Overview of Issues in Contemporary Collection Development

Julia GelfandApplied Sciences & Engineering LibrarianUniversity of California, Irvine Librariesjgelfand@uci.edu

A Presentation at the IFLA Acquisitions & Collection Development 2008 Mid-Year Meeting

Guadalajara, MexicoMarch 13,2008

Introduction

• Most libraries, including academic, public, governmental, school and corporate libraries face challenges regarding a more digital environment. Merging the traditional print collections into a more blended and increasingly digital collection will impact the range of accompanying library services and both short and long term strategies for the selection, acquisition, dissemination, use and preservation of library materials.  

• This presentation will examine those strategies and related issues with a focus on the collection development landscape and the decision-making that librarians must engage in with some conclusions about future gazing.

Focus on Academic Libraries

• However, all libraries are functioning in the e-realm, promoting digital access, collections and communications

• Collection development, like a spider, intersects with collection management, acquisitions, electronic resources, licensing, copyright, scholarly communications, preservation, instruction & reference, liaison & outreach

• .

Focus on scholarly publishing – major changes taking place with:• Courseware• Textbooks• Reference Works• Multimedia• Multiple formats• Shorter runs of print; multiple editions

By all indication, libraries are format agnostic.

From ownership to access• Publishing trends• Endangered monograph• Serialization • New forms of scholarly communication• Usage as an indicator of need• Value-added content and capabilities

User-Centered Libraries

• Meeting users’ needs.

• Competition between libraries and other consumer-oriented alternatives.

• Growing demand for value-added services.

Community Assessment

• Need for patron input and feedback concerning library satisfaction.

• Collections tailored to “just in time” rather than “just in case” scenarios.

User Behavior

• Changing readership habits.

• Increased demand for electronic data retrievable by means of remote handheld consumer products.

Libraries as Place• Establishing community.

• Transforming quiet places into collaborative environments.

• Café culture melded with the library experience.

• Reconfiguring space.

Library Users• Steven Abram – five major communities that

matter to libraries– neighborhoods– workplaces– entertainment/culture– learning – research

Three Conclusions1. All have a connection between people –

most critical

2. All can be improved & empowered with technological solutions aligned with users' profiles

3. new model of community development is emerging

Impact of the Google™ Effect• ease of use• ubiquity• 24/7• instant gratification• always find something• partnering with libraries

Collection Assessment & Evaluation

• Collection size & metrics• More collection-centered & client-centered• Data-intensive• Performance-based by function, ILL, etc• Mixed content in collection – adding free to

fee-based • Fiscal responsibility• Technology-driven

Fiscal Accountability

• Tracking financial expenditures.

• Determining sources of supply.

• Investment in technology.

Libraries and the Librarian• Blended librarian roles• Applying "Design Thinking" – like evidence-

based or problem-based learning• Organizational structures• Collection Development – part Public

Services / part Technical Services

Library Cooperation• Role of Consortia• Economics & management of sharing• Builds collection strength• Distributes processing• Reinforces digital reference• Shares & extends staffing

E-Resources

• Building digital libraries.

• New sources of supply.

• Growing recognition as mainstay data sources.

• New models for procurement/licensing.

Technology Infusion• eResources everywhere – eBooks,

eJournals = digital libraries• Small is better – hand-held devices, phones• Mobile & remote preferred• Incorporating Web 2.0 features• New communication strategies• Treating new form of Grey Literature

Online Catalogs• Dinosaur status?• Federated search engines• is MARC obsolete• other metadata standards• Institutional & disciplinary repositories

Open Access

• Institutional & disciplinary repositories.

• Authors’ rights.

• Scholarly communication practices.

More abstract issues• Revise collection development policies• Interdisciplinarity• Globalization• Commercial influences• Economic realities• Fundraising

To the future – ongoing concerns• Analogies to real life.

– Energy independence. – Four pillars: Nano, Bio, IT, Neuro.– Globalization.– Multiculturalism and diversity.– Longevity – posterity perpetuity & preservation.– New & emerging disciplines. – Risk management.– Emerging world powers.– Environmental concerns. – Human rights & censorship. – New partnerships.