COLLABORATIVE COLLECTIONS: In academic libraries, collection development is becoming more of a team effort

Brian DeFelice

Dixon, J. A. (2019, August). COLLABORATIVE: COLLECTIONS: In academic libraries, collection development is becoming more of a team effort. Library Journal, 144(7), 36+. Retrieved from https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A595194907/GPS?u=mlin_s_thomas&sid=GPS&xid=f473f88d


In this article, Jennifer Dixon explores the difficulties that some academic libraries are having with keeping up with the demands of collection development, while also balancing limited budgets and increased demand on their physical spaces. This article explores how some academic libraries have found creative ways to enhance their collection development polices and practices by joining library consortia, sharing spaces, and digitization, and state wide repository. One very interesting element of the article is discussing the idea of "sharing spaces" which really is more of a shared repository for academic libraries. The Research Collections and Preservation Consortia (Re-CAP) services Princeton, Columbia, and New York Public Library by proving off site material storage that can be requested by member libraries. Re-CAP acts as an offsite repository, allowing member libraries to house books off site, but still have them technically in the collection. Patrons can request items that are off site, which are then delivered to the requesting library in an inter library loan delivery fashion.

Of course, not all libraries need to share space or offload physical collections to an off site local. Some can join local public library consortia which allows them to expand their collection without having to actually add additional books on the shelves. Rather than store collected materials in an off site warehouse, each library acts as it's own "warehouse" lending materials to other libraries upon request. Some academic libraries just join other academic library consortia, others, Like Eastern Nazarene College in Quincy, MA opt to join public library consortia. Joining a consortia of either type can have an impact on collection development policy because some consortia have particular rules about lending and purchasing of materials. Some Library systems, like in Ohio, are working to create a state wide repository of materials for libraries of all types, to deal issues of limited space, funding, and enhancing resource sharing.

Curating, not weeding

Libraries are often constricted by physical space, meaning they simply cannot add books without getting rid of books. Especially today, as more space is needed for other uses such as study space, casual reading areas, and activity rooms. How can librarians meet the needs of the collection and the needs of the users at the same time?

Weeding projects are usually intensive projects that are not to be lightly undertaken. It involves experience, time, and qualitative/quantitative reasoning that libraries may not have. Furthermore, faculty or patrons may feel like certain titles belong in the library and should not be discarded. Librarians need to be able to effectively communicate plans and roll out lists of potential discards for the active community. Collection management plans can help focus the direction of a collection as well as communicate to stakeholders of the library. However the librarian feels about this problem, there are several different methods to curate and not simply weed.

Held, T. (2018). Curating, not weeding. Technical Services Quarterly, 35(2), 133-143. Doi:10.1080/07317131.2018.1422882

Developing an Archival Zine Collection

Brett, J. (2015). “Deep in the Heart of Texzines:” Developing an Archival Zine Collection. Technical Services Quarterly, 32(4), 390-401.

I found this article to be extremely fascinating, for it describes the creation and development of a zine collection at Cushing Memorial Library at Texas A&M University.  The author had developed a similar zine collection at the University of Iowa, so he used that experience as the basis to do the same at Texas.  Brett was motivated to collect zines because they are cultural artifacts that represent the diversity of people in this country, and their voices tend to be those who are outside the mainstream.  Also, as an archivist, Brett felt inclined to preserve these records, especially given “their ephemeral and underground nature.”  He outlines the steps taken to build the collection, such as getting administrative support, developing a collection policy, and hosting a zine event at the library to publicize the collection.  Zines are not a common source/record that are collected.  By and large they are still seen as being on the margins, and perhaps as disposable.  But in the author’s eyes, zines are worth preserving, and will one day be important historical sources.  I would recommend this article to anyone interested in zines and collection development, for it shows how one particular archivist, through his vision and efforts, was able to establish such a collection.