Advocating and mooching: practical savings plans

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to share practical ideas about acquiring more and varied library resources in spite of a flat budget.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports The Citadel's efforts to do numerous things to reinforce the importance of library materials as well as a library building.

Findings

The paper reports that these networking efforts, including mandatory library instruction in first‐year experience courses, have borne good karma and might even lead to increased book money. In a continuing quest for open‐source alternatives to paid subscriptions, web‐based services were found to augment the collection and perhaps even supplant a few purchases. Additionally, serendipity has revealed outside help in the form of LSTA grants and cooperative collection development.

Originality/value

The paper shares practical ideas about acquiring more and varied library resources when holding a low budget.

Citation

Steele, K. (2008), "Advocating and mooching: practical savings plans", The Bottom Line, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 52-54. https://doi.org/10.1108/08880450810898300