Core Collection Final Project

Mary Salata
LIS 748
 This is a hypothetical exploration of a creating a core collection for adults relating to
World War II for the Elmhurst Public Library, in Elmhurst, IL.
1. The Elmhurst Public Library’s mission statement is: “Elmhurst Public Library
enriches life in Elmhurst by providing opportunities to connect, create, and explore.”
Their vision is to be, “the place for discovery at the heart of the community.”
(Elmhurst Public Library, 2021). Since its inception in 1912 and its ultimate opening
in 1916, the Elmhurst Public Library as aimed to do just that. Growing from just 830
books and a facility that was only open ten hours a week, to being ranked the sixth
best library in the nation by the HAPLR index in 2005, with over half a million
visitors, (Elmhurst Public Library, 2021), it is clear that Elmhurst Public Library’s
ability to respond to their patronage’s needs and wants is top notch.

2. As a public library in Elmhurst, IL, it is important to understand the community that

the library serves. As of 2019, Elmhurst served an urban population of over 46,000
people, a population that grew by nearly 10% since 2000 (City-Data, 2021). Elmhurst
has over 1,400 veterans who reside within the city. Additionally, 15.4% of the
population of Elmhurst is over 65. (United States Census Bureau, 2019). The city is
also home to Elmhurst University, which has an undergraduate history program, as
well as a public high school and several private schools.

3. Due to the population of Elmhurst, in my time working there I frequently saw patron
purchase requests for materials relating to World War II. These requests came
primarily from the elderly population, and also from the student population, both
university and high school students who utilized the adult non-fiction collection in
their research. As there is demand for resources relating this information, I believe
that to be the primary driver for creating a core collection of adult non-fiction relating
to World War II. Secondly, it is a monumental time in history and the Elmhurst
Public Library collection development policy states that they seek items not only of
contemporary significance but of permanent value.

4. In selecting materials for this core collection, I utilized reputable review sources, as
well as the guiding principles of the Elmhurst Public Library’s collection
management policy. This library lists the following as their selection criteria when
considering items for addition to and maintenance in the collection (Elmhurst Public
Library, 2019):
• Authenticity of the information
• Authority of the author or publisher
• Availability of materials from other libraries
• Cost
• Interest to Elmhurst residents
• Popularity of the author or performer
• Physical features and format
 • Readability and style
• Relation to existing collections and other material on the subject
• Relevance or timeliness
• Representation of a balancing point of view
• Space for the material or ease of access
• Suitable to the needs of the community
• Support of school curricula
The library’s collection development policy also states that they will do their best to
provide information and resources, and will supplement as needed with inter-library loan.
World War II is an immensely vast topic, with many facets. As such, for this core
collection, I have designed it to be a “starting point” – consisting primarily of books that
offer overviews of specific key aspects of the topic.

5. Review tools and resources consulted:

Kirkus. (2021). Book Reviews. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Publisher’s Weekly. (2021). Reviews. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/reviews/index.html
Library Journal. (2021). Reviews+. https://www.libraryjournal.com/
New York Journal of Books. (2021). Book Reviews. https://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/

Notes:
- This is hypothetical, and thus some selections may already exist within the actual EPL
collection already. For the purposes of this assignment, this core collection was designed
as if there was not already one in place.
- All prices listed for materials are courtesy of Amazon, and may or may not represent
actual cost to a library institution were they to create this collection
Other sources consulted:
City-Data. (2021). Elmhurst, IL. http://www.city-data.com/city/Elmhurst-Illinois.html
Elmhurst Public Library. (2021). About Us: Mission. https://elmhurstpubliclibrary.org/about-
us/administration-board/mission/
Elmhurst Public Library. (2021). About Us: History. https://elmhurstpubliclibrary.org/about-
us/building-information/history/
Elmhurst Public Library. (September 17, 2019). Collection Management Policy.
https://elmhurstpubliclibrary.org/lib/wp-content/uploads/6.1-Collection-Management-
2.pdf
United States Census Bureau. (2019). Elmhurst city, Illinois.
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/elmhurstcityillinois
CORE COLLECTION

BOOKS

Bullock, A. (1991). Hitler: a study in tyranny. Harper Perennial.

Though originally published more than half a century ago, and later reprinted in an abridged
addition in 1991 (the copy selected for this collection due to price), this study of Adolph Hitler,
one of the pivotal personalities of WWII, remains one of the most popular and authoritative
biographies written. This book gives exceptional insight into events of World War II from the
perspective of Hitler’s influence on events, which was obviously considerable. Written by Sir
Alan Bullock, considered one of the most distinguished British historians of the 20th century, this
book’s timeless relevance, and many excellent reviews, make it a worthwhile part of a core
collection on World War II. ($26.00)

Eder, M. (2021). The Girls Who Stepped Out of Line: Untold stories of the women who changed
the course of World War II. Sourcebooks.
Diverse stories are necessary for a good core collection, especially a non-fiction collection on an
aspect of history as pivotal as World War II. This book examines fifteen women who did what
needed doing during the war effort and tells their stories, which have largely gone
underrepresented in the large sea of works on the second world war. Written by a female retired
U.S. Army Major General, and heavily reviewed by everyone from Publisher’s Weekly and
Kirkus to other retired military personnel, this book is an accurate, evocative look at female
contributions to the war, an angle that should be included in a core collection on World War II.
($22.99)

Gailey, H. (2011). War in the Pacific. Presidio Press.

Beginning prior to America’s entrance into the war, to Pearl Harbor, through significant battles
and onward, this single-volume work encompasses the entire Pacific conflict of World War II.
There are many multi-volume works on this topic, due to its natural breadth, but no other work
that I could locate was condensed into one volume and still reviewed as favorably as this one by
editorials such as Publisher’s Weekly and Library Journal. This is a complex aspect of World
War II, and requires its own book within a core collection, and I believe that this work suits that
role well. ($17.00)
Hanson, V. (2020). The Second World Wars: How the first global conflict was fought and won.
Basic Books.
A book of great breadth giving a thorough overview of the issues that lead to the rise of global
conflict that erupted into World War II, this work examines the war itself and how such a war
had never before been fought in so many places and in so many ways. This work is lengthy, but
provides a big picture for those interested in learning about World War II. The author is a senior
fellow in military history at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a professor
emeritus of classics at California State University, Fresno, the book was published recently
(2020), and reviewed favorably by Kirkus, and would make an excellent overview piece of a
core collection on World War II. ($31.99)

Milward, A. (1980). War, Economy and Society, 1939-1945. University of California Press.
A comparative study of the countries that played the largest roles in World War II, this book by
an economic historian examines the war through looking at the economic and societal
approaches and impacts. Though published several decades ago, it is considered a foundational
work on the topic, and provides a different lens through which to consider the war when
compared to the rest of the core collection. Reviewed by multiple journals on both history and
economics, it has offered a permanent contribution to the study of World War II, and would
make an excellent reference work within the collection for patrons studying the war. ($34.95)

Smithsonian Institution. (2019). World War II Map by Map.

This book, designed for adults in keeping with the theme of this core collection, is a visual
history of World War II, offering patrons the opportunity to chart the events of the war. It
includes custom and historical maps, timelines, pictures, and accompanying narrative
throughout. Praised by the New York Journal of Books for its design that allows readers to
visualize the strategies and tactics, and challenges therein, that shaped the war, this book offers a
different look (quite literally) at World War II and would make a valuable addition to the core
collection. ($21.99)

Snyder, T. (2010). Bloodlands: Europe between Hitler and Stalin. Basic Books.
To understand the devastation of World War II, one must understand the massive civilian
casualties that Europe suffered. This book looks at Hitler and Stalin, Germany and Russia, and
the horrors they visited upon the people of Europe during the time of their power. Reviewed
heavily and positively, and receiving at least twelve awards, this book belongs in a core
collection not only because of its accolades, but also because it examines the war by looking at
the civilian loss of life, an angle that deserves attention. ($38.34)
Ullrich, V. (2021). Eight Days in May: The final collapse of the Third Reich. Liveright.
For a core collection that enables patrons to understand World War II, it is important to
understand the conclusion of the conflict. In 1945, when Adolf Hitler and his new wife, Eva
Braun, committed suicide together in a bunker in Berlin, it did not immediately trigger the
conclusion of the war in Europe – instead, the subsequent eight days were some of the most
brutal and chaotic of the war. While a majority of the works I chose for this core collection are
more or less overviews of the war itself or specific parts, this is more centralized in its focus, but
it deserves that attention. Written by an award winning historian and biographer of Hitler, and
drawing heavily on primary sources such as diaries and letters, and is recommended by reviews
from Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, and Library Journal. ($24.49)

Wallace, C., & Weiss, M. (2020). Countdown 1945: The extraordinary story of the atomic bomb
and the 116 days that changed the world. Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster.
With so many powers entangled in World War II, it did not end with the fall of the Third Reich,
and so the previous selection cannot be the only work on the conclusion of World War II. This
book looks at the final months of the war, and decision to drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki. It also includes accounts of lives of everyday civilians whose lives were changed
dramatically, in the months leading up to the atomic bombing and in the moment it took place.
This book was a #1 national bestseller, favorably reviewed in every review I could find – from
Publisher’s Weekly to even George Clooney, and as such is an accessible history read on an
important aspect that needs to be addressed in a core collection about World War II. ($13.98)

VIDEO

Lionsgate. (2004). The World at War [DVD].

Considered a definitive visual history of World War II, this box collection of 11 DVDs has a
total run time of 26 hours, spanning the entirety of the war. The archives of 18 nations were
utilized in the creation of this documentary, including newsreel footage, propaganda, and home
videos. It received several awards, including an Emmy, and a knighthood for its creator, Sir
Jeremy Isaacs. Narrated by well-known actor Laurence Olivier, it was created in the 1970s, and
per reviews has not been outdone since. This epic visual history adds a stunning, different means
of exploring World War II and enhances the core collection. ($175)
MAGAZINE

World History Group. (Ongoing). World War II.

As many authoritative history books, including the ones selected for this collection, come from a
variety of decades, it is important to have fresh information coming into the core collection. This
bi-monthly publication devoted entirely to World War II features articles from historians and
journalists. More accessible to a public library population than a more formal academic journal,
this magazine nonetheless offers the latest in thoroughly researched information. Interestingly, it
also includes reviews of books and films, which could be of value within the core collection for
patrons wishing to expand their reading of the war. ($26.95/year)

APPLICATIONS

Touchzing Media. (2015). World War II Interactive [Application].

An interactive application for smart devices that allows hands-on exploration of resources
relating to World War II, this unique offering was praised by Kirkus for its condensed but
complex overview of the war, and its ease of use. This resource would require additional
research, as I do not know how it would work in a library setting (pay per download by patron?
Do patrons get permanent access to it then?), but I think it is unique and that the technology is
very much in keeping with the direction libraries are going in terms of eResources. ($4.99)