Search

For nearly a decade, there has been recognition of the need for an African American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (AAGPRA) or similar legislation. Experiences from implementing the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) have shed light on challenges that prevent practitioners from achieving the informed, respectful, and expeditious return of remains. Given the likelihood of federal legislation addressing the repatriation of persons of African descent and acknowledging the hurdles that practitioners may face if and when it is passed, we offer a practical model, START, to reorient our understanding of success to recognizing that incremental progress is still forward movement. The model is organized into five stages and is presented with context from NAGPRA, along with suggested steps that practitioners can take at each stage to help build on their success. The START model is a straightforward and practical checklist approach that helps practitioners recognize the victories achieved in small steps that could be hidden or prevented by misguided but well-intentioned attempts at perfection. It is directly applicable to preparation for repatriation but has utility for any curation or collections management context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This theme issue has two primary goals: to illuminate the underdeveloped or faltering areas of the discipline as they relate to archaeological collections and to offer tangible paths forward to address the systemic problems identified as they impact the future of archaeology. Present-day archaeology is complicated due to its many sectors of practice: academia/faculty; cultural resource management; federal, state, and local government; tribal governments and communities; descendant communities; students; the general public; and different types of archaeological repositories. Given this complexity, it can be difficult to identify the expectations (and realities) of each sector, which, if better understood, would help illuminate the nuances of preservation, accountability, discoverability, and use of archaeological collections across the discipline. Without a solid understanding of these nuances, efforts to advance the discipline are undermined. This introduction provides an overview of the articles that address emerging and urgent issues and offer viable steps forward. These challenges include the interrelationships between ethics, collaboration, and training; the preservation and management of digital records and data; collections discovery and reuse; collections-based research; training in material culture; making collections knowable to constituencies outside archaeology; preparing for repatriation from a management perspective; and the intricacies of the archaeological digital data system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major problem in collections management is the lack of training about collections in all facets of archaeology. Ignorance about both ethical obligations and practical steps associated with collections is arguably the leading contributor to the ongoing curation crisis. This work summarizes shortcomings in collections training in academia and in cultural resource management, and it proceeds to identify some steps that can be taken to provide training for students and professional archaeologists. The overriding argument is that more training in all aspects of collections is absolutely essential to addressing and beginning to mitigate the overwhelming problems the discipline faces in caring for archaeological collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeologists are taught about the importance of professional recordation and our ethical obligations to those associated records and data. These teachings imply that practitioners are meeting a professional standard of recordation that will stand the test of time, but the ongoing digital revolution is changing the way records and data are created and preserved. Best practices for the management and use of digital archaeological records have been published, and devoted digital archives offer these services. However, the ability of traditional archaeological repositories to adopt best practices or pay for digital curation is poorly understood. This article presents the results of a survey asking how the flood of digital records and data has impacted the ability of archaeological repositories to collect, manage, preserve, use, and make accessible digital archaeological records and data. Are repositories adopting the best practices that have been outlined? What kinds of challenges do repositories face regarding digital records and data? Are they being overcome successfully? The survey results offer a snapshot of current practice and point to future directions that should be pursued to ensure that the discipline is meeting its professional obligations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For 15 years, the University of Idaho has conducted chemical testing of excavated materials from historical sites throughout North America. The most common artifacts tested are sealed containers. Some come from current excavations, but most are from repository shelves. The immediate purpose of the archaeochemistry work is twofold: to identify the contents of the containers for researchers and to provide training for students in analytical chemistry. After testing more than 500 items, project personnel have recognized some unexpected outcomes that have implications for institutions housing the artifacts. Specifically, tested materials identified the small, yet consistent, presence of certain artifacts that can have health implications for personnel working with the items. The article concludes with general guidance on identifying and assessing those risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to characterize the maturity of digital initiatives in Philippine academic libraries, focusing on the sustainability of digitization activities. For its literature review, this paper presents local digitization initiatives, guidelines, standards, and good practices on digitization as presented in research, and prevailing digital library services during the COVID-19 pandemic. It employed a descriptive-comparative research design to obtain information on digitization programs implemented in higher education and research-producing institutions. Five of the 12 verified institutions with digitization programs were engaged for further interviews. The respondents cited the lack of staff, dedicated physical space, and inadequate equipment and funding as barriers to implementing a digitization program. Most of the respondents' digitization initiatives began in response to external triggers rather than as a part of a comprehensive strategy to provide digital library services. The project-based approach to these activities affects the sustainability of digitization programs. The study recommends organizing more consultancy programs in digitization, teaching digitization ICT applications in LIS schools, information companies offering digitization services, digitization communities of practice, and consortia for sharing facilities and expertise. With the requirements of a more robust digital framework to provide flexible access, Philippine academic libraries must review their short- and long-term goals and figure out where digitization can be integrated within said goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As libraries and communities consider institutional values and ethical standards, there is a need to scrutinize how those values and standards connect with collections decisions. An existing body of literature about the contents of the collections exists, with respect to issues like decolonization and open access, but little about the business relationships libraries maintain in order to acquire these collections. In this paper, librarians from Purdue University take a critical approach to identifying the values of their institution at multiple levels, including a newly released Libraries strategic plan, to create a values-based evaluation tool for future collection assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In South Africa, and globally, the value of natural science collections for scientific research is not widely recognised and has led to its marginalisation, which in turn has resulted in low funding, staffing and use of the collections. Aim & objectives: To this end, as part of the effort to increase understanding and appreciation of the collections, a cross-sectional web-based survey was administered to users of natural science collections (NSCs) in South Africa. The objectives of the study were to identify the perceived value of NSCs to the research community; perceived or experienced barriers in accessing NSCs and associated data for use in research; perceptions of NSCs’ current performance in serving the needs of stakeholders; and how performance is judged and what the expectations are to improve future performance of NSCs to better serve the needs of stakeholders. Methods: The survey consisted of 26 questions, distributed by email to relevant researcher community mailing lists, and posted on relevant social media groups. The survey was completed by 131 respondents. Results & conclusion: The study indicated the overall perception of the importance of NSCs and their accessibility to the student and researcher community in South Africa and internationally to be extremely important to their research. Lack of funding for operations and staff impedes the ability of researchers and other users alike in using NSCs to optimise their research and contribute to issues of societal concern. A sustained commitment is required from NSC institutions to work together to solve various challenges, including improvement in serving stakeholder needs, which will in turn assist with demonstrating the value of NSCs to policymakers, in order to lobby for support and funding. Improved recognition of the importance of NSCs for research by the scientific community will assist NSCs in demonstrating their impact. Political priority should also be given to the long-term upkeep and ongoing assistance of institutional infrastructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caring for many objects is one of the more challenging aspects of the museum profession. In museums that collect cultural belongings, utilizing best care practices ensures that objects of cultural heritage can be studied and appreciated by the peoples whose cultures they represent. Thus, providing collections care is necessary to support learning and to further the efforts of decolonization. However, in many museum education departments, a specialized collections management role does not exist to care for teaching collections. This case study examines why it is essential for education departments to have a dedicated collections manager, particularly in the era of museum decolonization. The case study details how the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle, Washington, applied decolonial efforts to collection management as our team preserves a cultural belonging from the Lummi Nation in our teaching collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic raises questions about curation, collecting, and the ethics of documenting a traumatic event as it occurs in real time. Such concerns became clear as the co-authors embarked on a multi-sited study of the pandemic's impact on four communities in two different countries. Defining an 'artefact' or what is archaeological, for instance, became a complicated exercise; do chalk artworks on the sidewalk, painted rocks lining a neighbourhood trail, posters stapled on community billboards, and stuffed animals in someone's window count as archaeological artefacts? Determining the temporal boundaries of the pandemic is also difficult; while it is fairly clear when the pandemic first began, it continues to have an impact on our post-lockdown world. Its global impact also means that the material changes and landscape alterations the co-authors witnessed were not confined or isolated to one place and one time, but rather exist in multitudes across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2018 SAA statement encouraging collaboration between archaeologists and "responsible and responsive stewards" included recommendations epitomizing decades of established practice at the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA), a research center housing the State Archaeological Repository of Iowa. At the time the SAA statement was published, OSA staff were actively implementing a grant supporting transfer to the State Repository of the John and Phil Palmquist Archaeological Collection. This grant was designed to provide hands-on research experience for undergraduate students interested in archaeology and collections management while recording improved site locational data and artifact specific documentation, including on relatively rare (for the area) red pipestone artifacts. Although modest by some standards, the Palmquist Collection includes 860 artifacts from 26 locations recorded through 40 years of surface survey by the family in a portion of Iowa that is rarely the focus of professional archaeologists. This article provides a case study of responsible archaeological practice implementing SAA recommendations, including treating collector-collaborators with respect, encouraging collector assistance in the recording of finds, capturing research data from a private collection, and facilitating curation of privately owned materials. We include brief consideration of the impact of the Palmquist Collection on the understanding of southwestern Iowa archaeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While archives and special collections continue to welcome unique and valuable resources, small academic libraries can struggle with how to manage donation offers intended for their main collections. There is a need to be selective considering falling print circulation, workload increases for library personnel, and space restrictions. Additionally, limited collections funds needed for more current and higher-demand resources can be strained by the higher processing costs of donated materials. These pressures are compounded by prospective donors seeking a home for items they no longer want, a perception that small academic libraries need all donations, and a lack of understanding about the qualifications and expertise of academic library workers. Clearly communicated and regularly reviewed guidelines can help discourage unwanted donations in ways that lessen alienating our patrons. This article provides a content analysis of donations webpages from small academic libraries in Canada to identify trends and provide support for libraries reviewing their own policies and procedures in an effort to manage donor expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The birth of museums in India has its origins in colonial rule. While the country today counts over 800 museums, proper collections management and its treatment as a pivotal museum function have not taken hold widely. Several challenges remain, including a lack of space, the scarcity and misallocation of funds, and, critically, an absence of national standards and guidelines for collections storage and management. While the Indian government created a digital repository in 2014 through an initiative called JATAN, the sector still trails behind in the fundamentals of collection storage and documentation, and in digitising collections. This article, drawing on responses from anonymous respondents to a specially designed questionnaire, examines inadequate storage practices in India, while also assessing the attitudes of Indian museum professionals towards collection storage over the last decade. Further, it sheds important light on the sharp divide between those who manage collections and those who curate in the subcontinent. The article additionally offers a template for the development of a national policy for collection storage and usage: one that covers multiple concerns, from weather conditions and disasters to objects of sacred relevance (especially in palaces that exemplify living heritage). Taken together, these suggestions can serve to standardise practices across museums in India. This article also highlights a requirement for documentation guidelines and accessibility of collections for myriad uses—research, teaching and curation—across India and the world. Lastly, it explores the need for greater capacity building, given insufficient educational frameworks and a lack of formally taught museology courses. For this purpose, it discusses crucial national and international reports published over a decade and qualitative data gathered through primary interactions with professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the information age, storage has become an essential element of managing museum collections. The complexity and variety of functions now encompassed by storage have moved it beyond its traditional conception to be regarded as a system of interconnected and organised elements that work as a whole and fosters knowledge through complex flows of information. Having recently celebrated its 200th anniversary, with three million visitors a year and an online audience that exceeds 10 million, the Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid, Spain, has accumulated extensive experience in the management of its collections. Highlighting the importance of information generated by storage systems is key to our proposal for more efficient museum management. It also allows us to address the continuous challenges of a changing society, which has emerging values related to participation, sustainability and new forms of accessing heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines genetic diversity and structure of a Croatian garlic germplasm collection using 13 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A total of 71 alleles were observed across 64 accessions representing 3 Croatian regions (Istria, Dalmatia and continental Croatia) and 16 foreign landraces, with an average of 5.46 alleles per locus. Among the 80 accessions analysed, 61 distinct multilocus genotypes (MLG) were identified, of which 51 represented unique genotypes and the remaining accessions were divided into 10 MLG groups, comprising potential duplicates or redundant genotypes. Model-based Bayesian and hierarchical UPGMA clustering approaches revealed five major groups within the collection which partially correlated with geographical origin. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that the majority (87.71%) of the total molecular diversity is within the Croatian groups of accessions, even though a significant share (12.29%) of diversity derived from genetic diversity among groups. These results support regional structuring, as well as the existence of significant diversity within local populations. This study is the first comprehensive report on an extensive evaluation of genetic resources of garlic maintained by Croatia with the aim of setting the course for future preservation strategies with particular emphasis on the value of diversity in the context of climate change both on macro and micro levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this case study, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Health Sciences Library describes how a flexible and technology-focused service model, liaison relationships, and individual expertise all contributed towards rapid mobilization of online instruction, virtual library services, and new resources to keep pace with the sudden needs of their user communities in the School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine and local Las Vegas community prior to and during stay-at-home mandates related to the COVID-19 global pandemic of 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the Duke University's Archive of Documentary Arts as a case study, this paper will examine acquisition and cataloging strategies that can be applied within the structure of an existing special collections library in order to develop diverse and inclusive photography collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Museums are our memory banks. They tell us where we have come from. They also allow us to imagine where we are heading. Which is why it should trouble us that there has never been a truly Australian museum. Each of our state and federal museums has been built on Aboriginal collections, and each has been built on distinctly Western or European concepts, values, categories and practices. Some of these are unavoidable, but are they all? Are we too far down the path to restump the foundations of our institutions and the narratives they perpetuate in public life? The South Australian Museum holds one of the most important collections of Aboriginal material culture in the world. It is, therefore, given the story it can tell about ancient and enduring cultures, one of the most important collections of human heritage on our planet. What we do with such collections, and what we don't, defines us. This is the great challenge of contemporary custodianship. These collections are calling us out. In this lecture I examine the South Australian Museum's response to this challenge. Over the past two years our Museum has undertaken a comprehensive rethink of our policies and practices and the politics of both. We are also transforming the way we work with Aboriginal communities and custodians. This is not simply a question of how collections are displayed or exhibitions are developed. We are rethinking the terms of our custodianship, and the kind of truly Australian Museum that could evolve around those new foundations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formally established in the fall of 1947, the Laboratory of Archaeology at the University of Georgia is an archaeological research and collection repository. It is considered one of the premier institutions for curation of archaeological collections from the American Southeast. For over 70 years, the Laboratory has served as a repository for objects and associated records generated from archaeological projects and research undertaken by faculty, students, CRM professionals, and state and federal agencies. The Laboratory curates over 20,000 cubic feet of artifacts as well as paper and digital archives. In addition, the Laboratory houses the Georgia Archaeological Site File and manages data from more than 59,000 archaeological sites, including over 11,500 archaeological reports. In this paper, we explore implementation procedures for bringing legacy collections up to modern curation standards. We also outline how we migrate the data on paper records into the digital realm, articulating them within a comprehensive framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collections care practices have become professionalized in the last 30 years, in large part because of the work of organizations such as the American Alliance of Museums, the Canadian Conservation Institute, the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, the American Institute for Conservation, and others in the museum sphere. Advances in preservation and management have benefited the discipline of archaeology in the field and laboratory. This thematic issue provides an updated perspective on the current happenings in the repository, highlighting innovative techniques and practices that collections specialists employ when managing the archaeological record. This article considers a macroview of the issues surrounding archaeological curation today and ponders what the future of collections preservation can and should look like. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advent of commercially available digital cameras in the late 1990s resulting in the near-exclusion of analog photographic prints today, most archaeological repositories around the world have a mix of analog and digital photographic prints. That ratio is increasingly moving toward digital print processes, of which there are several types. To minimize the loss of image quality, collection managers must become familiar with the unique curation challenges of photographic prints from digitally created images. Likewise, creators of digital content must be aware that choices made when selecting a print process for reposit will have a direct effect on image and print permanence. Site photographs are critical evidence of archaeological activity, and so the preservation of digital prints is in the interest, and is the responsibility, of collection managers and archaeologists alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preservation knowledge is important for those preparing archaeological collections for curation or requesting access to collections for research. Literature about the fields of archaeological conservation and curation is plentiful, but there are scant resources that offer a basic introduction to the knowledge needed to facilitate preservation of and access to archaeological collections. Much of the literature focuses on conservation in the field and in the lab. Archaeological curation standards and the importance of sustainable management of archaeological collections also are well documented. In contrast, this article serves as an introductory guide to preventive care, specifically to the agents of deterioration and the storage considerations that affect preservation of and access to archaeological collections. Collections specialists who work in museums, government repositories, or historical societies, as well as field archaeologists, academic archaeologists teaching and conducting research on collections, and descendant communities in tribal historic preservation offices and other repositories will find this guide useful as a reference and teaching resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Systematics Collections Committee of the American Society of Plant Taxonomists has updated the recommendations on herbarium practices and ethics that were previously published by the Society in 1958 and 1973. The recommendations and considerations presented here are intended to provide a set of guidelines for proper management and care of herbarium collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although our practice has come to be defined by a focus on excavation as the trademark of archaeological research, research on archaeological collections lies at the scientific heart of the discipline. We demonstrate through two very different case studies how a return to primary sources (in this case, boxes of artifacts) can upend our understanding of the objects themselves and create new narratives of social and technological change. At the same time, access to museum collections is becoming increasingly difficult as institutions struggle with the growing pressure to enhance public outreach and modernize data management, while simultaneously contending with persistent budget cuts. As archaeologists who work closely with museum curators and museum collections, we offer suggestions for how researchers can work with museums to ensure that future generations of researchers and the general public can learn from the ancient materials preserved within their collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In celebration of The New York Botanical Garden's 125 anniversary, we present an updated description of the specimen holdings and activities of The William and Lynda Steere Herbarium of The New York Botanical Garden (NY) from 1995 to 2015. During this time, the collection grew to approximately 7.8 million specimens, a new International Plant Sciences Center was built to house the Herbarium and LuEsther T. Mertz Library, many plant families and other taxonomic groups grew in scope and taxonomic comprehensiveness, Southeast Asia developed as a new focus of collecting activities, and the Herbarium emerged as a leader in specimen digitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic libraries are challenged with managing collection budgets for purchasing multidisciplinary ebook packages while equitably distributing funds for print and electronic monographs across subjects. McGill Library's science and engineering monograph holdings were analyzed using OCLC's WorldShare Collection Evaluation (WCE). Researchers mapped Conspectus subject divisions and categories to relevant university departments and evaluated holdings in comparison with department metrics to provide a fuller picture for collection development decision making. Findings show that WCE can be used in combination with circulation data and enrollment and staffing numbers to provide insight into the purchasing and use patterns of monographs down to the department level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collections Management involves systematic activities of selection and out of selection, in order to ensure a balanced, coherent documentary resource, consistent with the mission and the functions of each type of library. In order to meet the interests of certain categories of multiple users, collections must be continually updated, and librarians must be aware of all methods used for their creation, development and communication. They also must remove from the informational network the publications that are no longer of interest to users. Specialized works mention terms like out of selection, deserbage, disposal and elimination, each having a different meaning. Out of selection is a critical review of the collections, based on solid principles and criteria, assumed by each library individually, through administrative and legal procedures. At an international level has been developed a series of indicators and methods of elimination like the method of statistic investigation, the methods CREW and IOUPI which analyze the length of the document and the index movement. In Romania, there is legislation for cassation and elimination of publications from the collections, but there's a reluctannce towards the process itself to decide on the relevance of a document within a collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deaccessioning – as practice entailing a physical relocation of an item with the consequence of making the item less accessible to its previous audience – is among the most controversial aspects of museum management. The disposal of items has traditionally been considered a violation of the museum's commitment to preservation and display, but a number of arguments have been advanced to point out its contribution to sustainability, efficiency, and even visitor welfare. As a result, deaccessioning has enjoyed increasing recognition both in academia and the professional world. Nevertheless, the consequences of abusing deaccessioning policies seem dire. Excessively liberal disposal policies may cause the dispersion of cultural heritage as well as managerial misconduct due to moral hazard. We review the arguments typically advanced in support and against deaccessioning and argue that, while considerable damage may result from its abuse, the benefits are compelling and regulations may be effectively employed to prevent pitfalls. In addition, we address the current situation of deaccessioning in Europe and argue that, while the subsidiary principle prevents the European Union from ruling in matters of national heritage, considerable interest exists among academics and professionals, resulting in a growing body of guidelines from national museal associations that present a degree of conformity to each other, and to the international codes of ethics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The ideas surrounding which institutional attributes make for good libraries vary radically based on patron review, professional association rankings, size of overall collections, and other measures. The purpose of this article is to provide insight into argumentation for establishing how libraries gain the compliment of "good" in an increasingly digital age. Design/methodology/approach – An analysis of the general effect digital content available on the internet has on the mind of the consumer frames the debate on how libraries can be seen as both relevant and good for their communities despite being expensive. Findings – Library leaders always need to advocate for their services and collections, but it is only through true reflective discourse with key stakeholders and governing bodies that enlightenment on the key advantages of libraries can be found. Originality/value – Library popularity and use rises and falls solely based on the conscious user evaluation of collections and services. Focusing this consciousness away from the myth that all material of worth is digital and available online is the key to helping users and governing bodies understand that investments in library infrastructure, technology and (most importantly) raw collections is what makes libraries good for all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary approaches to the documentation of museum collections presuppose its consideration as an integral aspect of the broader term "collection management", in which the emphasis is on various museum activities, i.e. on the management aspects in the formulation of the policy and use of resources. In the context of adoption of modern forms of communication between the museum and the audience, which implies openness to the demands of visitors/users and imperative of unity and exchange of information not only at national but also at international level, particular attention was paid to reconsideration of all aspects of the notion of documentation. It is recognized as the vital tool that should provide the basis for research of collections, not only in terms of their origin, but particularly in terms of their context and meaning in the universal sense. Since the virtual access to collections and information about them has become the most important aspect in the development of management and use of museum resources, contemporary researches based on information technologies focus to a significant extent on the development of standards for the processing of digitized museum materials, i.e. on providing uniform content for the purpose of exchanging information among museum institutions. Special attention is also paid to consideration of the opportunities of co-operation between the so-called "memory institutions" (museums, libraries and archives), driven by the feasible possibility of integration of cultural heritage in the information environment. Requests for critical consideration of access to cultural heritage offered by information technology have posed the question of the mediating role of institutions in the processes of exchanging knowledge and in searching, shaping and transmission of cultural identity of the community in which they operate. In this sense, as a necessary condition for the fulfillment of broader social role of museum institutions, the adoption of theoretical settings and technique of the concept of "knowledge management" in terms of documentation is suggested. It is not bound to the change of the core purpose of museum nor to the question of its role as an intermediary and intepretator in the process of formation of knowledge, but it marks a shift in the orientation of museums -- from object to user, and a substantial change in the way they communicate with the audience, assuming the flexibility regarding the sources of information outside their own environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This article aims to describe the process of documenting outdoor murals of a metropolitan community in the Midwest and disseminating the information through a library hosted web publication. Design/methodology/approach – The outdoor murals are surveyed and photographed by an academic fine arts librarian, the author. Access is created via a web publication, supported and developed through library resources. Findings – The project not only increases access to works by local artists, but serves as a resource for historical images when, or if, a work becomes damaged or is removed. Originality/value – This new pathway to public art serves as a bridge between the campus and the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This article aims to provide a comprehensive step by step plan on creating a Zombie Library, a physical collection of e-books through the use of QR codes. Drawing on the collective authors' experience working with the QR codes creation, this article aims to help librarians interested in promoting e-book collections and creating QR-coded Zombie books in their libraries. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review was performed using library databases, as well as consulting various online library subject guides on the use of QR codes in libraries. Between November 2011 and October 2012 Idaho State University (ISU) library executed a plan for creating QR codes for a Gale Virtual Reference Library e-book collection. Findings – The study found an increased usage of the e-book collection. The actual physical production of the items was more time-consuming than originally expected. The Zombie Library project received a lot of support and enthusiasm from the campus community. Plans are being made to expand this project to other e-book collections and other physical media (posters, bookmarks, etc.). This article combines promoting e-book collections with physical representations of the e-book via QR codes. Originality/value – This article is an inclusive step by step plan for promoting e-book collections using QR codes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Chinese gazetteers are one of the most important primary sources for the study of history of Chinese economy, politics, culture, military, and science and technology. Since the very beginning, the Yale East Asia Library has been keen on collecting Chinese gazetteers. However, unlike its peer research libraries in the USA, the Yale East Asia Library had never compiled a catalog or written an article about its gazetteer collection. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review, for the first time, original editions of Chinese gazetteers held in the Yale East Asia Library to reveal the holdings and research value. Design/methodology/approach – The author conducted a survey of original editions of Chinese gazetteers in the Yale East Asia Library by searching the Yale online library catalog and comparing with existing catalogs of Chinese local gazetteers compiled by other research libraries in the USA. The paper focuses on the edition, coverage, rarity and variety of Yale's holdings. Findings – According to the author's findings and preliminary research, Yale holds approximately 337 original Chinese gazetteers. The majority of them is rarely found in other North American research libraries and thus has high research value. They cover almost all provinces and municipalities in China and have a great variety of types. Research limitations/implications – Although the author tried to use various search strategies to look up in the Yale online library catalog to ensure high retrieval, the results here may not be accurate. Also it is likely that a number of Chinese gazetteers are not recorded in the Yale online library catalog because of backlogs. A physical survey of Chinese gazetteer holdings at Yale and more research need to be done in the future. Originality/value – This paper is the first of its kind to provide a systematic review of original editions of Chinese gazetteers held in the Yale East Asia Library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate if collection developers in American academic libraries have added predominantly "yellowface" movies to their collections, or have actively sought out movies created and acted by Asian and Asian Americans, to balance out their libraries' collections. Design/methodology/approach – In total, ten acknowledged "yellowface" movies and ten critically acclaimed Asian and Asian American movies were chosen. The collections of 157 academic libraries throughout the entire USA were then surveyed, including geographical areas that have had very few Asians or Asian Americans in their populations throughout their histories. Findings – The results show that neither "yellowface" movies nor Asian and Asian American movies are overtly dominant in the collections of American academic librarians, and one can conclude that the collection developers actively sought to find a balance between movies in both categories, no matter the geographical locations of their libraries. Social implications – No matter how unsavory is our racist past, representations of past bigotry and discrimination should be available for scholars of history, cultural studies, and sociology. However, interpretations of Asians defined with this jaundiced eye must be balanced with movies of Asians and Asian Americans defining themselves. Originality/value – The area of Asian and Asian American movies is rather small and arcane, yet the results of this survey show that there are no academic areas too small or narrow that do not demand the attention of a knowledgeable collection developer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to encourage and assist collection of adult-level, graphic novels and book-length comics by women, and to demonstrate the breadth and depth of such work. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a brief history of women and independent comics, tracing the medium's development from the 1970s underground comix movement to the present day. Individual creators and their works are discussed. Findings – In the early years of independent comics, many of the women creating them were consciously reacting to an overwhelmingly male-dominated profession. There was a high degree of shock value in these early works. As time went on the comics still tended towards the autobiographical, but storytelling gained importance. Most of the women creating comics today are still doing so from a woman's point of view, but their target audience seems more universal. Originality/value – Graphic novels are in increasing demand, both for scholarly and leisure reading. Guides to collecting graphic novels exist; however, the vast majority of the artists included in these guides are men. This paper fills a gap by introducing librarians to several women graphic novelists who have been overlooked thus far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a case study about how academic librarians can contribute to the interdisciplinary research endeavors of professors and students, especially doctoral candidates, through an intellectualized approach to collection development. Design/methodology/approach – In the wake of protest movements such as the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street, colleges and universities have begun to develop courses about these events, and it is anticipated that there will be much research conducted about their respective histories. Academic librarians can participate in those research efforts by developing interdisciplinary collections about protest movements and by referring researchers to those collections. Findings – Through a case-study approach, this paper provides a narrative bibliography about Southern Agrarianism that can help professors and students interested in the Tea Party or Occupy Wall Street movements to see their research endeavors from a new interdisciplinary perspective. Originality/value – The value of this paper lies in presenting a concrete example of the way in which academic librarians can become active research partners through the work of building collections and recommending sources in areas that professors and students may not have previously considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how, in many cases, the conversion of analog collections to digital collections is still a paradigm shift with regard to the ownership, use and enjoyment of the collections. Design/methodology/approach – The paper discusses how the inclusion of digital collections has led to a new licensing model that has changed the financial management and administration of budgets for the purchase of collections, starting with the acquisition of scientific journals for specialized centers and extending to all types of resource materials. Findings – In the traditional library collection management model, the documents deemed to be most suitable for the libraries were chosen title by title, and the amounts paid were based on the volume of titles chosen. In the analog model, this resulted in a large investment in similar collections in libraries located in close proximity to one another. In research centers and related universities, attempts were made to make coordinated purchases. However, in most cases purchases were made individually, meaning that costs, and specifically direct costs relating to usage, were very high for a usage of journals in the collection which in many cases was very sporadic. The introduction of purchasing consortia in the electronic environment has led to an increase in the collections of all entities, as well as the rationalization of spending on collections, which is more closely related to the needs of the entities' users. However, the use of such consortia should be more extended and rather than being limited to large libraries or institutions, they should be made available to medium-sized groups of entities which can benefit from these instruments. Originality/value – If the possibility of accessing resources were to be increased through these consortia, the author suggests that it would be of great interest to include diverse materials such as films and music, etc. that may be of interest to other type of institutions, such as those serving the general public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper seeks to determine the extent of e-book availability and how existing e-books might meet library needs as defined by monograph circulation. Design/methodology/approach – This study identified highly circulated print titles and searched for e-book versions available from aggregators or publishers. Findings – The results indicate inadequate coverage levels to allow for a discontinuance of print purchasing, but offer clues as to where e-books might have the greatest impact in this library's collection plans. Originality/value – The paper introduces a method whereby libraries may determine where e-book collections best meets user needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to provide a snapshot of student and staff attitudes towards e-books, collected through a web-based survey, as well as an analysis of use data for a specific universe of e-books provided via a patron-driven purchasing model and accessed during the survey timeframe. Design/methodology/approach – This research analyzed survey responses collected from May 2010 to December 2010 and use data for the universe of e-books made accessible via PDA, and used by library patrons, during this period. Findings – E-books are no longer a new phenomenon and the CSU Libraries have provided access to e-books for many years, yet users' prior experience with e-books, perspectives on desirable and undesirable e-book characteristics, and preferences for print versus e-books as provided by the libraries continue to vary. During the libraries' initial entry into PDA, e-books made accessible to users via this model received more use through browsing than sustained use or download, but relatively little use overall. The study provides a starting point for the continued analysis of this library's PDA program, now the primary mechanism used to provide its academic user community with book access. Practical implications – The authors present a review of the literature and research findings about academic users' interactions with, and preferences for, e-books. They provide a point-in-time analysis of user interactions with e-book titles made accessible via the libraries' PDA program and a subject-level study of the use of these titles. Originality/value – This paper presents point-of-use feedback regarding e-books, from academic users, and detailed information about e-book titles accessed via a PDA model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to offer a reflective analysis of a recent renovation project and a disaster recovery effort affecting multiple collections in a mid-sized university library. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a case study. Findings – This paper examines planning for a re-carpeting project, particularly the unexpected challenges associated with renovation activities. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the discussion of collection disposition during renovation and disaster recovery projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to document the acquisition and processing of an important landscape architecture archive, the J.B. Jackson Collection, and making it available for scholars and researchers. Design/methodology/approach – The first part of the article describes the importance of Jackson's contribution to landscape architecture and his professional legacy. This legacy consisted in a large collection of slides, scattered among various individuals and institutions. The authors then address how the various parts of the collection were identified, acquired, digitized and brought to the University of New Mexico (UNM). Metadata creation and issues of copyright are also discussed. Findings – The paper finds that it requires considerable professional effort and networking to take a working collection and transform it into an archive that has intellectual cogency. Research limitations/implications – UNM's effort to acquire, preserve and make this collection widely available will inspire future scholars and spark new ways of looking at landscape. Practical implications – The extensive restoration needed for the Jackson slides warranted a vendor with museum experience, in this instance, Two Cat Digital. Metadata creation requires training qualified personnel. Copyright limitations dictate how the slides display. Originality/value – J.B. Jackson defined the vernacular landscape. This project made his distinctive and important collection available to the research community. The paper also discussed the process of taking a working collection and turning it into a bona fide research tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Library resources evolve daily with ongoing expansion of electronic offerings by publishers and vendors. Collection development policies have long been employed to guide decision making and inform stakeholders, but how are these policies serving libraries and their users as our collections continue to move online? This paper aims to discuss the role of collection development polices, past and present, and the challenge of collections moving to an electronic format. Design/methodology/approach – The authors performed a content analysis to discover how academic libraries are addressing this change in collection development. Findings – The paper finds that virtually all libraries do an excellent job of addressing the traditional elements of collection development. About half of the libraries mentioned electronic licensing issues in the policy, but most of those were general statements. Originality/value – Although the library profession is well aware of the changes that electronic resources bring to libraries, there is not a lot of research on how collection development policies should guide electronic resource management. As shown in this research, it is often completely left out of the collection development policy process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Like many other academic libraries, Joyner Library at East Carolina University has experienced pressure in recent years to convert stacks space to other uses. The rise of electronic collections coupled with the changing perception of libraries from book warehouses to service points forces librarians to rethink their collection management strategies, concomitantly reducing print collections. The purpose of this article is to recommend specific strategies that will assist librarians engaged in a large-scale deselection project. Design/methodology/approach – First, librarians, staff, and graduate assistants developed a workflow to examine print journals for which the library has online archival holdings in order to de-duplicate the collection. Librarians also determined which titles might be stored based on some online availability and length of print run. Third, librarians led a subject-based review to determine which titles should be retained in the general circulating collections. Findings – Examination proved that most online journals archives, including publisher packages, are adequate replacements for print serials volumes. Many other journal titles can safely be sent to storage rather than retained in the general circulating collections. Practical implications – Libraries must manage their print collections differently in light of space issues and the conversion of scholarship from print to electronic format. Originality/value – This article establishes clear principles to guide libraries' decisions on deselecting, storing, and retaining print serials volumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Poets House, a poetry special collection in New York, hosts an annual exhibit of the preceding year's poetry publications in the USA. This paper aims to offer a selection of recommended titles that reflect the range of poetry titles including single-author works, anthologies, and prose about poetry. Design/methodology/approach – The paper researched and requested donations of 2010-2011 poetry titles from US poetry publishers to assemble and display a comprehensive collection of poetry publications, from which a selection of 50 titles was made. The selections should appeal to a range of poetry readers, from novices and students to poets looking to access the latest work from their peers. Findings – Over 2,500 poetry titles were published and/or available to readers in the USA between June 2010 and June 2011. These titles range from mainstream publishers to independent presses to artists' collectives publishing works from established poets as well as emerging and international poets. Research limitations/implications – Without a budget for collection development, the exhibit and resulting titles represent those which publishers have opted to donate to the library. Every effort is made to be all-inclusive, with the understanding that publishers may send only a selection of their list. The selected titles herein are based on the titles received for the exhibition. Practical implications – For 19 years Poets House's annual Showcase has been the main collection-development tool. Publishers donate copies of their titles, which are arranged by publisher for a month-long exhibition. This approach enriches the poetry special collection, a unique poetry library built on community participation. The all-inclusive collection-development approach results in a full representation of poetry publishing. Originality/value – A selection made from a comprehensive collection of the year's poetry titles offers a sample of poetry publishing from large to small presses and the self-published in the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to report on a study of the acquisition of e-books in libraries in institutes of technology (ITs) in Ireland undertaken in 2009. Design/methodology/approach – Web sites of the libraries of the 15 ITs were studied and this was followed by telephone interviews, using a structured set of questions, with the acquisition librarians. Tables are provided showing the e-book suppliers used, reasons for acquiring (and not acquiring) e-books, links with virtual learning environments and methods of promotion. Findings – Librarians from 12 of the 15 ITs agreed to be interviewed giving a response rate of 80 per cent. The ITs are using e-books from a wide variety of suppliers and teaching staff in the ITs had little, if any, involvement in the selection of e-book titles. Staff in the libraries find that business models for the acquisition of e-books causes difficulties. Most of the IT libraries were investigating a consortial arrangement for e-book acquisition. Better liaison with lecturers and improved promotion of e-books is necessary. Originality/value – The paper provides a baseline study of acquisition of e-books in one sector of a country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Deaccessioning, the deliberate culling, disposing, or selling of books from a collection, is one of the most controversial aspects of the collection development function of the library. This article aims to examine what can become of this universe of deaccessioned books through a consideration of two alternative libraries, or libraries-which-are-not-libraries. The existence of such alternative libraries allows one to address questions such as: Can the value of a deaccessioned book be reclaimed and, if so, how? Do these books continue to have a voice and, if so, what is it possible for that voice to say? Design/methodology/approach – The themes are explored through the work of Michel Foucault, in particular the analyses of statements and discursive formations found in his book, The Archaeology of Knowledge. Findings – Foucault's work is found to offer a means by which to conceptualize and describe the place and value of deaccessioned books as they are reclaimed by the alternative library. Originality/value – What is new in this article is the consideration of books and other texts that are otherwise considered worthless by the institutions that deaccession them. The librarians and artists who bring these texts back to life say something unique about the value of texts in contemporary society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to find out ways in which collection development practices in private university libraries in Kenya could be enhanced by the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on research that was carried out on the application of ICTs in collection development in selected private universities in Kenya. The study was done using a survey method. Three universities and a total of 72 respondents were purposively selected for the study. The respondents included librarians, faculty deans and postgraduate students from the three universities. Findings – The findings indicated that ICTs were available in all the three selected universities but their application in collection development was not adequate in ensuring efficiency and in making sure that the library collections are effective in meeting the needs of the users. Originality/value – With the changing information environment and users' information needs, libraries are being compelled to adopt ICTs in order to remain relevant and increase their value and meet the changing needs of the users. The paper recommends different ways of applying ICTs in all the processes of collection development to make the process more efficient and effective in meeting the needs of the users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to describe the ongoing process of weeding, streamlining, and transforming a very large, print-based reference collection at the University of Louisville's William F. Ekstrom Library, focusing in particular on the various issues involved in developing a more timely, focused, and electronic-oriented collection. Design/methodology/approach – Over the years, the Ekstrom Library reference collection evolved into a large, neglected, print-based collection that ignored current space needs and user preferences for digital sources. To address this, the reference department developed a new, cooperative approach to reference collection development and weeding to improve the user experience and address serious space issues. Findings – To achieve a more usable reference collection, the reference department needed to rethink the philosophy behind the collection and completely rewrite the collection development policy. These changes have facilitated the creation of a smaller, more user-friendly collection that embraces the digital environment. Originality/value – The article highlights problems and approaches to refocusing a reference collection in a time of transition, as physical library spaces continue to evolve and the value of a traditional reference collection appears increasingly uncertain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to explore how the publishing world is responding to library collection development challenges posed by the growth of interdisciplinary studies programs. Design/methodology/approach – The first step in this study was a survey of the websites of selected ARL and all Oberlin Group university and college websites to determine those institutions that have a clearly identified Interdisciplinary program or majors. The authors then investigated the status of interdisciplinary collection development practices at these institutions. Finally the websites of reviewers, publishers, and vendors were surveyed to explore what tools are available to help librarians identify new interdisciplinary monographs. Findings – Rather than supplying formal interdisciplinary collection development support, most librarians rely on external resources to help identify interdisciplinary materials. As technology evolves publisher/vendor websites can provide librarians with the tools needed to conduct in-depth searches of their catalogs, thus aiding in the identification of interdisciplinary monographs for purchase. Originality/value – Building on previous scholarship about the growth of interdisciplinary studies and libraries, this paper extends the research by examining the tools available to help librarians bridge the gap created by new disciplinary formations and offers suggestions for publishers to enhance interdisciplinary selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper seeks to provide evidence that patron-driven acquisition is a successful collection development tool. Design/methodology/approach – The study used cost, usage, and cost per use as measurements to compare patron-driven acquired print and electronic books with traditionally acquired print and electronic books to determine the success of five different patron-driven methods. Findings – The study found that usage is much higher and the cost and cost per use is lower for patron-driven acquisition methods than for traditional collection development methods. Originality/value – Collection development and acquisitions librarians can benefit from this research comparing traditional collection development methods with multiple patron-driven acquisitions methods to better manage their resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]