Although it has always been the responsibility of the Librarian to recommend acquisitions for approval by the Newberry Library Board of Trustees, over the years the Trustees have played a less active role, and daily responsibility for book selection has been placed in departments staffed by bibliographic specialists. From 1915 to 1931 a Book Selection, Ordering, and Receipt Department (headed by Pierce Butler, 1919-1931) handled acquisitions. In 1933, selection was placed in the Technical Departments under Robert Forsythe, who from 1937 to 1941 headed his own Book Selection Department. Bibliographers (Felix Borowski, Hans Baron) who handled acquisitions in the 1940's were in 1949 placed under the supervision of Mabel Erler in the Order and Book Selection Department. James M. Wells took charge of acquisitions in 1964 when he was appointed Associate Director. Following Wells' retirement in 1984, the Office of the Collection Development Librarian was created, with Paul Saenger as head.

Records of the Office of the Collection Development Librarian, and its constituent and predecessor units, including library bibliographers and the John M. Wing Foundation.