Summary and Evaluation of "Collection Directions: The Evolution of Library Collections and Collecting"

 Chiriboga, Claudia

Article Title: Collection Directions: The Evolution of Library Collections and Collecting

Dempsey, L., Malpas, C., & Lavoie, B. (2014). Collection Directions: The Evolution of Library Collections and Collecting. portal: Libraries and the Academy 14(3), 393-423. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2014.0013.

Summary: 

This article offers a comprehensive examination of how collecting behaviors have evolved within network environments, outlining potential future directions through diverse model analyses. Dempsey, Malpas, and Lavoie delve into the shifting dynamics of print collections, heightened interactions with research and learning behaviors, and trends in scholarly communication. Their aim is to furnish a framework for libraries to deliberate on evolving investment patterns across collection categories. The authors introduce the idea of network context, collection grids, and managing shared print, while explaining transaction costs, the importance of infrastructure, and explore the changing patterns of research and learning.

Evaluation: 

As stated in the article, “Libraries are not ends in themselves but serve the needs of the institutions of which they are a part. As those needs change, so do the requirements placed on the library.5 Changes in the way research and learning are done are more important drivers of change than internal library developments” (5). I concur with the statement that libraries exist to meet the needs of the institutions they belong to, and as these needs evolve, the demands on the library also shift. The assertion that alterations in research and learning methodologies have a greater impact on driving change than internal library developments aligns with my perspective. Additionally, the article states, “As access and collections are decoupled in this way, it moves the library toward a set of services around creation, curation, and consumption of resources that are less anchored in a locally managed collection and more driven by engagement with research and learning behaviors” (7). I agree with the idea that separating access from collections leads the library towards a focus on services related to creating, curating, and consuming resources. This shift diminishes the emphasis on locally managed collections and emphasizes engagement with research and learning behaviors.