Demand-driven cooperative collection development: three case studies from the USA

 Peterman, Rhian

Booth, H. A., & O'Brien, K. (2011). Demand-driven cooperative collection development: three case studies from the USA. Interlending & Document Supply, 39(3), 148–155. https://doi.org/10.1108/02641611111164636

This article gives a detailed overview of the demand-driven acquisition process in conjunction with collaborative multi-institutional collection development policies between libraries. The article likewise addresses the successes and issues faced with conducting this form of collection development. Furthermore, the authors note the future implications this form of library collection strategy may have on shifting individual collections to a holistic network forming a single library collection.   

The authors present a very fascinating concept for collection development. Further investigation into the prospect of de-emphasizing individual library collections in lieu of geographically formed consortiums, i.e., one large collection that multiple institutions support and take part in. If widely adopted, the proposed framework in this article could provide broad sweeping stability for libraries in general.

Patron-Driven Acquisitions at City University of New York

Hober, Michael

Egan, N., Yearwood, S. L., & Kendrick, C. L. (2016). Patron-driven acquisitions at the City University of New York: A case study. Technical Services Quarterly, 33(2), 131-144.

Descriptive Summary: This study describes how a patron-driven acquisition system was tried at City University of New York, which is made up of 24 colleges spread throughout New York City. Working with publishers, they developed a list of 4,602 titles were not duplicated within their library system that would be automatically purchased when patrons viewed these items beyond the table of contents when browsing. Their $75,000 budget lasted for four months with this system. They found that several concerns present in their literature review - that collection quality would diminish, that patrons would intentionally trigger purchases, and that librarians would assert influence over the process - were not found to be issues in this program.  The authors conclude that if budget limitations and the time to set the program up to run well were not so high that they would continue to use this as a tool for collection development in the future.  

Evaluation: The article does a good job of highlighting how important the work of setting up the program before its implementation was in the success of the program. The librarians who implemented this needed to comb through all 24 college libraries to eliminate duplication, select titles appropriate for their college aged audience, and negotiate with publishers before the program went live. Their work beforehand was what allowed them to have a successful program that avoided the common pitfalls that participants in similar programs that were discussed in the literature review had issues with.  Even so, I'm not entirely convinced that patron-driven acquisitions should be a large part of collection development, though maybe it can have some small role.  

Format Follows Function

Peet, L. (2015, September). Format Follows Function. Library Journal, 140(14), 34-37. Retrieved December 3, 2015, from Academic Search Premier.

Summary:

In this article, that author describes the complex nature of selecting the correct format to meet the needs of library patrons in public libraries. As the choices of format for library materials grow the and the demand for various formats increase libraries are left with the increasingly difficult decision of selecting formats. This article describes the difficulties in deciding which format to purchase for which items. There is increasing popularity in audiobooks as the preferred format for part of the challenges in choosing formats for libraries in predicting trends in formats. The author describes how costs, availability, and users demand all have to be consider in acquire the correct formats to meet the demands of a particular community.

Evaluation:

This article reveals the issues created by an increasingly complicated digital world. The availability of multiple formats causes confusion in the acquisition process. This article is a relevant explanation of the struggles in acquiring the proper formats to meet users needs in an expand and ever changing digital culture.

The Past, Present, and Future of Demand-Driven Acquisitions in Academic Libraries

Zatko, Ruzena

Goedeken, E. g., & Lawson, K. k. (2015). The Past, Present, and Future of Demand-Driven Acquisitions in Academic Libraries. College & Research Libraries, 76(2), 205-221.

 

 

 

Summary

 

This paper covers what makes a great collection and best practices and guidelines in collection management. Some key factors to consider in proper management is being in tuned with what is circulating, otherwise money is being wasted keeping items that patrons don't care for on the shelves. Goedeken and Lawson (2015) go on to mention that digital collections can actually be disruptive and should be acquired with care. In all, its important to not just give patrons what they want but instead give them what they need.

 

Evaluation

 

In this research, some great points were brought up for academic acquisitions. Some important things to consider is for the acquisitions librarian to not necessarily fall for the "trends" or go all digital, etc. Patrons will have demands and want the newest and latest. However, it is important for the librarian to weed through and find quality material for the patron. The paper considers analysis of the current collection, balance the traditional approach of acquiring material, and know all about their user and their needs.

Collection Development and Management: An Overview of the Literature, 2011-12.

Bailey, Rachel

Lehman, K.A. (2014). Collection development and management: An overview of the literature, 2011-12. LRTS, 58(3), 169-177.

Summary: This article explores collection development literature from 2011-2012. Much of the literature discussed limited budgets as well as space saving issues. Also addressed were e-books as well as open access availability, demand driven acquisitions, print on demand and weeding.

Evaluation: This article reminded me that collection development is a big topic and there are a lot of subjects under this heading. After reading the overview of the literature, I was particularly intrigued by the process of demand driven acquisitions. There’s no better way to find out what patrons want than going straight to the source. This should be done in addition to the other methods that are already in place.