How To Build a High Quality Library Collection in a Multi-Format Environment: Centralized Selection at University of Wyoming Libraries

Denise Lester
Barstow, S., Macaulay, D., & Tharp, S.How to build a high-quality library collection in a multi-format environment: Centralized selection at university of wyoming libraries. Journal of Library Administration, 56(7), 790-809. Retrieved from
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2015.1116336

The article begins with a brief history on the methodologies used in the academic library's materials selection process since few scholarly articles can be found in this area.  It continues to track the increasingly important role of the librarian and collection development from the 1950's to 1979. Specific concerns over poor communication between faculty and the library, the issue of quality control, quantity over long term and transitioning to having scholars as selectors are discussed.

Pioneers of academic collection development and their methodologies for collection management are listed and progression in thinking is seen from one model to the next, However it is not until the 2000's that academic collection development and management shifts to a centralized model that allows librarians to make decisions quickly instead of using a decentralized model where faculty/scholars choose materials which risked an unbalance collection and allocation of funds.

Finally, as electronic resources became more prominent in collection development, their management took on a different resource management system and a new position, Electronic Resource Librarian,(ERL) developed to specifically develop and manage electronic materials. Subsequently, specific subject area librarians become selectors for materials instead of one librarian selecting for all areas which later morphed into the current practice of a group of librarians who collaborate with academic departments and help build the collection more effectively.

How to Build a High-Quality Library Collection in a Multi-Format Environment

Chase, Matthew
Fall 2016

Citation:

Barstow, S., Macaulay, D., & Tharp, S. (2016). How to build a high-quality library collection in a multi-format environment: Centralized selection at University of Wyoming Libraries. Journal of Library Administration, 56, 790-809.

Summary:

This article brings up the growing trend toward the development of electronically formatted collections in academic libraries, which presents a host of new problems and insights for librarians. This trend has added further pressure on librarians charged with collection development as they navigate the increasing needs for library instruction and research help. The authors use the collection reconstruction prompted at the University of Wyoming Libraries to provide a visual demonstration of the impact had from the current direction of collection development and management. They conclude that as these collections continue to diversify in format, there is an increasing need and advantage to centralize the responsibilities to a select team of librarians with expertise on emerging trends in development.

Evaluation:

This article paints a transformative portrayal of the future collection development librarian, which is quickly becoming the present as evidenced by the University of Wyoming Libraries. There is definite promise in the centralized model presented by the authors, as keeping the responsibilities delegated to a small team of experts allowed for more efficiency in assessment and selection. However, the authors do admit to existing issues such as budgets. Although budgetary considerations were not much of a concern in their case study, they acknowledged that such limitations would slow down the process even with the new model, which isn't suprising to find. It would be curious to see such a model applied to a public or school library where budgetary limitations are a constant worry and obstacle.

Collection Development as a TEAM

Tracy, Anna

INFO 266, Fall 2016

This article looks at the evolution of collection development theories in academic libraries, the centralized selection model, its relevance to today’s practices, the streamlining of electronic resources and the electronic resource librarian.

There is a continuing dilemma in collection development of whether or not to add selection to someone’s existing roles or hiring a person specifically for that role. This article went into detail on what the Head of Collection Development at UW had to do in order to get devoted staff to selection rather than dividing up the tasks among many people as an afterthought to their workflow.

I do believe that selection should be accepted as ‘a regular part of the days work… not an added burden’, though there is a difference in budgets from library to library and especially spanning from academic to rural public libraries. I find it an incredibly rewarding part of my job, though it often gets put on the back burner for other tasks which is a shame. I have implemented a similar model, on a smaller scale within my department, similar to how UW achieved their team for the whole library, by defining policies very clearly, working in close proximity to the selection team, and consistent updates on budget and availability of funds.

Barstow, S., Macaulay, D., & Tharp, S. (2016). How to Build a High-Quality Library Collection in a Multi-Format Environment: Centralized Selection at University of Wyoming Libraries. Journal Of Library Administration, 56(7), 790-809. doi:10.1080/01930826.2015.1116336