In this section, we learn about a few fundamental concepts about finding, acquiring, processing, and making library materials, library collections, available to our patrons through the process of collection development and management.
What is collection building and management?
Library 101: Collection Development https://youtu.be/JnUqiHcnENI
How are collections built? Should libraries acquire what patrons need? Should libraries acquire materials that patrons may need?
Collections - ‘just in time’ versus ‘just in case’
Collection Development @WVU Libraries https://youtu.be/KstIGoVpSOI
Collections comprise two main kinds:
print materials like books, print periodicals or journals, maps.
electronic resources like electronic books, eBooks, online journals, streaming music, streaming video.
What are print resources?
Books, monographs, periodicals, maps, indexes. bibliographies, reference works, audio-visual material like CDs, DVDs .
While physical space constraints plague most libraries, the pandemic experience demonstrated that building closures made print resources completely inaccessible. Many libraries prioritize eBook purchases over print books. But, there are many disciplines in which many publications are available only in print.
What are electronic resources?
Librarians works with publisher-determined licenses for access to e-resources. Sometimes, libraries do not own these e-resources but have license-based access to them, including some streaming media content. On most campuses today, electronic resources take up the majority of collection costs.
How does a librarian select materials to add to the library's collection?
In college and university libraries, selectors typically 'select' titles for assigned departments. They keep the research interests of the faculty and students in mind.
Librarians choose between formats (print versus electronic) when they can or based on need.
Most libraries keep DEI in mind to develop inclusive collections.
Creating an Inclusive Collection—Selecting and Evaluating Diverse Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySYhQRcY8uE
Building A Diverse and Inclusive YA Library Collection:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7E3Dc3tOlI
What is Open Access (OA)?
What is Article Processing Charge (APC)?
What are Gold and Green OA:
OA is necessary because libraries can direct patrons to OA resources. Libraries can save some costs by including OA resources in their collections. Libraries can encourage patrons to publish in OA venues.
What are Special Collections and Archives?
How are collections processed in Special Collections?
Sometimes, donors, members of the community, provide personal records/collections and associated costs to add to the Special Collections. This relationship is built by the appropriate administrators.
Like the general library collections, there can be physical and digital collections in Special Collections and Archives.
What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?
The ILL department keeps track of Copyright costs because when we borrow from
Copyright costs about borrowing materials from other resources are an important consideration. Sometimes ILL requests for journal articles are more cost effective than journal subscriptions. It is an excellent service for patrons. However, eBooks or eBook chapters pose license issues.
1. What is considered ‘collections’ in a library? Does only one person do the collecting? Why and why not? Does a ‘collection development’ librarian need to read everything they purchase for the library? How does one do it then?
2. Do you use your library’s electronic resources? Share examples. What seem to be their advantages and disadvantages?
3. Have you been to a Special Collections library? SJSU has its own on the 5th floor of the MLK Library. If you have been to an ‘exhibit’ at a Special Collections library, what do you remember? What special skills do you think the librarians in Special Collections need?