Collaborative collection development: current perspectives leading to future initiatives

Peterman, Rhian 

Levenson, H. N., & Hess, A. N. (2020). Collaborative collection development: current perspectives leading to future initiatives. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 46(5), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2020.102201

The article presents collaborative collection development as a means to fulfill institutional needs during economically fraught times. Furthermore, the authors outline the potential benefits as well as potential complications, or challenges, that a collaborative collection development program may possess. The authors present a review of the literature regarding previously enacted collaborative collection development programs as well as a view for the future. This article notably frames the proposal within the context of a post-Covid-19 budgetary landscape.

The data-driven methods employed by the authors in this article need broader contextualization for other library system types, e.g., public library systems. However, the potential industry resilience garnered by enacting this collection development model cannot be understated. Further research regarding this topic is needed, especially as it relates to potentially mitigating broader environmental impacts.