The collection development principle "The best reading for the largest number at the least cost" is given by ______.

The correct answer is Melvil Dewey:

Key Points

• Dewey’s Principles:  Melvil Dewey suggested that in selecting a document the librarian should see that the document is “the best reading for the largest number at the least cost”
  • ​According to this principle, Libraries should select, within their financial resources, the best reading materials which may satisfy the user's needs.

Additional Information
 Other Book Selection Principles:

• Drury’s Principles:
  • ​Drury described his principles in his book, Book Selection, published by ALA in 1930. It is a list of 21 points. The gist of his principles is that the
    aim of selection should be “to provide the right book to the right reader at the right time”.
  • The reader is the central theme according to this principle.
• L R . Mc Colvin Principle:
  • ​He introduced his Demand and supply theory of book selection in his book Theory of Book selection in public libraries first published in 1925.
  • According to him, Books in themselves have no meaning unless they are made serviceable by Demand.
• H E Haines Principle:
  • His Book Living with Books the art of book selection is the first true textbook aimed at training in book selection for librarians.
  • it was published in 1935.
• S R Ranganathan principle:
  • The first edition of the Library book selection by S R Ranganathan appeared in 1952.
  • The first three laws of Ranganthan advocated the book selection theory and methods.
  • He also advocated the concept of umbral documents, penumbral documents, and alien documents.