Typically, collection development is subdivided on a subject basis into groups of related disciplines or specialized areas. Most charts employ the traditional layout of organizational relationships. One chart portrays the library's relationship to its external faculty and information systems as a functional matrix. In this scheme collection management and development are identified in a dual capacity, as an interface between the library's information systems and its external faculty, and as a function that interacts with the library's processing and preservation services. An increasing reliance on part-time staff in collection development is but one trend evident during the last five to seven years.
Evidence suggests other changes are also occurring.
More formally structured training is provided through orientation sessions conducted by staff at various levels. Training is supported with outlines of the topics to be covered, printed manuals, individual instruction, mentoring, and learning on the job. Documentation for training often includes general information about and instructions for using components of automated library systems, some of which may be developed in house. Other training materials include collection development policies and procedures for the acquisitions process, guidelines for collection evaluation, or goals for collection development work, either internal to the library or with external liaisons. The latter extends training to other individuals within the academic community whose partnership with the library is necessary to fulfill the library's collection development mission.