Collection development as a marketing tool

Lara, Veronica

Fought, R.L., Gahn, P., & Mills, Y. (2014) Promoting the library through the collection development policy: A case study. Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries, 11(4), 169-178. DOI: 10.1080/15424065.2014.969031

            This article summarizes a study and marketing experiment done by the Health Science Library ant the University of Tennessee Health Center.  After years of budget stagnation forced staff to make cuts to the collection, they decided they needed to proactively prove the library’s relevance to stakeholders on campus. 

            To do this, they decided to update an outdated policy and market the changes to stakeholders.  Since the college had recently gone through an accreditation review, the library updated their collection development policy to more accurately reflect the goals of the school.  The library’s Electronic and Collection Services department headed the project that began with an inventory of the library’s current holdings.  This process allowed staff to weed the collection of unusable materials.  It also allowed them to identify weaknesses in the collection. 

            They then surveyed both students and staff to determine what kinds of materials and subjects were wanted and needed.  The survey showed three levels of collection goals: Research, clinical/instructional support, and minimal.  Each level contained various subjects that they hoped to grow in a certain way.  For example, they hoped to offer more research data in the subjects of neurology and neuroscience or more instructional support material in the subject of occupational therapy and family medicine.  The decision was made to offer only minimal materials in other subjects, such as nutrition.  These choices were based on an analysis of the date and recommendations of participants.

            After they analysis, access was increased to many core titles available through databases.  The library invested in an EBSCO Discovery system that would simplify the search function.  Also, the library implemented a pay-per-view subscription to databases, which would increase access to items based on need.

            The final step in their project was to publicize the results of the study through as many avenues as were available.  The library also publicized the increased access to databases.   This included facebook posts, listservs, emails to faculty, and newsletter articles.  Because of this, the library saw in increase in use and positive feedback from the community.

            This article is a perfect example of what a powerful tool collection development can be.  With no resources, libraries can make a compelling statement to stakeholders about what they hope to accomplish.  This is especially true if the library outlines how they will be accomplishing their goals.  In the Health Science Library’s case, they were able to implement changes immediately.  It shows incredible foresight and a clever use of limited resources to garner more support and resources for their library.

            What I found most intriguing about this article was how familiar it all sounded.  The steps the Health Science Library took to develop their collection have been steps we have taken as students in our individual studies.  Like HSL, we began with an inventory of not only the collection, but the community as well.  We were then able to analyze the results, looking for discrepancies or inconsistencies.  Through analysis, we identified weaknesses, and proposed a collection development policy that would help bridge the gap between those discrepancies.  If nothing else, this article made me feel more self-assured of my capabilities after taking this class.

Special Academic Libraries and The Millennial Patron.

Peralta, Polly

Girven, W. J. (2016). Special academic libraries and the millennial patron. Journal Of Library Administration, 56(8), 1007-1017.  

Summary:

Wendy Girven takes a look at how Maine Maritime Academy's Nutting Memorial Library, a special academic library, is trying to connect to the Millennial generation. Girven starts the article by discussing the lack of literature on Millennials and their use of special libraries.  Then she discusses how useful special academic libraries are to Millennial students. Also, she explains how these libraries can reach and serve this new generation of researchers. Then she talks about how collection development policy is helpful in keeping track of the needs of the patrons as, each generation has its own way of research.

Evaluation:

 As I work in a special academic library, I was hoping to learn something new.  However, I felt that the information in this article did not teach me anything.  The author mentions that there is a lack of information about Millennials and special academic libraries. To be honest, I think any information about Millennials in concerning any type library is useful to a librarian working in a special academic library. Therefore, I was little disappointed by this article.
 

Practice Makes Perfect

Peralta, Polly

Mickelsen, A. (2016). Practice makes perfect. Library Journal, 141(14), 34-36.

Summary:

Mickelsen discusses ways that public libraries that are small and do not have a full-time collection development librarian can keep up with developing their library collection.  She first starts the article by explaining what collection development is.  Secondly, she discusses the budget and how there needs to be a budget for different formats, for example, books,  e-books, and databases.  Thirdly, she talks about how technology can help analyze and keep track of circulation; however, these tools are nothing compare to patrons input about the collection. Then Mickelsen moves on to talk about the use of donations and local self-published authors' materials. In the end, she discusses maintenance, weeding, and what challenge collection development is.

Evaluation:

Mickelsen gives some useful tips on collection development in a public library.  I like her suggestions on following blogs and websites that talk about new titles, and looking at what the local independent bookstore have on their shelves. Plus this article was an easy read with no annoying jargon.  

The Art of Crafting Music Score Approval Plans: An Ongoing Process

Peralta, Polly

Hooper, L. (2016). The art of crafting music score approval plans: An ongoing process. Collection Management, 41(4), 228-235.

Summary:

This article is about one music librarians goal to build a music score collections with limited funds. Lisa Hopper, the music librarian at Tulane University, decides to separate the music score budget from the liberal arts budget to make the budget stand on its own. The article discusses the Daniel Zager Factors for creating a collection plan and what happened when this librarian applied it. Also, the librarian talks about Marica Kingsley and questions she advises librarians to ask themselves when researching for a collection.

Evaluation:

This article is a good read for new music librarians it helps give them an idea of how to start their collection; what factors should be considered; and identifies sources that are out there on this topic.

Practical Tips on Weeding and Acquisition

Deligencia, Nick

Kalan, A.P. (2014, May 20). The practical librarian's guide to collection development: Weeding and acquisition made easier. Retrieved from https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2014/05/20/the-practical-librarians-guide-to-collection-development/

Summary: A public librarian offers advice about weeding in preparation for acquisition. The author provides practical tips about "easy weeding" for "subject areas that change rapidly", including guidebooks that require continuous updating. Other considerations are suggested: historical or political (expounded upon in the article), memoirs, technology and science. Some guiding concepts about "politically incorrect works" help readers think about today's patrons.

The author recommends dividing the new materials budget by 12 to keep monthly acquisitions in line with budget constraints. It is important to know what customers want, and to recognize that they are likely seeking titles that have been reviewed in various media or appear on best seller lists. Library holds and other statistics provide insight about in-demand titles, authors, genres.

Commentary: Recommended reading.

The article is not lengthy, and it delivers on the title. For a novice librarian, ideas about where to begin the weeding process are tremendously useful. The author also describes a thought-process for determining how to determine what gets weeded. The article's section about acquisitions seem directed at well-funded libraries. A bulleted list of tips near the end of the article is too concise to be summarized here and that alone makes that section, at-least, worth reading.

A digital library for everyone

Leslie Fox

INFO 266

Cottrell, M. (April 15, 2013). A digital library for everyone. American Libraries. Retrieved from: https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2013/04/15/a-digital-library-for-everyone/

The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) is a project, spearheaded by Maura Marx, to digitize the nation's little known cultural archives and share them for free with everyone.

DAPL will be a portal to a fraction of what's out there. An array of digitized special collections from the Smithsonian to the National Archives. It sets out to unite these materials in a single virtual space. 

The Digital Hubs Pilot Project is a confederation of seven digital libraries (six state and one regional) that make up the beginning of what's available at DPLA. Several other cultural and educational institutions are also involved in states such as: Arizona, Georgia, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah. Harvard University is on board to share their digital collections as well. DAPL will be more of an aggregator of existing collections than a repository. "The purpose of the DPLA is to establish a platform of resources that will help libraries and other cultural heritage institutions to succeed in the digital area," says John Palfrey, president of the DPLA board of directors.

Here's a link to the now launched site: Digital Public Library of America .

How to destroy special collections with social media in 3 easy steps: A guide for researchers and librarians.

Leslie Fox
INFO 266

Werner, S. (July 31, 2015). How to destroy special collections with social media in 3 easy steps: A guide for researchers and librarians. Wynken de Worde. Retrieved from: http://sarahwerner.net/blog/2015/07/how-to-destroy-special-collections-with-social-media/


In her blog, Wynken de Worde, Sarah Werner posts her notes, amazing slides, and audio form her talk given at Rare Book School. She argues that while many Special Collections libraries are reaching out to users with social media, there are many ways this can go wrong, frustrate users and send them away. She uses humor to give examples of how keeping images locked up tight, treating everything as a joke or pretty picture and by relying too heavily on analytics for engagement by users can send researchers away and undermine the purpose of special collections.

The author then points out ways that social media can be used without damaging your special collection or stifling research and perpetuating misunderstandings. Werner asserts that special collections can grow using social media if you digitize with open access licenses; teach your audience to think about the past rather than laughing at it, and choose your aims carefully. Don't confuse popularity with engagement.

This presentation uses humor to engage the reader, but it is the detail and professionalism in the images presented as examples that I took special note of. A helpful resource for any special collections library wanting to utilize social media.

Amy Bush

Info 266

Markwei, E. & Rasmussen, E. (2015). Everyday life information-seeking behavior of marginalized youth: a qualitative study of urban homeless youth in ghana. International Information & Library Review, 47(1-2), 11-29. doi: 10.1080/10572317.2015.1039425

This study was conducted in Accra because it is the Capitol and the largest city in Ghana. To gain the trust of participants, the field study began with volunteer work by the first author as a phonics teacher at a nursery school for children of homeless youth. Once trust was established, the participants were selected using the snowball sampling procedure. The study consisted of forty-one homeless youth, comprised of 19 females and 22 males, all between the ages of 15 to 18. Data was collected through observations and in-depth interviews. This study identified the following 11 categories of information needs: employment, acquire skills, financial management/advice, health, security, shelter, food, education, administration of justice, respect, and fair wages. These categories of needs were found to relate to basic needs following Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. However, the findings from this study is inconsistent with Maslow’s assertion that the higher level needs of self-actualization and cognition can only be pursued once the lower level needs have been met (Huitt, 2007). In this study, the participants were pursuing physiological needs, safety needs, esteem needs, and self-actualization, simultaneously. Therefore, in spite of their homelessness, these participants desired and were working toward meeting their developmental goals. Unlike many homeless youth in other parts of the world, they were on the streets primarily due to poverty and came to Accra to work and earn money to meet their personal needs and life goals.

How to Build a High-Quality Library Collection in a Multi-Format Environment

Waldrop, Jeffrey

Barstow, S., Macaulay, D., & Tharp, S. (2016). How to Build a High-Quality Library Collection in a Multi-Format Environment: Centralized Selection at University of Wyoming Libraries. Journal Of Library Administration, 56(7), 790-809. 

In this crucial article, the authors discuss how collection development trends are shifting as collections become more electronic in nature.  As these collections shift, the role of collection development librarians and Reference librarians are also shifting to instruction and research support as the selection process becomes a bit more difficult.  The authors discuss new collection development models in this vein, but using the recent work of the University of Wyoming in this particular area.  This was a very helpful article in deed.  

The Significance of User-Created Content in Public Library Participation

Lara, Veronica

Abdullah, N., Chu, S., Rajagopal, S., Tung, A., and Kwong-Man, Y. (2015). Exploring Libraries’ Efforts in Inclusion and Outreach Activities Using Social Media. De Gruyter, 65(1), 34-47. DOI 10.1515/libri-2014-0055


Alfonzo, P. (2016). Snapchat in the Library: Librarians master an app to reach millennials. American Libraries, 47(11/12), 22-23.

Bernier, A., Males, M., & Rickman, C. (2014). It Is Silly to Hid Your Most Active Patrons: Exploring user participation of library space designs for young adults in the United States. Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy, 84(2), 165-182.

Ford, A. (2016). Fellowship of the Fans. American Libraries, 47(11/12), 34-39.

Perrero, M. (2016). Marley Dias: Bringing diversity to kids’ books. American Libraries, 47(11/12), 26.

            In one of our early presentations, we discovered the technology being utilized by the libraries we study, respectively.  One element of this study was to determine ways in which libraries are utilizing Web 2.0 tools.  Web 2.0 is the trend of user-created content on the web.  An example of this is wikis.  Wikis are user-created online dictionary entries for various subjects.  We certainly don’t need an introduction to Wikipedia to understand this concept. 

            Libraries have been using Web 2.0 tools to encourage participation among their patrons.  In Abdullah’s, et al. article, Exploring Libraries’ Efforts in Inclusion and Outreach Activities Using Social Media, the authors state, “the Internet has undergone a transformation, from being a static repository of information to being a socially interactive Web” (2015, p. 34).  Social media sites are a place for creating and sharing content.  This is in stark contrast to libraries, which have often been described as “information silos.”  Therefore, the goal for libraries should be to create a more participatory environment for its patrons. 

            Several articles have reported on the ways libraries are increasing their presence on social media to boost participation.  Paige Alfonzo writes about a number of libraries that have utilized Snapchat as an outreach tool to bolster teen involvement in public library programs.  Alfonzo discovered that  teens are often featured in the snaps, by sharing their favorite book or to share what they are currently reading.  Other libraries also have contests to create Geofilters for the library.  This allows teens to create the content themselves. 

            But participation doesn’t stop with Web 2.0.  Libraries have been encouraging users to participate and create content in other ways.  For example, Marley Dias is one 12-year-old girl who launched a campaign to diversify the children’s collection at her school, after being dissatisfied by the lack of diversity in the required reading materials.  Her campaign, #1000BlackGirlBooks, as collected and donated 7000 books to six different cities.  In this case, Ms. Dias has taken it upon herself to guide the collection development of these libraries. 

            Programs are another way for libraries to bring in new patrons, and librarians have found a way to incorporate content creation in these too.  The North Liberty Community Library in Iowa has offered a program in which patrons come together to write fan fictions, share, and critique each other.  The point of content creation in this case is to encourage participation in a library program.  Patrons can think of the library as a place to commune and share ideas, rather than it being a place that houses books. 

            Relatedly, an article written by Bernier, Males, and Rickman discuses the library spaces themselves as a way to attract participation.  In the article, the authors state that Young Adult sections are a significant indicator of teen participation.  More specifically, they argue that higher teen participation in the design of Young Adult sections leads to greater long-term participation in teen services.  Their study includes the creation of an index by which to measure teen participation in design, which positively correlates to overall future presentation.  In other words, higher participation in creation of the space leads to higher participation over all.  User-created content, or even planning involvement, is shown to have a profound impact on the idea of ownership over the space.  This sense of ownership is what encourages participants to continue the tendency to participate.

            So what does this show us?  It has been documented in several studies that higher participation during content creation leads to better general participation throughout the library.  We should be thinking of patrons as contributors, and assigning new roles to what libraries offer.  Information no longer moves in one direction.  It should be disseminated, analyzed and recreated into new information.  Thinking of a library as a place to simply receive information is antiquated.  The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can tap into the wealth of information that is our community.

            These are just a few of the articles I have chosen to highlight in this post, but there is a plethora of literature on this subject.  If you find one, please share it here.  I would love to see other examples of user-created content.

Haymond, Jeana
Fall 2016

Citation:   Sun, H. C., & Chen, K. N. (2012). A proposed model for library stacks management. Library Collections, Acquisitions, and Technical Services, 36(1-2), 24-29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lcats.2012.04.001

Summary: An interesting approach to Stacks Management. The authors suggest creating a new model - three book stacks areas known as the “parent-child-grandchild” model. One large section (“parent”), a medium section (“child”), and a smaller section (“grandchild”). The library’s entire collection would be housed in the three collections. The larger “parent” section would house 90% of the collection - those items that have not checked out in the past year, preferably in a compact storage mode on or off site. Stacks can be taller and more compact as this collection will not be browsable to patrons. The “child” section would look like the regular stacks, and will include books that are borrowed more frequently. These books are not arranged by call number, rather by RFID tags and are thus shelved wherever there is space. Once a book is placed on the shelf, the RFID in the book lets the shelf know where it is and the shelf communicates the books “address” to the location portion of the catalog record. Thus informing patrons as to where in the stacks to find the book. The smallest “grandchild” section is where the books that circulate frequently are housed and is browsable by patrons. Once a book is returned it is placed in the “grandchild” section. If it stays there for a predetermined amount of time (say a week) it is then relocated to the “child” section. Some books may travel back and forth from the “child” section to the “grandchild” section many times. If a book remains in the “child” section for say a year without being requested, it is then moved to the “parent” section.

Evaluation: There are many advantages to this Stacks Management model: it saves space, shelving time, and money. Disadvantages are few: initial expense of RFID system, and patron inconvenience in the beginning.

Citation: Jensen, K. (2016). "Looks like we made it: 11 lessons from a makers space, one year in. School Library Journal. November, 2016. 38-40.

Summary: One year into running a makerspace, author Karen Jensen, of the Teen Librarian Toolbox blog, shares what she learned from the experience with readers. In the beginning Jensen thought the makerspace would be technology focused, but she quickly learned not to discount arts and crafts. Teens crave these activities, and adding pens for drawing and coloring, as well as tape crafts and string art was a hit with her students. This was also key for keeping things fresh. Her second tip is to constantly mix things up by rotating what is available to students. This also includes hosting thematic days, such as a Star Wars Reads Day, where students create all things Star Wars related (thumb-print buttons, LEGO challenges, and string art). Thematic days like this are a great way to prompt students’ creativity-- which is her third tip. At first she thought that students would just sit down and dive in, but quickly learned that kids need a place to start. Providing books, how tos, and visual examples is a necessity.

Some of the author’s other key tips relate to budgeting-- both time and money. Jensen quickly learned that the budget for a makerspace is never enough. Her initial start up budget was $6000, but since then has spent over $4000 on consumables to keep things up. Students are always requesting new items, and fulfilling their requests are essential to creating a student centered place to create. Another aspect related to the budget is staffing. Makerspaces require supervision. To meet this need, Jensen hired to part-time staffers to help after school and on the weekends. Having this staff is also helpful because of the help they provide to students. Each staff member brings his/her own unique gifts to students and have helped students develop their own passions.

Her final tips are related to keeping the space student centered, allowing them not only a space to create, but also a space to publish their work. Students need to have ownership over the space and this includes giving students input on what they want added. Finally she reminds readers that the makerspace is a new way to connect with and teach students. Although it’s a labor intensive effort, it’s well worth the work!

Evaluation: This article is essential for anyone interested in creating a makerspace. Reading this piece, made me realize how much time, work, and effort goes into creating a successful one. Even so, I found it inspiring and hope to create one in  my own library someday!

Outsourcing in public libraries: Placing collection management in the hands of a stranger?

Premise:

Ø  The point of the section of the book, was a review of testing out that purchasing new addition to library‘s collection by using a third member party for the library better or more cost effected method.  All libraries have their budget to concerned, with a limited staff available, and libraries

Point to concern:

Ø  The first outstanding aspect to concern is that major of the libraries that are describe in this article are located in the UK.  The process describe both for libraries book purchase and outsources companies may not be application to libraries in the US. 

Ø  This article is quick to point out that that private section libraries already have outsource their collection developing needs, however public libraries has not because of several factors.  One is the governmental law governing what could be outsource.  Second aspect libraries get a discount when buying from publishers.  This unclear whether outsource will lose this price discount.

Ø  The advance of outsource to a third party: Libraries do not have to negotiate with several different publisher for their materials.  Speed up time to cataloged material into the OPAC.

Most important take away:

Ø  This Article end on an interesting note asking if libraries’ physical collection is still the main attraction of the given library?  Given that patrons’ number has been dropping and more client are coming into the library for access to technology. 

Ø  How are Libraries buying services and material are buying material is significantly different.  Many libraries are a part of a consortia of different branches, this change how purchasing is done and term of negotiation for prices for subscription to databases or number of copies is different.

Work Citation:

Diana Edmonds. (2012). Outsourcing in public libraries: Placing collection management in the hands of a stranger? In M. Fieldhouse, & A. Marshall (Eds.), Collection development in the digital age (pp. 125-135). London: Facet Publishing. Retrieved from http://bvbr.bib-bvb.de:8991/F?func=service& doc_library=BVB01&doc_number=024467437&line_number=0001& func_code=DB_RECORDS&service_type=MEDIA

Documents That Changed the World

Toni Vornhagen

INFO 266

Blog Post 6

Joseph Janes Pod Cast

                Joseph Janes is an associate professor/ chair in the MLIS program at University of Washington.  Professor Janes does podcasts that can be seen on YouTube.  The one I watched is called Documents That Changed the World and is about an hour long.  The hour flies by while this charming and intelligent man tells engaging stories of historical events that shaped the way we live today.  He discusses the meaning of a document, its effects as well as its historical value.  A document is everything from a receipt, the bible, a wanted poster, and the AIDS quilt. It can be anything from mixed media to a human voice and be of little consequence or have profound importance.  Documents can be oral, aural, a painting, a bill or a video.  Today our life is a string of documents.  But more interesting are the ubiquitous items we have come to take for granted that Janes highlights such as the Rosie the Riveter poster.  It was originally not meant for the public, just the factory where the women came to work.  It was meant to inspire and was based on a song. It has taken on a life of its own; a symbol of women, home, a period in time and war.  Documents add order and structure and meaning.  They also become beloved such as the original rule book for soccer…who knew? 

`               This podcast reminds me of the fine lectures I enjoyed at UC Davis.  It was not a burden to go to class when the professor was so eloquent and engaging.  Janes simplifies without talking down.  He is humorous while educating.  As a library student, I want to know the reasons behind the items I maintain and care for but as person interested in the history and modern connections of humanity, I enjoy Jane’s gift of storytelling.  This hour is worth your time. 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4T1PC1Yq4g

Technology Connections: Online Tools for Primary Resources

Amy Woods
Fall 2016

Citation: Moorefield-Lang, H. (2016). "Technology connections: Online tools for primary resources." School Library Connection, Nov/Dec 2016. 35.

Summary: In the Instructional Leadership Column of the latest School Library Connection, author Heather Moorefield- Lang, an associate professor of Library and Information Science, highlights a few helpful sites with great online sources for primary sources:

• Library of Congress features "historic newspapers, digital collections, photographs and veteran histories." With tons of easy-to-search, digital archives, this is a great resource for students. 
• The Smithsonian site contains a variety of resources great for language arts, history, science, and other K-12 courses. This site is vast, so librarians will want to share searching strategies with students before they delve into their research. 
• Digital Vaults is an interactive site "where users can work with photos, documents, and popular media from the National Archives." This interactive tools provides great opportunities for students to create a story with their sources. 
• DocsTeach features primary sources from the National Archives. Teachers can access letters, photos, speeches, posters, maps, and videos, spanning American history, to create rich learning experiences for students. 
• IWitness is an excellent resource for first person accounts of the Holocaust. The site features over 1500 videos from survivors and witnesses. 
• Zoom In is an interactive site that features both primary and secondary sources. Designed for U.S. history students, the site also provides lessons and ideas for teachers. 

Evaluation: There are tons of online resources available to teachers and it's hard to keep track of all of them. Although this article is by no means exhaustive, it does provide a "best of" list for primary sources. 

The Future of the Small Theological Library

Lazo, Rachael

Fall 2016

Citation:

Kennedy Stevens, M. (2016). The future of the small theological library. Theological Librarianship, 9(1), 28-32.

Summary:

This article is a summary of and later reflections on the event “The Future of Libraries in Theological Education: A Conversation with Chief Academic Officers, Information Technology Officers, and Library Directors” hosted by ATs/ATLA. The article addresses the conception, even present within the Theological Librarianship field, that the small theological library simply does not have the capabilities or resources to keep up with changing times and technological innovation. She finds, through research and the concerns raised at the event, that the small theological library, which is dependent on the educational institute that they are a part of and the churches that institute partners with, faces dual-front difficulties, one in the “rapidly changing landscape of religion and theological education,” and the other keeping abreast of the tide of information and being able to remain relevant. In order to remain relevant going forward into the future, the small theological library is urged to be forward thinking and use their small size to become intimately and personally acquainted with the needs of the community, which will aid in being able to anticipate future needs.

Evaluation:

This article raises some excellent questions about theological librarianship’s future, particularly in the small setting where resources are limited. Her urging to think of the smallness as a strength and not a weakness is a good beginning direction to change course, and the problems that were discussed are very useful to consider for existing libraries, but I do not feel that the solutions proposed were practical enough- she had practical applications, but they did not actually address the issues of keeping up with technology and change, only remaining relevant. In the realm of a small theological library, however, the librarian and the library staff may not have as much power as they would like over that compared to the college as a whole, so it is a good example of what can be done with the resources at hand.

Dungeons and Downloads: Collecting Tabletop Fantasy Role-playing Games in the Age of Downloadable PDFs.

Stephannie Tornow
Fall 2016

Citation

Sich, D. (2012). Dungeons and downloads: Collecting tabletop fantasy role-playing games in the age of downloadable PDFs. Collection Building, 31(2), 60-65.

Summary: Sich explains how RPGs are a great resource for libraries. As they only require rule books and/or guidebooks, they can easily and compactly be stored on the shelves (some game may require dice or figures which can be kept behind the desk). Adding RPGs to the collection could bring more people into the space to participate in this spontaneous activity. However, it is important to understand how RPG publishing works in order to avoid copyright issues. While many RPGs are available as digital PDFs, these are intended for single use. Libraries which purchase RPG PDFs for use as part of the collection may be breaching copyright.

Evaluation: This short article can feel more like an advisory than an exploratory essay or analysis, but it does have an interesting literature review on the use of RPGs in libraries.  For a look at alternative materials in collection building, it is also demonstrates how librarians should consider copyright issues has they build their collections.

Is It Time to Move the Books?

Stephannie Tornow
Fall 2016

Citation
Pattee, A. (2015). Is it time to move the books? Young Adult Library Services, 13(4), 13-17.

Summary: YA books are becoming increasingly popular among adult readers. Thus, are YA books still an age-designation or a meta-genre? Pattee explores the idea of YA as a genre and considers how libraries can move their collection to reflect this. Pattee discusses how moving the collection so that YA is a genre within the adult collection might allow patrons to find books easier.  

Evaluation: Despite Pattee's strong argument for YA as a genre rather than an age-designation, Pattee doesn't fully explore the possible complications of moving collections around. The article glosses over how this situation would effect Teen Centers/Rooms, stating these collections are better suited for materials that only relates to teens (i.e. study guides, college prep, etc.) whereas YA fiction and graphic novels need their own space within the collection at large. Pattee doesn't address how YA being a meta-genre would affect reorganization. Would the YA genre encompass horror, sci-fi/fantasy, mystery, etc.  (as it does in bookstores)? Wouldn't this lead to the same issues bookstores face, where people don't know whether to look for a book under YA or fantasy? That being said, Pattee poses some interesting questions about our current methods of categorizing books, designating collections, and what it would mean to reorganize.

Modern Special Collections: Embracing the Future While Taking Care of the Past

Sanders, Emily

Fall 2016

Citation:

Evans, M. R. (2015). Modern Special Collections: Embracing the Future While Taking Care of the Past. New Review Of Academic Librarianship, 21(2), 116-128. doi:10.1080/13614533.2015.1040926

Summary: This article uses a broad framework to decipher certain archival concepts in academic librarianship: collection, connection, collaboration, and community. It uses that meaning to reflect on changing landscape of special collections. It comes up with very practical solutions to some common troubles facing modern special collections. It works to embrace the past with regards to the present and future in what Evans calls a “nontraditional strategic manner.”

Evaluation: I found this article is tremendously informative. It is an alternative method of going about the thought process-- as it contains literal thought and no measurable data-- but it produces several insightful notions about modern special collections work. The only problem is that the audience can’t be sure how well these methods work as they aren’t put to practice in anyway.

Collection Development and Management

Chase, Matthew
Fall 2016

Citation:

Lehman, K. A. (2014). Collection development and management: An overview of the literature 2011-12. Library Resources & Technical Services, 58, 169-177.

Summary:

This article provides comprehensive insight into the collection development literature published during 2011 and 2012. The author examined the issues confronting librarians as budget cuts, space limitations, and the increasing emergence of digital resources arise. In order to thrive in the new digital world, Lehman pays special attention to how collection development and acquisitions strategies are shifting toward patron-driven demand. The issues presented by the author have also provided libraries with the opportunity of innovative thinking as they strive for balance between print anddigital collections with open access resources, shared collection building, and re-purposing space beyond ownership.

Evaluation:

In addition to being a bibliographic treasure of citations on collection development trends, the article also proves to be a valuable glimpse into the ever-changing direction of the subject. In particular, it offers innovative strategies drawn from other libraries on how to address issues affecting many communities today such as budgetary and space limitations. Yet these very limitations, as the author points out, have led to new ways of building collections that better reflect their intended users.

The Development of a Collection Development Policy

Chase, Matthew
Fall 2016

Citation:

Cabonero, D. A., & Mayrena, L. B. (2012). The development of a collection development policy. Library Philosophy and Practice, 2012, 1-23.

Summary:

This article presents an in-depth examination on how to develop a collection development policy. The authors administered a survey to the Eastern Luzon Colleges' students, faculty, and stakeholders so as to gain community insight into the library's current collection development practices, and how they met participants' expectations and perceptions. In critical comparison and assessment of the findings, the library was able to build a policy that reflected the needs of its campus community.

Evaluation:

This article functions as both a scholarly publication and a working template on creating an effective collection development policy. The authors promoted a more interactive experience for the community to engage in collection development, particularly at the policy level. It is useful since it can help justify current practices to stakeholders, winning their support so as to continue providing quality collections matching the needs and interests of patrons.

Establishing a Mobile Resources Collection Development Policy

Chase, Matthew
Fall 2016

Citation:

DeRosa, A. P., & Jewell, S. T. (2014). Establishing a mobile resources collection development policy. Journal of Electronic Resources in Medical Libraries, 11, 144-154.

Summary:

This article focuses on the collection development process for mobile resources in medical libraries. Specifically, the authors addressed the policies to be created on the evaluation and selection of these applications. Several criteria need to be established for these decisions such as user relevance, content quality, cost, and access. The article also discusses marketing strategies unique to a mobile resources collection as the library should utilize LibGuides, social media, and its website as prime promotional opportunities.

Evaluation:

 I found this article very relevant as my own library recently curated and marketed a collection of free educational apps for faculty and students. Following the guidelines and criteria provided would have made such an endeavor much more effective. As the authors indicated, clear channels of communications among curators is essential which makes it all the more important to establish a policy on the collection process. The marketing tools included also highlight the value of selectors in knowing how to effectively promote a unique collection.

 

How to Build a High-Quality Library Collection in a Multi-Format Environment

Chase, Matthew
Fall 2016

Citation:

Barstow, S., Macaulay, D., & Tharp, S. (2016). How to build a high-quality library collection in a multi-format environment: Centralized selection at University of Wyoming Libraries. Journal of Library Administration, 56, 790-809.

Summary:

This article brings up the growing trend toward the development of electronically formatted collections in academic libraries, which presents a host of new problems and insights for librarians. This trend has added further pressure on librarians charged with collection development as they navigate the increasing needs for library instruction and research help. The authors use the collection reconstruction prompted at the University of Wyoming Libraries to provide a visual demonstration of the impact had from the current direction of collection development and management. They conclude that as these collections continue to diversify in format, there is an increasing need and advantage to centralize the responsibilities to a select team of librarians with expertise on emerging trends in development.

Evaluation:

This article paints a transformative portrayal of the future collection development librarian, which is quickly becoming the present as evidenced by the University of Wyoming Libraries. There is definite promise in the centralized model presented by the authors, as keeping the responsibilities delegated to a small team of experts allowed for more efficiency in assessment and selection. However, the authors do admit to existing issues such as budgets. Although budgetary considerations were not much of a concern in their case study, they acknowledged that such limitations would slow down the process even with the new model, which isn't suprising to find. It would be curious to see such a model applied to a public or school library where budgetary limitations are a constant worry and obstacle.