What is a serious disadvantage of using quantitative measures to evaluate a library media collection?

Using quantitative measures to evaluate a library media collection can notably lead to a misplaced emphasis on the sheer number of materials rather than their quality. This approach focuses on counting items, which might give a misleading picture of a collection's overall effectiveness and relevance. For instance, a library could have thousands of low-quality, outdated, or irrelevant materials that skew perception—suggesting a robust collection when, in reality, it lacks the necessary resources to serve user needs effectively.

In contrast to the advantage of qualitative measures that examine content relevance, user satisfaction, and the appropriateness of materials for the intended audience, a quantitative approach may overlook the importance of having high-quality, relevant resources. Libraries aim to serve their communities with useful and engaging content, and relying solely on counts presents a significant limitation in understanding the true value and impact of a collection.

This underscores why focusing exclusively on numbers can restrict the evaluation process and possibly lead to collection decisions that do not align with the needs and preferences of library users.