University of Leeds Library

Employing Copac Collection Management Tools

Brian Clifford

Deputy University Librarian

Background

• White Rose/BL Collection Management Projects• University of Leeds categorisation of collections • Post UKRR consideration of monographs

Collection Management Tools Initiative

• Mimas , White Rose University Libraries – Leeds, Sheffield, York

• Funded by JISC as part of Discovery initiative (making Copac data ‘work harder).

• Sponsored & facilitated by RLUK

• Pilot Jan 2011 - July 2011• Project Nov 2011 - July 2012

How the pilot works

• Web-based • Alllows Identification of thelocations for items or collections

of resources• Search by ISBN author, title, subject• Batch search (comma delimited sets)• Experimenting with data visualisation for results

–Map views–Graphs–Charts

• Export results in MODS, CSV

Institutional Benefits

• Can be used by institutions to better understand how their collections fit within the wider national collection as represented by the Copac Database

• Should enable institutions to make decisions about the management and development of their collections within the wider context

Pilot identified six use cases

• Identifying collection strengths• Identifying last copies among titles considered for

withdrawal• Deciding whether to conserve a book• Reviewing a collection at the shelves• Prioritising a collection or items for digitisation• Subject strengths – collection development and

marketing/differentiation

Chemistry

Colour Chemistry

Chemistry

Colour Chemistry

Way Forward for the project

• December 5th Workshop in Leeds for Copac contributors–Demonstration of tools–Seek suggestions for further developments–Recruitment of more associates to help test the tools

• Demonstrations of the tools to the wider community spring2012

• Tools to be made available to the community summer 2012• Project to consider business models for sustainability.

Sector wide strategic Issues

• The potential for helping with strategic questions about long-term management of collections across Copac members

• Collaborative Collection Management• “Managing down print collections”• Unique titles and holdings• Long-term preservation and conservation• Digitisation initiatives

Questions/Issues for the future

• How to make this a sustainable service?• How will individual institutions use these tools?• How could we use them to take forward collaborative

collection management initiatives?• Un-catalogued materials in contributor institutions