By Craig Scott, Director, Gadsden Public Library
When visitors walk through the doors of the Gadsden Public Library, they are greeted by rows of books, movies, audiobooks, and other materials ready to be discovered. What many people may not realize is that before any of those items reach the shelves, a great deal of thoughtful work takes place behind the scenes. At the heart of that work is the library’s cataloging and collection development department, led by two dedicated professionals: Tallulah Cash and Melissa Melisano.
Tallulah and Melissa are responsible for evaluating, purchasing, and cataloging all new materials that enter the library’s collection. Every new book, DVD, audiobook, and digital resource must be carefully selected to ensure it meets the needs and interests of our community. Their job is part research, part analysis, and part intuition about what Gadsden readers will enjoy.
Collection development is a continuous process. Tallulah and Melissa review professional journals, publisher catalogs, bestseller lists, award winners, and patron requests to determine which titles should become part of the library’s holdings. They strive to create a balanced and diverse collection that reflects a wide range of interests, ages, and perspectives. From children’s picture books and young adult novels to nonfiction, local history, and popular fiction, every selection is made with our patrons in mind.
Budget stewardship is also an important part of their work. With a limited materials budget, Tallulah and Melissa carefully prioritize purchases to ensure the library offers the greatest variety and value possible. They monitor demand for popular titles, make decisions about additional copies when needed, and work to ensure that both new releases and timeless classics are available to readers.
Once materials are selected and purchased, the cataloging process begins. Cataloging ensures that each item can be easily found by patrons and staff through the library’s catalog system called Atriuum. Tallulah and Melissa assign subject headings, classification numbers, and descriptive information that help users locate materials quickly and accurately. It’s a meticulous process that transforms a new book from a simple purchase into a searchable part of the library’s collection.
Another vital responsibility they handle is “weeding” the collection. While the word may sound unusual, weeding is an essential practice for maintaining a vibrant and useful library. Over time, books can become outdated, worn, or no longer relevant to community interests. Tallulah and Melissa regularly review the shelves to identify materials that should be repaired, replaced, or retired from the collection.
This careful evaluation helps ensure that library shelves remain current, accurate, and appealing. Removing outdated materials also creates space for new books and resources, keeping the collection fresh and responsive to changing reader interests. In many cases, well-loved titles that are removed are replaced with newer editions or updated information.
Weeding is guided by professional library standards as well as circulation data and community demand. Materials that are no longer being checked out, that contain outdated information, or that have been damaged beyond repair may be removed so that better resources can take their place.
The work Tallulah Cash and Melissa Melisano do is largely invisible to the public, but it shapes nearly every library experience. Their careful selections determine what books readers discover next, what information students find for research, and what stories families share together.
Thanks to their dedication and expertise, the Gadsden Public Library’s collection continues to grow in ways that serve and inspire our community. The next time you find the perfect book on the shelf, there’s a very good chance Tallulah and Melissa helped put it there.
- Gadsden Public Library: 254 South College Street, downtown Gadsden (next to the U.S. Post Office). Phone: 256-549-4699
- Genealogy Branch: 2700 West Meighan Boulevard, Alabama City (corner of West Meighan and Wall Street). Phone: 256-549-4688
