a desire clientele. It’s definitely more informal than other Target Audience policies examples and I think we could write something like this fairly easily into our Collection Development Policy but without the exclusivity.