Enhancing Collection Development with Big Data Analytics

Peterson, Joy

Citation:

Crawford, S., & Syme, F. (2018). Enhancing collection development with big data analytics. Public Library Quarterly,37(4), 387-393. doi:10.1080/01616846.2018.1514922

Descriptive Summary:

Many professional organizations now use Big Data to analyze their operations and make evidence-based decisions. This article discusses the ways that libraries can use Big Data software to analyze collections and make decisions to purchase materials based on that supporting data. 

Evaluation: 

I think the use of analytics for collection development and management is an area that needs strong consideration.  While this article needs to be taken with a grain of salt, primarily because its authors are employees of the company that makes the analytical software highlighted in this study, collectionHQ, their claims are indeed valid.  

By actually tracking what is being circulated in a library system, collection managers can better anticipate the needs and interests of their patrons.  This will help increase future circulation and help eliminate what the authors call Dead on Arrival (DOA) publications, which are items that are never circulated once purchased.  The real issue here, however, is getting libraries to see the benefit of using analytics. 

Furthermore, libraries will then need to train their staff to develop analytical metrics that can be interpreted and incorporated into the collection development process.  My fear is that this kind of analytical rigor is not something that can be self-taught.  Ideally, a class in circulation analytics could be introduced into the current MS-level curriculum.  Regardless, this was a very interesting approach that I think will continue to gain traction among collection developers.