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1 – 10 of over 82000
Article
Publication date: 1 January 2006

Bethany Latham Skaggs

This paper proposes describing the collection assessment process adapted to fit the integrated government documents collection at Jacksonville State University's Houston Cole…

1197

Abstract

Purpose

This paper proposes describing the collection assessment process adapted to fit the integrated government documents collection at Jacksonville State University's Houston Cole Library.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the Library's experience conducting an assessment of its integrated government documents collection using an adaptation of the WLN conspectus method.

Findings

The author describes the adaptations made, obstacles overcome, results of the assessment, and conclusions drawn from it.

Practical implications

As a result of this assessment, procedures were established for future assessments of the collection, and the results of the assessment were used to aid in the selection process.

Originality/value

This paper provides a model for conducting an assessment of an integrated government documents collection that other libraries can follow and fills a gap in the literature of government documents collection management.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 25 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1994

Burns Davis

Why create another collection assessment tool? One reason is the highly personal nature of the assessment process. Each local library describes and evaluates its own collection in…

Abstract

Why create another collection assessment tool? One reason is the highly personal nature of the assessment process. Each local library describes and evaluates its own collection in relation to the library's goals for meeting the needs of its local clients. In our times of focusing on local needs, each library wants to customize the assessment process to meet local challenges as closely as possible. These local needs are greatly felt in the data collection step of the assessment process. An intermediate tool is helpful for collecting and organizing appropriate categories of data to prepare information for entry onto the WLN Conspectus worksheets and database, or into other assessment methods if desired.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 13 no. 2/3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Article
Publication date: 23 August 2019

Xiaocan Wang and Jie Huang

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the pilot project of collection assessment performed by an academic library for the Computer Information Science (CIS) Department…

494

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the pilot project of collection assessment performed by an academic library for the Computer Information Science (CIS) Department specifically and share the experience involved in this assessment.

Design/methodology/approach

In this descriptive research, the library gathered and analyzed a set of evaluation reports for CIS-related print and electronic materials. This assessment includes analyses of physical items, periodicals, electronic resources, peers’ databases, faculty syllabi, as well as departmental allocation fund.

Findings

This project shows the importance of collaboration between the library and academic departments on collection evaluation and assessment. It demonstrates that the assessments of a department-specific collection can provide the library with insights into the quality of the collection and help librarians better understand the information requirements of the faculty and students in the department. By analyzing the data collected in the assessment, the library can spend the tight budget on the most needed core materials related to the curriculum and research of the department. This project provides a good example for future routine assessments.

Practical implications

The procedure, results and future work of this assessment provide other academic libraries with insights into and practical solutions to department-specific collection assessments.

Originality/value

The study describes a set of collection assessment activities specific to a disciplinary department undertaken by Spiva Library. Few studies have been conducted to study department-specific collection assessments. This type of study can assist a university library to develop a core collection in support of teaching, learning and research for individual academic departments.

Article
Publication date: 12 October 2010

Matthew P. Ciszek and Courtney L. Young

This paper aims to examine the methods of diversity‐related collection assessment useful for large academic libraries.

6911

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the methods of diversity‐related collection assessment useful for large academic libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

Several examples of diversity‐related collection assessment (circulation and use statistics, WorldCat Collection Analysis, comparison to standard bibliographies, focus groups, patron interviews and surveys, stewardship letters, and a diversity collection development statement) are explored.

Findings

Libraries wishing to assess a collection for diversity should have a clear definition of diversity in place before assessment. Many collection assessment methods useful for determining the diversity of a collection are not applicable for large libraries. Additional tools may need to be developed to facilitate this type of assessment in the future, especially at large libraries.

Originality/value

The paper encourages librarians at larger academic libraries to rethink how the collections are assessed for diversity needs, and illustrates methods useful in performing this assessment in larger institutions.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 29 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 June 2022

An Ping

The purpose of this paper is to build a more scientific and refined collection assessment indicator system and examine the state of the collections, and adjusting collection

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to build a more scientific and refined collection assessment indicator system and examine the state of the collections, and adjusting collection development planning.

Design/methodology/approach

To analyze the weaknesses in the current assessment indicator system, advance the quality–utility–value Theory of collection assessment, introduce the advantages of the theory, use it to construct a collection assessment indicator system and clarify the content of each assessment indicator.

Findings

Empirical analysis of the foreign language collection of the National Library of China verified the scientific nature and feasibility of the assessment indicator system based on the quality–utility–value Theory.

Research limitations/implications

The indicator system should be more detailed according to the needs, and the scoring standard can be clearer.

Practical implications

According to the quality–utility–value Theory or based on such an assessment indicator system, libraries can build an indicator system related to their own libraries.

Social implications

Building a good collection assessment, it is very important In today’s library tight funds, after the outbreak of COVID-19. With the value dimension, the collection assessment of the library is more objective, comprehensive and three-dimensional.

Originality/value

This paper considers how to construct a collection assessment indicator system with the new theory, the quality–utility–value Theory; it is three-dimensional. Well, the collection value is not clearly measured and expressed in the indicator system before. Using this theory, this paper makes an empirical study on the evaluation of the foreign language collection of the National Library of China.

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2005

Reeta Sinha and Cory Tucker

Seeks to describe how Lied Library has responded to a rapid increase in the number of new academic programs and degrees at UNLV resulting from new strategic initiatives and…

1399

Abstract

Purpose

Seeks to describe how Lied Library has responded to a rapid increase in the number of new academic programs and degrees at UNLV resulting from new strategic initiatives and tremendous growth of the university's student population during the past four years.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors focus on the role of the Collection Development (CD) department in the university's approval process for new academic programs and the role of subject librarians in assessing how well the Libraries' collection meets the demands of new programs proposed by faculty.

Findings

Detailed descriptions are provided of the process used by subject librarians and CD to develop the tools and guidelines necessary to assess library collections in support of new academic programs.

Practical implications

Provides information and a model for other libraries and subject bibliographers to use when developing library collection assessment processes and guidelines.

Originality/value

Provides practical information and tools for subject bibliographers and CD departments responsible for performing collection assessment reports for library administrators and/or university officials as new academic programs are proposed.

Details

Library Hi Tech, vol. 23 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0737-8831

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 1988

Mark L. Grover

A prominent field of research in Library Science during the past thirty years has been collection assessment of college and university libraries. No other subject has received the…

Abstract

A prominent field of research in Library Science during the past thirty years has been collection assessment of college and university libraries. No other subject has received the attention in library literature as has the question of how to evaluate a collection to determine whether it adequately supports the goals, curriculum, and needs of the sponsoring organization. Collection assessment has also attracted more interest from scholars outside the library profession than any other aspect of librarianship. Research in this area should be of value to collection development personnel in all college and university libraries.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 8 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Article
Publication date: 2 July 2018

Nilda Alexandra Sanchez-Rodriguez

Collection assessment is an essential aspect of library collection development, especially for public institutions currently affected by financial budget cuts. Collection managers…

Abstract

Purpose

Collection assessment is an essential aspect of library collection development, especially for public institutions currently affected by financial budget cuts. Collection managers working with little to no budget have the task of establishing unconventional methods of selecting most relevant materials. This paper aims to demonstrate the correlation between a syllabi analysis, faculty survey and circulation statistics as a practical measure to enhance and expand the architecture library services at the City College of New York and in academia in general.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses mixed use assessment strategies to evaluate a library collection. The scope of the study supports combining collection-based practices and use-based methods to gather two types of data: quantitative (including collection size and/or in-house use statistics) and qualitative (accomplished by user opinion surveys, focus groups and/or list checking).

Findings

Out of 74 architecture faculty members, 22 participated in a library survey to help uncover new opportunities for cross-collaboration. The findings simultaneously reinforce the importance of exploring syllabi and usage data as methods of assessment to reveal opportunities for cultivating library collections.

Originality/value

This paper will provide a better understanding of faculty perceptions to discover academic needs and achieve library integration into the design curriculum. The study demonstrates prospective directions for collection evaluation and faculty collaboration to open further opportunities for building a successful library.

Details

Collection and Curation, vol. 37 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9326

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 July 2011

Jacqueline Borin and Hua Yi

The purpose of this paper is to test a multi‐dimensional model of indicators for collection evaluation (proposed in a previous paper by the authors) and to illustrate how to apply…

2952

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test a multi‐dimensional model of indicators for collection evaluation (proposed in a previous paper by the authors) and to illustrate how to apply these indicators in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

An analytical study will be used to test the use of the multi‐dimensional collection evaluation model to assess an academic library collection. The study will: define the scope of the collection; focus on two of the dimensional categories (capacity and usage) and identify indicators for the two categories.

Findings

This paper demonstrates that combining usage indicators with capacity measurement (in terms of dollar expenditures) provides a powerful method of assessment with the potential to provide valuable data.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides an accurate assessment of a library's collection in the current information environment. It does not currently include institutional repositories or locally created digital resources that will need to be addressed in the future as they mature and become more robust.

Practical implications

Academic libraries will have a reliable and sustainable model for the assessment of their collections. This paper illustrates how to assess the collection using the selected indicators.

Originality/value

The value of this study is in its development of the multi‐dimensional model for collection assessment and in the reliability and accuracy of the collection data it provides. It provides an evidence‐based method for assessing an academic library collection.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 30 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2017

Joy M. Perrin, Le Yang, Shelley Barba and Heidi Winkler

Digital collection assessment has focused mainly on evaluating systems, metadata and usability. While use evaluation is discussed in the literature, there are no standard criteria…

1733

Abstract

Purpose

Digital collection assessment has focused mainly on evaluating systems, metadata and usability. While use evaluation is discussed in the literature, there are no standard criteria and methods for how to perform assessment on use effectively. This paper asserts that use statistics have complexities that prohibit meaningful interpretation and assessment. The authors aim to discover the problems inherent in the assessment of digital collection use statistics and propose solutions to address such issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper identifies and demonstrates five inherent problems with use statistics that need to be addressed when doing assessment for digital collections using the statistics of assessment tools on local digital repositories. The authors then propose solutions to resolve the problems that present themselves upon such analysis.

Findings

The authors identified five problems with digital collection use statistics. Problem one is the difficulty of distinguishing different kinds of internet traffic. Problem two is the lack of direct correlation of a digital item to its multiple URLs, so statistics from external web analytics tools are not ideal. Problem three is the analytics tools’ inherent bias in statistics that are counted only in the positive way. Problem four is the different interaction between digital collections with search engine indexing. Problem five is the evaluator’s bias toward simple growing statistics over time for surmising a positive use assessment. Because of these problems, statistics on digital collections do not properly measure a digital library’s value.

Practical implications

Findings highlight problems with current use measures and offer improvements.

Originality/value

This paper identifies five problems that need to be addressed before a meaningful assessment of digital collection use statistics can take place. The paper ends with a call for evaluators to try to solve or mitigate the stated problems for their digital collections in their own evaluations.

1 – 10 of over 82000