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Article
Publication date: 1 June 2005

Andy Corrigan

Aims to compare and contrast different collection policies and shows a practical application of web‐based documentation.

3709

Abstract

Purpose

Aims to compare and contrast different collection policies and shows a practical application of web‐based documentation.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is a case study and general review that discusses how significant numbers of libraries today are posting collection policies on the web, how these policies may differ in form and practice from those of the past, and how the Howard‐Tilton Memorial Library at Tulane University developed and applied one such policy of its own. It also discusses examples of relevant literature and other collection policy web sites.

Findings

Its implications point to the value of developing sets of narrative collection policy statements focusing on specific academic disciplines and of beginning the policy‐making process with an assessment of the academic profile of the university that the library supports.

Originality/value

General discussion of collection policies has been absent from the literature for some time and the article should be valuable to those libraries without collection policies or those with older printed policies languishing in file cabinets.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 24 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

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…

1400

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 2005

Mohd. Zain Abd. Rahman

To describe and evaluate the collection of the library of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC).

1600

Abstract

Purpose

To describe and evaluate the collection of the library of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC).

Design/methodology/approach

The relevant Association of College and Research Libraries’ (ACRL) Standard for College Libraries of 1986 (Standard 2) is used to assess the quality of the Library collection.

Findings

The library of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) achieves level B of the ACRL standard.

Research limitations/implications

The paper takes one very particular, widely respected quantitative tool for collection evaluation and uses it “as is” – the paper thus accepts and applies the theoretical framework on which the tool is based, but applies it in a relatively unfamiliar library setting.

Practical implications

The description of the collection is of value to those needing to locate materials relating to Islamic culture and civilization; the implementation of the ACRL methodology is a useful demonstration of a practical tool for collection management and assessment.

Originality/value

It is important for any educational institution to establish an effective library collection, one that is able to support the teaching and learning activities of the institution. To ensure that the library achieves its objectives, evaluation of the library collection needs to be done. This paper applies an internationally accepted standard for collection evaluation to a particular library, giving a model for other libraries to follow, especially libraries in the developing world. It is important to demonstrate that libraries in the developing world can aspire to and attain standards designed for collections in developed countries: this paper achieves that goal.

Details

Library Review, vol. 54 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0024-2535

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 1999

Mark L. Grover

An important responsibility of collection development libraries is to ensure that what is being collected is appropriate for the university’s curriculum and research needs…

934

Abstract

An important responsibility of collection development libraries is to ensure that what is being collected is appropriate for the university’s curriculum and research needs. Unfortunately the large number of techniques that have been developed to measure collections work better with small college collections. As libraries grow and the range of library materials increase, many of these methods have proved to be inadequate. This study explores the use of statistics from the National Shelflist Count Project to gather enough valid statistical information to adequately assess large research collections.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 18 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 October 2009

Michael Levine‐Clark and Margaret M. Jobe

In order to better understand how collections are used, this study aims to present a large‐scale analysis of usage patterns for non‐core monographs in the collections of fourteen…

939

Abstract

Purpose

In order to better understand how collections are used, this study aims to present a large‐scale analysis of usage patterns for non‐core monographs in the collections of fourteen general academic libraries of varying sizes.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Spectra Dimension, a collection analysis tool, this study compares use data from multiple academic libraries.

Findings

It appears that general academic libraries are overinvesting in legal materials and perhaps underinvesting in medical materials.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests that analysis of use data from multiple libraries may help individual libraries better understand their own collecting needs. Local issues may, however, override the broad patterns identified here.

Practical implications

In lean budgetary times, understanding collection use is key to making informed decisions about resource allocation for collection development. Libraries may be able to use these data to better manage their own materials budgets and collecting practices.

Originality/value

Though there have been a number of large‐scale analyses of collections, most have relied on sampling or have compared small portions of collections, and few have compared use across libraries. This study analyzes collection use across many institutions at a level of detail not possible before the introduction of multi‐library collection analysis tools.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 28 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 January 2010

Kam Yan Lee and Jenna Freedman

The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of a specialty collection implementation: lesbian fiction, in the Barnard College Library.

711

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of a specialty collection implementation: lesbian fiction, in the Barnard College Library.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a multistep approach to implement the development of a lesbian fiction collection. First, a collection profile was created to assess the current state of collection, and then a checklist was developed to serve as a collection development tool.

Findings

The collection profile provides important information for the collection development process. Consistent subject heading access control is essential for collection assessment and maintenance.

Practical implications

The collection proposal and the suggestions drawn by the study were adopted by Barnard Library for collection development and maintenance. The methodology applied and the resources consulted in the study can serve as references for academic librarians with similar collection development goals.

Originality/value

Very few studies have been done to discuss issues related to the collection development of GLBT themed fiction, particularly lesbian fiction in an academic library. This paper provides a concrete example of how Barnard Library carried out the selection of lesbian novels.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 29 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 January 2010

Abdul Mannan Khan

The main purpose of the study is to identify the current status of collection development organizational patterns and to make a comparative analysis of collection development…

1637

Abstract

Purpose

The main purpose of the study is to identify the current status of collection development organizational patterns and to make a comparative analysis of collection development organizational patterns of the four central university libraries of Uttar Pradesh (UP) i.e. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Allahabad University (ALU) and Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar University (BBRAU).

Design/methodology/approach

A well structured questionnaire was administered to the librarians and acquisitions librarians of the four central university libraries under study.

Findings

It has been found that there is a conspicuous difference between the two categories and that the newly centralized universities are lagging far behind the old centralized universities in collection development organizational patterns.

Research limitations/implications

The present study consists only of collection development organizational patterns in central university libraries of UP. The scope of the study can be extended to some more centrally funded universities.

Originality/value

There are a number of studies on collection development organizational patterns in the world, but this is the first of its kind within Indian central universities.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 29 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 1985

Keith Michael Fiels

Imagine, if you will, that the year 2010 has arrived, and that many of the wonderful things that librarians worked so hard for in the last half of the twentieth century have come…

Abstract

Imagine, if you will, that the year 2010 has arrived, and that many of the wonderful things that librarians worked so hard for in the last half of the twentieth century have come to pass. Libraries of all types, large and small, are linked through a network of automated systems, providing total bibliographic access to the holdings of every library. Better still, patrons now receive items in hours or days through a combination of telefacsimile and ultrafast delivery. To the users, each library has become a gateway to all resources held by all libraries, and library information services are “location transparent,” that is, the patron has little awareness of where a piece of information may in fact have come from—it may be from a library across the street or from one across the country.

Details

Collection Building, vol. 7 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0160-4953

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1981

Cynthia Comer

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…

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.

Details

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

Article
Publication date: 1 July 2004

Elizabeth Kiondo

This paper discusses emerging issues in selection and acquisition of electronic information resources in academic libraries of developing countries paying particular attention to…

2007

Abstract

This paper discusses emerging issues in selection and acquisition of electronic information resources in academic libraries of developing countries paying particular attention to the situation at the University of Dar es Salaam Library (www.udsm.ac.tz/library/). First, it discusses in historical perspective the application of information technology in provision of information services and specifically the provision of electronic information services at this university. Then it identifies emerging and challenging issues related to selection and acquisition of electronic information resources. The emerging issues include the information technology skills of staff and users, technology infrastructure, financial resources and collection development and management policy. In conclusion, the paper strategizes the way forward to make selection and acquisition of e‐resources contribute towards promotion of research, scholarly communication, teaching and learning at African universities.

Details

Library Hi Tech News, vol. 21 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0741-9058

Keywords

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