List‐Checking as a Method for Evaluating Library Collections

Abstract

The most widely used method of qualitatively evaluating a library's collections is the list‐checking method, a process in which the library's holdings are compared with one or more lists of selected titles. The types of lists commonly used are published, standardized lists representing core or basic collections, catalogs of other libraries, or specialized subject bibliographies. The literature on this method of collection evaluation is extensive, dating back to the 1930s; covering the types of lists used for evaluations, the advantages and disadvantages of using such a method, and the various ways of implementing this type of evaluation.

Citation

Comer, C. (1981), "List‐Checking as a Method for Evaluating Library Collections", Collection Building, Vol. 3 No. 3, pp. 26-34. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb023065