Responses from 54 libraries to a 1977 survey of Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member institutions and interviews by Office of Management Studies staff members who visited another 15 indicated that 20 of the 69 libraries had and made use of a written collection development policy. Eight others reported that such a policy was being developed, with limited funds as a major incentive for committing unwritten collection policies to paper in the hope of distributing those funds more equitably and efficiently. This collection of library documents focuses on the various criteria used by ARL libraries to develop and build collections. The kit contains documents on planning for a collection development policy from University of Rochester and University of Western Ontario; and policy statements from Joint University Libraries, Yale University, University of Houston, Arizona State, State University of Iowa, University of Michigan, Boston University, Northwestern University, and University of Texas. The introduction provides a concise summary of trends and issues related to collection development policies which covers purposes of collection development policies, pros and cons of policies, and policy statements for selected areas. (THC)