Summary:
In this article Christopher Cox explores how library collection development has been forever altered in the wake of the 2020 pandemic. He discusses the "new- normal" -one where in person classes and service interactions may be impossible. He explores the diminishing value of print collections. He asks how we can make the content in our print collections more accessible and relevant in a post CVID 19 world? He questions mass digitization and access versus archives. He cites copyright right difficulties and issues which would need to be resolved before universal acceptance. He advocates for additional mass digitization efforts, leveraging collaborative storage agreements with repositories currently dedicated to print- content and making library print collections more accessible.
Cox predicts that over the next few years libraries will universally be spending more time and money to develop their electronic collections. As budgets are reduced he foresees a challenge in accomplishing this goal. Libraries will need to develop new strategies for negotiating better deals with publishers while simultaneously lobbying for greater access to streaming media and ebooks, which are more plentiful and cheaply accessible to individuals than they are to libraries. He cites the Macmillian e-book embargo as an indication of future difficulties regarding the development of new access models.
Several institutions have had to rethink multiyear licenses to large journal packages in light of the long term financial implications of COVID-19 as well as years inflationary increases by publishers. Cox believes if more libraries decide to purchase material title by title instead of relying on large contracts with publishers then they will save a significant amount of money. He believes that libraries can force publishers to develop an a la carte purchase option by relying on source sharing agreements and document delivery services. By canceling big publishing deals libraries send a clear message that things need to change.
Evaluation:
Being back in a public library for these last five months have shown me that most of what Dean Cox talks about is exactly what we need to evolve forward in the information science world. What is disheartening is to learn about budgetary reductions at a time when those funds are needed most to ensure the safety of library workers. Large sections of hard plastic barriers now enclose the circulation and reference desks which do provide a bit more assurance of protection from COVID. The new normal of face masks and social distancing have allowed our staff meetings to still be held virtually as we seek not to infect each other in the office. What is new is that most patrons are now fully comfortable with the LAPL app which provides them almost unrestricted access to our whole website. I have also noted a less intensive process of cataloguing in the collection. Recently a patron checked out a stack of magazines popular in England, they mentioned that they almost exclusively used the LAPL to get their access but when she learned we had physical she wanted to get them for her mother who is hard of seeing. The encounter with that patron made me realize that whats really required for libraries to succeed post pandemic is a balanced collection that preserves and circulates print material while emphasizing the availability of electronic resources.
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