Showing posts with label collection development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label collection development. Show all posts

Monday, May 11, 2026

A Review of Citation Analysis Methodologies for Collection Management.

Busath, Kellie


Hoffmann, K., & Doucette, L. (2012). A review of citation analysis methodologies for collection management. College & research libraries, 73(4), 321-335.


This article reviewed how multiple institutions went about doing a citation analysis for collection development purposes. Citation analysis is reviewing the citations used by faculty at the institution to see what areas of expertise needed to be accommodated by the library. It included collecting materials that were listed in citations if they were not already acquired by the library and also collecting materials linked to the citations used. This would be done by reviewing citations and then researching what other articles or resources had used that same citation. The citations were also reviewed to spot trends in research for the institution, collecting materials that would aid in future research endeavors. The article itself was a review of the different methodologies that each institution would use for their citation analysis. It was found that many institutions did not have a set methodology, but instead, everyone at the institution would go about it a little differently. Some common things that librarians would look at when doing a citation analysis was:

  1. Type of resource

  2. Age of resource

  3. Frequency of citation

  4. Presence of resource in the library


I found this article very interesting. I had heard about doing a citation analysis, but I wasn’t quite clear on the purpose or method behind it. I learned a lot about both! Doing a citation analysis could be helpful for research institutions, depending on the goals of your library. I belong to a research institution, but our collections policy is to only collect for undergraduate curriculum so faculty research interests may or may not align with that curriculum. In addition, I am currently trying to collect for our Communications College and the faculty there do not have the same publishing requirements as the rest of the University, so it is harder to tell what their interests are. Still the methodologies in this article give good insight into doing this type of analysis for collection development.


Monday, May 4, 2026

New Horizons for Academic Library Collection Development: Creating a Community-Curated Collection Through Student Empowerment

 

MacRae, Alisdair

Heisserer-Miller, R., & McAlister, L. R. (2023). New horizons for academic library collection development: Creating a community curated collection through student empowerment. Journal of Library Outreach & Engagement, 3, 119–135. https://doi.org/10.21900/j.jloe.v3.1157

Summary

This article offered two interesting solutions for academic libraries to engage student, faculty, and staff users in the form of student selection projects and grants awarded for purchasing materials related to their given area of focus. Responding to declining enrollment, shrinking budgets, and the needs of marginalized users, these programs enhanced services for users while also maintaining collection development. The Kent Library at Southeast Missouri State University is not large, with five staff for every 1,000 students, and consisting of twelve librarians and eight staff. The library had operated under a collection development model driven by faculty, so librarians had very little involvement. Equating student engagement with student success, the decision was made to establish opportunities to participate in collection development. The students gladly accepted the invitation, and while faculty might not necessarily approve materials selected by students in some cases, the solutions showed how vital student participation is for academic libraries, as well as the increasing opportunities for diversity equity, inclusion, social justice, outreach, and partnerships.

Evaluation

I found this article really exciting in terms of academic library collection development. While the university at the centre of the project might seem small and perhaps not well funded, I believe these solutions could be applied at institutions of any size, and even in non-academic library settings. The literature review supported the idea of student success through engagement, but also the potential pitfalls due to inconsistent and complex methods used to engage students, and how the student collection development process was eventually selected. The authors provided data and analysis around the engagement with each opportunity for collaborative collection development. While they noted the limits of the programs due to COVID ,they were also very honest about how interest may have been bolstered through signage, posters, free candy and coffee shop gift cards, and promotional writings in the student newspaper. Promotion may be seen as critical to making the collection development projects successful rather than imparting bias given how students are busy, and may have been under the impression that they may have little input into library operations. Overall, the project did not have exorbitant costs, with $4,000 devoted to the purchase of student nominated resources between 2019 and 2020, and $7,000 for the student group grant program between 2019 and 2021. I believe the article offers a good example of connection development through its collaborative aspects, and it would be interesting to try a similar project at another library.

Friday, May 1, 2026

Inclusive Collections For Supercharged Storytimes

Varela, Tiffany 

WebJunction. (2023, December 27). Inclusive collections for supercharged storytimes.            https://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/inclusive-collections.html 

Summary:

Highlights the importance of building diverse and representative collections for children’s programs. Storytime helps shape how children see themselves and others. Choosing books that reflect the identities in our communities, while also introducing new perspectives, supports a sense of belonging and encourages understanding.

The article emphasizes that inclusive collections require intentional, ongoing effort. Librarians should regularly assess their materials to ensure a wide range of voices and experiences are represented, especially those that have been historically underrepresented. It also highlights useful tools such as curated booklists, review sources, and professional development opportunities to support inclusive selection and programming. A central idea is that books act as mirrors, windows, and doors, reflecting children’s lives, offering insight into others, and opening pathways to new experiences.

Overall, the article reminds us that inclusive storytime collections are built through thoughtful practice and play a key role in fostering empathy and connection.

Evaluation:

The article provides a clear and practical overview of why inclusive collections matter in children’s library services. It effectively connects theory to practice by focusing on storytime and how book choices influence children’s sense of identity and understanding of others. The “mirrors, windows, and doors” concept is used well as a simple guide for selecting materials.

A key strength is its emphasis on intentionality, presenting inclusive collection building as an ongoing responsibility. The inclusion of booklists, tools, and training resources makes it useful for librarians looking to improve their work. There is a generous list of resources to refer to when it comes to selection. However, the article stays at a general level. It offers limited guidance on how to evaluate collections in a systematic way and does not fully address challenges such as budget limits or community concerns.

Overall, it serves as a strong introduction that highlights the importance of inclusive practices, though additional detail would be helpful for deeper implementation.


Tuesday, April 28, 2026

How public librarians actually build collections

 Maklynn St. Clare, INFO 266


Gooding-Call, A. (2020, February 24). Public library collection development secrets, revealed: Behold the mystery of public library collection development. Book Riot. https://bookriot.com/public-library-collection-development/

Summary: Anna Gooding-Call explains how public librarians actually build collections. She shows that librarians can’t just follow their personal tastes or ideas of “quality,” because that would set dangerous precedents and exclude viewpoints when staff changes. Instead, they balance demand, circulation data, space limits, and community needs, often relying on professional review sources. Gooding-Call argues that public libraries must prioritize relevance, diversity, and use over stocking every “classic,” and that donations are usually handled according to policy rather than simply added to shelves.

Evaluation: The author made some good points about unknown considerations that librarians should keep in mind, rather than making random choices in collection development. The article was easy to understand and thought-provoking.

Tags: collection development, librarians, libraries, circulation data, community, diversity, donations, funding 

 


Monday, December 8, 2025

Subject-Specific Policy Statements: A Rationale and Framework for Collection Development.

McGuigan, G. S., & White, G. W. (2003). Subject-Specific Policy Statements: A Rationale and Framework for Collection Development. Acquisitions Librarian, 15(30), 15. https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1300/J101v15n30_03

Summary:
McGuigan and White argue that traditional, library-wide collection development policies are often too broad to meet the nuanced needs of specialized subject areas. They present subject-specific policy statements as a more effective alternative, enabling libraries to articulate clearer goals, define collection boundaries, and communicate the distinctive characteristics of individual subject collections. The authors emphasize that creating detailed subject-based policies supports librarians in managing resources more effectively and helps patrons better understand what to expect from particular collections.

Evaluation: 
The passage presents a clear and well-reasoned argument for the value of subject-specific collection development policies within libraries. It effectively contrasts traditional, library-wide policies, which are characterized as overly broad and insufficient for addressing nuanced disciplinary needs with more detailed subject-based policies that offer clarity and precision. By emphasizing the benefits of subject-specific approaches, such as improved communication of collection goals, enhanced support for librarians, and better guidance for patrons with specialized research needs, the text highlights the practical advantages of tailoring policies to particular subject areas.

A notable strength of the passage is its articulation of how subject-based policies function not only as guiding documents but also as strategic tools. The discussion underscores that developing these policies requires close analysis of the current collection, an understanding of user needs, and forward-looking planning, activities essential to maintaining a relevant and robust collection. The reference to McGuigan and White strengthens the argument by grounding it in professional discourse and demonstrating that concerns about overly general policies are recognized within the field.

Sunday, December 7, 2025


Transformative Agreements in An Academic Library: Two librarians' experience with collection development and this new type of agreement with publishers

McLain, R., & McKelvey, H. (2024). Shifting the collection development mindset: Moving from traditional journal subscriptions to transformative agreements. Library Resources & Technical Services, 68(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.5860/lrts.68n1.8218

Audrey Wilcox

Summary

This article, written by Rachelle McLain and Hannah McKelvey and published in 2024, does a great job in describing the processes behind transformative agreements (TAs), what they are to libraries and publishers, as well as the considerations behind implementing TAs. Hannah and Rachelle write about their experiences managing, executing, and negotiating with seven TAs over the course of three years at their academic library at Montana State University. They begin by examining the current literature on the subject and then explain how they were introduced to Tas by attending a 2019 conference. From there, they delve into how TAs can help support equitable open-access opportunities for authors and researchers. Throughout the article, they present research questions, workflows, benefits, and challenges that they encountered during their work. All in all, the researchers concluded that TAs are worth it to a library, regardless of its size or staffing, and that developing the knowledge and skills to work with publishers and authors in creating TAs will be even more critical in the future as more libraries participate.

My Evaluation

I believe this article to be incredibly important to any library looking to start implementing transformative agreements in their collection development processes. Rachelle and Hannah did a great job explaining their work and processes throughout the research and implementation of the TAs within their library. They bring up great considerations and questions that those new to the process should consider, as well as what to look out for when working with publishers. I feel that licensing processes and negotiating with big-name publishers can be daunting enough as it is, and when you add processes like TAs to the mix, it can get even more confusing. Open Access within libraries still has some wrinkles and aspects to work out, but licensing agreements like TAs can create more equitable access to publishing and research in a world of rising article processing fees and costs to authors.


Thursday, December 4, 2025

AI Models and Collection Development in Health Sciences Libraries

 


Morrison, Mary


Portillo, I., & Carson, D. (2025). Making the most of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models to support collection development in health sciences libraries. Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA, 113(1), 92–93. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2025.2079

Summary:


For the project, health sciences librarians at Chapman University in Irvine, Ca, evaluated the four AI models (ChatGPT 4.0, Google Gemini, Perplexity, and Microsoft Copilot) over the course of six months using two different prompts in an effort to streamline their work and aid efficiency. 


For the first prompt, each generative AI model was asked to produce a current eBook list of titles published over the last two years on topics related to pharmacy, communication sciences and disorders, physical assistant, and physical therapy. For the second prompt, the tools were asked to find current subject gaps in the collection and to create a list of recommended call numbers in specific ranges that needed attention. Each collection list was uploaded into the generative AI models using the Create List function found in Sierra which is an Integrated Library System. 


Afterwards, the results were assessed for “quality, accuracy, the presence of fabricated titles (often referred to as ‘hallucinations’) if references were provided, correct citation details and accurate LC call numbers” (Portillo & Carson, 2025). All of the models gave inconsistent responses. Only two of the AI models gave sources for the titles they created. While Copilot was the most accurate in generating titles, Gemini and ChatGPT had many hallucinations and incorrect information. Some tools gave more hallucinations on different days with the same prompt. Because of this, none of the generative AI models are currently adequate tools for collection development. 


The second prompt got better results with all models giving some type of “helpful analysis and accurate LC call numbers” (p. 93). The subject gaps identified by each model were different, but they all had reasoning as to what areas needed further development and the research generated was found to be useful by the researchers for use in their current collection development work. 


The findings of the research support the idea that LLMs are not ready to serve as “primary information retrieval systems” for library collections and are better used as supplementary tools for “analyzing the subject coverage of their collection, identifying subject gaps, and highlighting areas for health science programs that may not be as well represented in a library collection”

 (p. 93).


Evaluation: Overall, I found this article to be a brief and concise research endeavor for a very focused group (health sciences libraries). I appreciated that they used four different AI models to test the accuracy of their results from the two collection based prompts. It was especially interesting to see how each model fared and how they had similarities and differences. I wasn’t surprised by the findings. I find AI tools especially helpful for many tasks, but in tasks that require higher order thinking or multiple steps that require some degree of nuance, there is still a great deal of room for improvement. I feel that AI will improve rapidly and that soon it will be something that is more useful in increasing librarians’ efficiency and reducing their workload. 




Sunday, November 30, 2025

Collection Development and Management for 21st Century Library Collections

Name: 

Mickayla McDowell


Citation: 

Gregory, V. L. (2019). Collection development and management for 21st century library collections: An introduction (2nd ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman. 


Summary: 

Gregory’s text provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary collection development and management (CDM), covering the full lifecycle of collection work. As said in the overview, “...this book will concentrate on the collection itself–selecting, acquiring, assessing, weeding, and preserving the library’s collection are the main focus…” (1). The book covers e-books, open-access publishing, self-published materials, web 2.0, and licensing frameworks, reflecting the changing landscape of 21st-century collections. Written in accessible language and grounded in practical examples, sample policies, and workflow templates, the book functions as a foundational textbook and a practitioner’s reference guide.


Review: 

Overall, it is a strong foundation, but as the sub-title notes it is just an introduction. Its strength lie in its clear process-oriented approach, broad topical coverage, and attention to legal, ethical, and diversity concerns in CDM. However, because of its breadth, the treatment of specialized areas (such as born-digital materials and digital preservation infrastructures) remain somewhat general. Additionally, some sections already feel dated given rapid developments in streaming media, vendor negotiations, artificial intelligence, and open-access models. 


Friday, May 9, 2025

Community-Curated Collection through Student Empowerment

Smit, Elizabeth

Heisserer-Miller, R. & McAlister, L.R. (2023). New horizons for academic library collection 
development: Creating a community curated collection through student empowerment. Journal of Library Outreach & Engagement, 3(2023), 119-135.

Summary:
Librarians at Southeast Missouri State University started two programs to get more patron input into collection development. The first let students nominate and then vote on which section of the library should get a special $3,000 budget. The second created a grant program for student groups to suggest materials needed by the library. Items purchased through the first program saw a jump in usage while items purchased through the second program saw lower than average usage. In both cases, the researchers were pleased with the student engagement with the programs and the relationships built between the library and the affinity groups on campus. One grant turned into an on-going project and a new special collection in the library.

Opinion:
While I don't think the results of this study are particularly exciting, encouraging patrons to take ownership over portions of the collection sounds like a great way to improve circulation and engagement. The programs here might not translate directly to your library or budget but they're a good jumping off point. And, the researchers' enthusiasm for the programs is catching! I know my students would love to pick books, but I often worry that they'll choose books that are trendy now & then they'll will be forgotten before they even arrive. Sometimes we take book suggestions but I would love to have students vote for which section of the library needs a tune-up next year. Our library doesn't receive enough money to give grants to student groups but it would be nice to include other areas than English, Science & Social Studies in our purchasing decisions.


Saturday, April 5, 2025

Dorothy Porter: A Black Woman Pioneer in Library and Information Science

Penelope Wright

Conley, Z. (2023). Dorothy Porter: A Black woman pioneer in library and information science. Arkansas Libraries Fall/Winter 2023, 80(3/4), 24-26.

Summary:

Dorothy Porter was born in 1905 in Virginia. She attended Howard University and in 1930 became a librarian there. In 1932 she was Columbia University's first Black student to earn a library science degree. When she began as a librarian, there were two numbers in Dewey that all materials by (or about) Black people went: 326 (slavery) or 325 (colonization). A book of poetry by a Black author would be assigned either 326 or 325, it would not go in 811. Dorothy changed this, putting materials by Black authors in the sections in which they fit best in the wider Dewey system, not just in the two numbers. Porter's system pushed back on racism and challenged the bias of the Dewey system. She was the curator of the Moorland Foundation and amassed a collection of more than 180,000 materials. Her contributions to Black history and literature were immense. She received numerous awards and accolades, including the Frankel Award from the National Endowment for the Humanities. She published many scholarly works and helped set the standard for collections focused on Black lives and culture. Porter's indomitable will and trailblazing nature brought resounding positive change to libraries worldwide. 

Evaluation/Opinion

I read a lot of different articles this semester but this is the one that I kept coming back to, that stuck in my mind the most. Porter challenged the status quo, and shook up the way things "had always been done" because the way things had "always been done" was wrong. I'm glad I learned about her, she was an amazing woman. I'd recommend this article to anyone who wants a quick, informative read about notable librarians, the history of libraries, or overcoming institutional racism. 

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Policies for Library Inclusion of Self-Published Works

 

Burns, C. (2016, February 4). Policies for library inclusion of self-published works. Public Libraries Online. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2016/02/policies-for-library-inclusion-of-self-published-works/

Whipple, Karen

Spring 2025

Summary:

    This short article poses the question of whether self-published works should be accessible through libraries. The article discussed how these works can easily fit into a library's collection with a few caveats. Specifically, it may be necessary to modify the collection development policy to focus on self-published works, and an agreement must be established with the self-publishing companies. As always, libraries need to consider the value of the book and the space they have available for their collection. Ultimately, the article argues for including self-published works but recognizes the library must be willing to create a firm policy and procedures for these works.

Evaluation:

    This brief article was written almost ten years ago, but it has become even more relevant today. Self-publishing is incredibly easy nowadays with the help of self-publishing opportunities like Kindle Unlimited Direct Publishing (KDP), which allows individuals to electronically publish their works and even receive payment when users access and read their books. Many of these books are available in print, eBook, and eAudiobook formats.

    "Indie" authors are no longer the amateurs they were once considered to be. Some indie authors have built successful careers through this nontraditional form of writing, achieving notable success in both income and readership. These self-published works are reviewed by readers on Amazon, and Goodreads, and some have Kirkus reviews as well.

    The question of whether libraries should include self-published works has been on my mind recently, so I was happy to come across this article. I would have loved to have had more detailed information, but this article was relatively brief and was more of an introduction to the idea rather than a fully fleshed-out how-to guide or review of libraries that are currently using self-published works. It is unsurprising, though, as the article was published in 2016; I imagine the idea was still in its infancy. Still, it was an enjoyable, quick read to pique my curiosity.




Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Collection Development Based On Patron

 Mao Yang

APA: Allen, M., Ward, S., Wray, T., & Debus-López, K. (2003). Collection development based on patron requests: Collaboration between inter-library loan and acquisitions. Library Collections, Acquisitions, and Technical Services, 27(2), 203-213.

Summary:
Allen, Ward, Wray, & Debus-Lopez (2023) used this article to see the effectiveness of collection development based on patrons. They called this method On-Demand Collection Development. On-Demand Collection Development is when the librarian purchases a book rather than borrow through inter-library loan. It was found that this method was more cost-efficient and patrons received their requests faster. Allen, Ward, Wray, & Debus-Lopez (2023) believes that on-demand collection development is a practical aspect that meets both patron and library needs.

Evaluation:
This article focused on using the method on academic libraries. I think this method works well in academic libraries because the patrons are university students or faculty member. I would like to see if this method would work on public libraries. When there is a wider range of interest and patron, I wonder how the on-demand collection development would work. Overall, I think it's a great method in collecting books because the library owns the book compared to inter-library loans.

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Intellectual Freedom and the Collection Development Process

Shauna Bailey

 

Reference:

 

Costello, L. (2020). Survey Applies Public Collection Development Librarians’ Support for Intellectual Freedom to Collection Process. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 15(1), 245–247. https://doi.org/10.18438/eblip29686

 

 

Summary: 

This study used an online survey to explore how 645 Midwestern public librarians’ attitudes around intellectual freedom and demographics influenced decisions concerning collection development. Intellectual freedom around the management of collections was the focus of the survey. It was found that the participants used many tools in the selection of collection materials. Just less than half indicated their library had a policy to assess collection balance, while just over half indicated their libraries did not have a policy in place to ensure a balanced collection. Almost ¾ of respondents felt local communities should influence collection development. Communities' political leanings did not have an impact on participants’ alignment with the intellectual freedom stance of the American Library Association (ALA), though holding an MLS degree did significantly affect respondents' stance and alignment with the ALA. Almost ¾ of the participants felt that collection development should be influenced by the government library funding leadership. A small number of respondents encountered pressure from their coworkers or communities to either purchase or restrict collection materials. Interestingly, almost 40% of respondents felt torn between their professional views on intellectual freedom and their personal values, though, there was support for intellectual freedom and alignment with the principles of the ALA in general.

 Evaluation:

 This article focuses on the implications of intellectual freedom around collection development in public libraries. I found it interesting that most of the participants indicated that their libraries did not have a collection development process in place to ensure a balanced collection. This article suggests collection development without a structured plan will stray off course, something we have also been learning in INFO 266. This article highlights public collection development librarians and their efforts to follow the guidance of the ALA intellectual freedom standards. Continued education for information professionals around intellectual freedom, and the importance of developing guidelines and policies to ensure a balanced collection development process cannot be stressed enough. Maintaining balanced collections, developed while following the principles of intellectual freedom, will ensure that public libraries remain vibrant, inclusive spaces for the communities that they serve.

Saturday, May 1, 2021

The Post-Pandemic Future of Library Services

 Fajardo, Mariella

Shumaker, D. (2021). The next normal: The post-pandemic future of library services. Information Today, 38(4), 14-16.


Summary: Shumaker introduces the main idea that changes in librarianship will mirror changes in society; in this case, the coronavirus pandemic. Two main trends with the change included an increased reliance on digital technologies and the increasing vulnerability of disadvantaged communities. He states that librarians experience the impact of these changes through collections, programs, and community needs. The use of digital collections has been increasing and set new records in 2020. Similarly, in higher education, circulating physical collections is considered to be practically "irrelevant." Virtual programs have changed since they can overcome transportation and distance barriers. In recent years, librarians have taken new approaches to engage their communities, specifically through online services. However, a digital divide continues to persist. 

Evaluation: It's apparent that post-COVID planning is a necessity in the change for public libraries. Librarians should continue to advocate for themselves and to address the needs of their communities during the pandemic. Along with the increasing digital divide, innovation and creativity are important for librarians to maintain in order to be successful and be a part of society's recovery during this pandemic.

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Info 266- The Collection Development Policy

 Anna Nicholson


Sullivan, M. (2013). The collection development policy [for children's services]. In M. Sullivan (Ed.), Fundamentals of children's services (2nd ed., pp. 45-54). ALA. http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/sjsu/detail.action?docID=3001691 

Summary: In this chapter, the author explains the purpose of a collection development policy, defines policy, and explains the different pieces that make up this policy- particularly in children’s services. The chapter then expands upon the importance of aligning the policy with the organization’s mission and vision statements. Next, the chapter explores how service roles and selection criteria and responsibility need to be reflected in the collection development policy. Finally, Sullivan explains how to break down a collection by topics and subsections to determine what resources are needed, where they should be placed, and how the collection supports intellectual freedom. 

Evaluation: This was a useful chapter because it did a good job explaining the purpose of a development policy and how to create and use one. In addition, I appreciated that this resource was specific towards children's services because it helped me understand the different concerns and issues that I should be aware of when making a collection development policy for a school library. Ultimately, this was a clear, concise resource that I would recommend reading for more information about the roles information professionals play and the criteria that should be used when selecting or deselecting children's materials. 

Saturday, March 6, 2021

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.


Shared Patron-Driven Acquisition Within a Consortium: The OCUL PDA Pilot

 Peterman, Rhian 


Davis, K., Jin, L., Neely, C., & Rykse, H. (2012). Shared Patron-Driven Acquisition Within a Consortium: The OCUL PDA Pilot. Serials Review, 38(3), 183–187. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.serrev.2012.08.002

This article provides a case study for the implementation of patron-driven acquisitions as a collection development and management strategy. The article outlines the successes and challenges of PDA. Additionally, the authors look at the institutional and consortial level implications this acquisition strategy has by providing a detailed review of the participating libraries’ implementation strategies as well as key takeaways. 

    This is an important article to contextualize the PDA methodology. However, the implementation methods do not seem like they were comprehensively reviewed regarding interoperable software or hardware requirements (though the authors do go into detail regarding this issue). Future analysis regarding the elimination of isolated collections in favor of building a larger single collection would be an interesting potential solution.


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.


Creating a Culture of Readers through Collection Development and Outreach

Peterman, Rhian 


Prince, J., & Boff C. (2020). Creating a Culture of Readers through Collection Development and Outreach, Collection Management, https://doi.org/10.1080/01462679.2020.1859423


This article provides a case study of three separate events at the Bowling Green State University to align curricular reading with collection development and services. Additionally, the article provides a glimpse into the impact successful collection development decisions can have on building cross-campus communities around a library’s collection. Additionally, the authors advocate for proactively aligned outreach efforts that showcase the collection development efforts of the institution.   

Furthermore, this article is particularly interesting when noting the importance of collaboration with faculty and educators regarding collection choices, outreach efforts, and circulation use. Through dedicated programming and events, the collection choices can be showcased while providing needed proofs of positive impact for future budget decisions. 


Building Collections through Purchase Suggestions in Academic Libraries

Peterman, Rhian

Ibacache, K. (2020). Building Collections through Purchase Suggestions in Academic Libraries,    Collection Management, 45(2), 179-192, https://doi.org/10.1080/01462679.2019.1666332


This article outlines the positive impact patron driven acquisition models can have on the collection development process. The authors assessed data from over 100 universities using the Suggest a Purchase program, looking at what impact the information captured on the forms could have on collection development decisions. The authors advocate for using form submission patron driven acquisitions as a means for a more user-focused, tailored, and functional collection development strategy. Collection development librarians can use this process to better meet user needs as well as increase the circulation of library materials. 

    Within this framework, patron driven acquisition is not a replacement of librarian driven collection development, instead it could be meaningfully used to augment and focus collections. However, further information and data points needs to be gathered regarding the viability of implementing this collection method.