Counting Our Blessings: Inventory of a Roman Catholic Seminary Library

This chapter is a case study of the Cardinal Stafford Library’s inventory process, using project management principles to plan, implement, and evaluate collection audits. Inventory touches almost every library function: circulation, acquisitions, cataloging, reference, special collections, collection development, repair, and shelving. Conley highlights the importance of accurate catalogs, staff coordination, and communication in maintaining a responsive and well-organized library collection. Inventory management requires attentiveness to the individual item and a corresponding viewpoint of the overall collection. Managers must be able to respond to the details and the greater institutional demands.