Bottom-Up Strategic Planning: The UC San Diego Libraries Experience

Roscoe, Whitney

Williams, J. j., Dearie, T. t., & Schottlaender, B. b. (2013). Bottom-Up Strategic Planning: The UC San Diego Libraries Experience. Library Leadership & Management, 27(3), 1-12.

Summary:
This article is a comprehensive explanation of the strategic planning process that was used by the UC San Diego libraries in 2011-2014.  Faced with drastic budget cuts and the impending knowledge that much of the collection in the future would be digital information, the libraries were forced to imagine a strategic plan to combat multiple complexities simultaneously.  A group of 22 members was assembled to gather information from staff, faculty, and users.  After data was synthesized, it was determined that six main themes would be presented to the Libraries Administration.

Evaluation:
This essay provides many great tips for strategic planning and contains specific details that are well-researched.  The only thing this essay is lacking that I was a bit curious about is what kind of pitfalls the team faced during the entire process and how they overcame those difficulties.  I would certainly point other students who are interested in researching alternative methods of strategic planning to read this article.

 

 

 

Data Visualization and Rapid Analytics: Applying Tableau Desktop to Support Library Decision-Making.

Michelle DeFazio

Murphy, S. (2013). Data Visualization and Rapid Analytics: Applying Tableau Desktop to Support Library Decision-Making.  Journal of Web Librarianship, 7(4), pp. 465-476. Doi: 10.1080/19322909.2013.825148.

Summary: This article discusses the use of Tableau software to rapidly analyze usage of LibGuides at the Ohio State University Library.   Tableau could be a great advantage to understand statistics collected in terms of usage of materials and tools as well as other statistics that librarians should keep track of in today’s academic libraries to promote better service, support education and research,  and justify library budgets.

Evaluation:  While Tableau's visual analytics can rapidly show usage of services, the library must first do the hard work of collecting the statistics which is not something that all libraries do.  Moreover, Tableau is primarily a business tool and the language reflects this.  The person who runs the software must be knowledgeable  enough to change the terminology from terms like "revenue" to "usage" as the article states, which requires a whole new set of expertise on the library staff.

Why Did We Buy That? New Customers and Changing Directions in Collection Development.

Michelle DeFazio

Downey, K. (2013) Why Did We Buy That? New Customers and

Changing Directions in Collection Development, Collection Management, 38:2, 90-103, DOI:

10.1080/01462679.2013.763741.To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01462679.2013.763741.

Summary:  This article discusses collection development directions at Kent State by supporting Administrative goals of international recruitment and increased international programming through the purchase of language learning software.

Evaluation:  This article brings up the interesting point that rather than just wrangling for the library's share of a university budget, it makes sense to work with university administrators to accomplish their goals by seeing what the library can do to support those goals.  This tactic can make administrators more sympathetic to library missions.  In this case, Kent State wanted to feature their international programs and attract international students.  The library supported this through the purchase of language learning software.  

Collection Development Challenges for the 21st Century Acquisitions Academic Librarian.

Michelle DeFazio

Herzog, S. (2004) Collection Development Challenges for the 21^st Century Acquisitions   Academic Librarian. The Acquisitions Librarian. 16:31-32, 149-162. http://dx.doi.org/10.1300/J101v16n31_14.

Summary: Susan Herzog shares helpful advice on how to hit the ground running as the new collection development librarian in an academic library. It shares suggestions about  tools  of the trade and online resources and gives advice about building relationships with the faculty.

Evaluation:  This article is slightly dated but extremely useful as it shares the basics about collection development in an academic library including whether or not there is an existing policy on the subject and how that can guide one.  It assumes that there are staff shortages and the librarian doing the job may never have taken a collection development course.  

Sherman Alexie Novel tops List of Books Americans want Censored

Sullivan, Maureen

Flood, A. (2015). Sherman Alexie novel tops list of books Americans want censored. The Guardian. Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/apr/13/sherman-alexie-novel-tops-list-of-books-americans-want-censored-2014.

Summary: The American Library Association released its top ten banned books from 2014, and Sherman Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian made the number one spot. The article discusses the reasons why some of the books are banned, but also points out that over half of the books that are banned contain diverse content, and/or were written by authors of color, referring to Malinda Lo's study of diverse authors and banned books.

Evaluation: In considering books to purchase in our collection, I am especially interested in culling the blogs and reviews of diverse books, about young people from all backgrounds, and written by authors from all backgrounds and experiences. While I am not surprised by some of the books on the banned list, I am concerned about the idea raised by Malinda Lo that the underlying reason that those books may be banned is due to their differences. "Diversity is actually under attack." Deeming a book inappropriate for readers is challenging to navigate as it is, but if it is also potentially denying a student or young person to read about an experience they have experienced, or inspire them to write their own story, that is oppression.

Bring Board Games to Your Library: Collection Development Tips and Best Practices

Sullivan, Maureen

Spina, C. (2015). Bring Board Games to Your Library: Collection Development Tips and Best Practices.  Retrieved from: http://ccgclibraries.com/bring-board-games-to-your-library-collection-development-tips-and-best-practices/

Summary: This articles touts reasons board games in the library might attract new visitors and allow for different activities in the library. It discusses providing a game space as well as factors to consider in building up a board game collection. The author also provides a list of resources to find games online.

Evaluation: I appreciate the fact that board games are still given some play in the maker space movement. As a school librarian, I feel that face to face interactions are incredibly important for students, and gaming is a lower stakes way for them to practice social conventions than on the yard, perhaps. It is clear that this article was meant to be general, and more as a suggestion to consider including board games in your library's collection. It would have been nice to read about some of the benefits that board games offer, to help provide a rationale to teachers and admin why playing is paramount.

Collection Development & Budgeting

Rebecca Perkins

Martin, M. (1995). Collection development and finance: A guide to strategic library-materials budgeting. Chicago, IL: American Library Association.

Summary: According to Amazon, “This text covers topics such as how collection budgets are planned, built and defended, and implemented, in straightforward language.” It provides a number of budget samples and includes a chapter on access verses ownership and the budget implications of digital materials. It also covers setting up an annual budget and making adjustments to it as needed. The focus is on academic and public libraries but could be used for other types as well.

Evaluation: Although this book is a decade old, the general principles remain relevant and the budget samples provide a good starting point for those new to managing a collection development budget. The area of most interest for public library staff handling collection development is the base budget example for a public library (pg. 9) which breaks down a $250,000 total budget allocation for each material audience type: adult, young adult, and children and further within each by fiction, nonfiction, and audiovisual subsections. Of specific relevance in this sample is the percentage of the total budget listed for each of these break downs. However, the cost of materials has changed drastically since the book was written and specific price breakdowns should factor that in. Additionally, modern breakdowns would further define digital media rather than lump it all into audiovisual. Another aspect of the book that shows its age is a statement saying, “Public libraries, other than the central libraries in large systems, seldom invest a large portion of their budget in serials” (pg. 46). With the availability of digital newsstand and serials services like Zinio, this may no longer be the case. Despite its age, overall this is a really good resource for creating strategic materials budgeting.