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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into issues encountered in maintaining library technologies and electronic collections on a limited budget and with limited personnel. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses real world experiences and data to report on collection development decisions as they relate to electronic resources in an era of shrinking budgets and changing user expectations. Findings – On-demand access to platform-independent information has altered user expectations and shifted the balance of power from the content providers to the content consumers. Academic libraries have been slow to adapt and are suffering as a consequence. Originality/value – This paper examines the colliding forces of progress and tradition as they relate to the provision of information resources in an academic library environment. The author employs real-world circulation statistics to make a case for shifting the focus of collection development from printed books to ebooks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clemson University Libraries offers a variety of technology equipment for loan by the campus community. The collection includes cameras, video camcorders, audio equipment, projectors, and VR/AR headsets. The program is popular with patrons, with technology equipment items accounting for 21 % of all library loans in 2021. This paper examines patron usage and proficiency with the technology equipment through a user survey and usage data. The results reveal differences in proficiency and usage across the types of equipment, types of patrons, and patron departmental affiliation. These results will help the program develop instruction and make collection decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the challenges and benefits of a challenge grant. Design/methodology/approach - The paper explains the University of Waterloo Library's first-hand experiences in seeking and acquiring a challenge grant from the Kresge Foundation. Findings - The challenge grant can provide libraries with a unique opportunity to raise their profiles, enlist the support of key leaders, generate excitement about their organizations' work and future plans, and raise additional funds. Originality/value - The paper provides practical suggestions that offer incentive and encouragement to seek a challenge grant due to the many benefits that accrue to a library development program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper aims to discusses the importance of Native American literature in library collections. Design/methodology/approach - This paper is based on research of recent articles. Findings - The paper identifies many good titles on Native Americans that deserve to be in libraries so that the history and culture of Native Americans will be available to all users. Practical implications - Libraries should identify good quality books on Native Americans and by Native Americans to add to their collections. Many are now available so that it is not difficult to find appropriate ones that reflect contemporary views of Native Americans. Originality/value - This paper pulls together a good deal of recent information on books by and about Native Americans as well as pointing to some excellent collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Collection assessment is an essential aspect of library collection development, especially for public institutions currently affected by financial budget cuts. Collection managers working with little to no budget have the task of establishing unconventional methods of selecting most relevant materials. This paper aims to demonstrate the correlation between a syllabi analysis, faculty survey and circulation statistics as a practical measure to enhance and expand the architecture library services at the City College of New York and in academia in general.Design/methodology/approach This study uses mixed use assessment strategies to evaluate a library collection. The scope of the study supports combining collection-based practices and use-based methods to gather two types of data: quantitative (including collection size and/or in-house use statistics) and qualitative (accomplished by user opinion surveys, focus groups and/or list checking).Findings Out of 74 architecture faculty members, 22 participated in a library survey to help uncover new opportunities for cross-collaboration. The findings simultaneously reinforce the importance of exploring syllabi and usage data as methods of assessment to reveal opportunities for cultivating library collections.Originality/value This paper will provide a better understanding of faculty perceptions to discover academic needs and achieve library integration into the design curriculum. The study demonstrates prospective directions for collection evaluation and faculty collaboration to open further opportunities for building a successful library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to provide the detailed description of the implementation of library's roles in supporting the World Class University in Universitas Airlangga and to give an overview of the obstacles that will be faced by the library of Universitas Airlangga in carrying out its role to support World Class University. This research used descriptive-qualitative research method to describe the implementation of library role in supporting world class university especially in providing information to support academic community research. The subject of this research is the activities conducted by five (5) libraries to support world class university such as Universitas Indonesia (UI), Institute Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Intitute Pertanian Bogor (IPB), Universitas Gadjam Mada (UGM) and Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR). Informants in this research are people who are considered to understand about the implementation of policies on world class university in the library. The data was collected by interview, live observation, and sorting supporting documents, such as: regulation letters, decree, references about World Class University, and other documents. The result of this research is about collection development to support WCU, human resource, library services and the strategic to support WCU. Conclusion of this paper is University Libraries have a strategic role in supporting the university towards world class university. But from a variety of strategies that can be seen that the university that is already included in the 500 WCU has a strategy that is more focused and clear and supported by large funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information Technology (IT) and network technology have been boost to the development of Electronic publishing and have converted the traditional libraries to electronic libraries. Electronic / digital resources are revolutionizing libraries across the world and there is a sharp transformation in the nature of library collections. In order to keep pace with this trend and meet user needs it is essential that libraries must incorporate criteria for the selection of materials in new formats, while also maintaining traditional collections. The librarian is also forced to use IT tools effectively to render services and to redefine the process of collection development. There are various issues related to the acquisition, preservation, copyright, licensing and access to these electronic resources which are for more critical that the print format. In this paper, attempt have been made to highlight some of these key issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With all its intricacies and unique set of concerns, film preservation lies at the far end of the library preservation “frontier.” Because of the costs involved and the required expertise, films are often given short shrift in favor of paper-based media as far as conservation is concerned. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of literature on the basics of film preservation in music library settings. This article aims to improve that situation by presenting the history of a medium-scope film preservation project in an academic library environment. Rather than a scholarly essay on the topic, this article navigates through the process of managing such a project by presenting the collection, describing inventory and assessment efforts, talking about the client/vendor relationship, and generally addressing the many challenges faced in leading such an endeavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Column description. Special Libraries, Special Challengesis a column dedicated to exploring the unique public services challenges that arise in libraries that specialize in a particular subject, such as law, medicine, business, and so forth. In each column, the author will discuss public service dilemmas and opportunities that arise in special libraries. Special or subjectmatter librarians interested in authoring a piece for this column are invited to contact Ilana Stonebraker at stonebraker@purdue.edu. This column is written by Jonathan M. Torres. Jonathan M. Torres is Business Research and Instruction Librarian at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. He received his MLIS from Rutgers University One of the biggest challenges that new Business Librarians continuously face is discovering ways to introduce their role and research services to the department of which they serve. The Walton Reader’s Spotlight pilot program was created to bridge Business Librarianship and the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville through methods which involved interviewing and media collaboration. This paper will explore the opportunities and challenges that are associated with developing a media outreach initiative of this magnitude. Furthermore, the article will touch on the outcomes and recommendations in order to strengthen the partnership between library services and the Walton College of Business through outreach services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Column description.TheBest of the Literaturecolumn is intended to keep librarians, administrators, and staff up to date with the most recent, relevant, and useful literature of the field. Columns may focus on a specific theme or topic or they may be a review of significant or interesting resources published within the past year. Columns generally begin with a brief introduction to the topic or theme of the column and include references and annotations for up to between 7–10 different resources. Readers are invited to suggest themes, topics, or resources to Linda Frederiksen. A compilation of recent publications discussing challenges public services librarians face; whether at the center of an issue or at is periphery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will examine the findings of a survey on the job roles and responsibilities of Education librarians (academic librarians with liaison responsibilities for the field of Education). Existing literature on Education librarianship has focused on particular facets of the job role, including the unique instructional needs of Education students and specific instruction and outreach initiatives. However, the literature lacks a comprehensive picture of the full spectrum of contemporary Education librarianship. This article provides a snapshot of the diverse educational backgrounds and varied responsibilities of Education librarians related to instruction and instructional design, reference, embedded librarianship, outreach, collaboration, and collection development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States exists in a Post-truth Era with false beliefs such as the moon landing was a hoax, the 2020 presidential election was stolen, the Chinese government created, then distributed the Covid-19 virus and many others. Conspiracy theorists abound in the U.S. cultural and political landscape. Another such belief is that climate change is a myth; it is not occurring. This study explores in a U.S. Constitutional context the ability of public librarians and public libraries to collect and maintain truthful (trusted) grey content regarding climate change. One element of many collection development policies in libraries is accuracy. See, ACLU v. Miami-Dade County School Board, 557 F.3d 1177, 1184 (11th Cir.), cert. denied 130 S. Ct. 659 (2009). Accuracy is also used to assess collection maintenance. Prior content including grey literature created and collected at time when climate change was unproven is no longer accurate and should be withdrawn. Likewise requests by patrons to keep or add content presenting an alternative and inaccurate viewpoint regarding climate change should be withdrawn or refused. In the United States the First Amendment guarantees not only the right to speak but also to receive information, including in a public library, the "quintessential locus of the receipt of information." Kreimer v. Bureau of Police for Town of Morristown, 958 F.2d 1242, 1255 (3d Cir. 1992). Under First Amendment Forum analysis, a public library collection would be considered a non-public forum while the public spaces within the library are a limited public forum. See, Faith Center Church Evangelistic Ministries v. Glover, 462 F.3d 1194, 1204 (9th Cir. 2006). In a non-public forum, government policies that regulate speech must be rationale and viewpoint neutral. See, Case v. Unified School District No. 233, 908 F. Supp. 864, 875 (D. Kan. 1995). The constitutional framework poses the following questions: Do public library patrons have a right to require that inaccurate grey content regarding climate change be retained or added to the collection? Must a public library accept gifts of such content, adding it to its collection? Likewise do those same patrons have the right to object when librarians withdraw inaccurate grey content regarding climate change reflecting an alternative viewpoint? A textual analysis of the extant case law regarding the rights of public librarians and their patrons is undertaken in order answer these questions. In addition to relevant U.S. Supreme Court, the following cases among others are analyzed and discussed. ACLU v. Miami-Dade County School Board, 557 F.3d 1177 (11th Cir.), cert. denied 130 S. Ct. 659 (2009); Elgi v. Chester County Library System [CCLS], (E.D. Pa. 2019); and Via v. City of Richmond, 543 F. Supp. 382 (D.C. Va. 1982). Anticipated results of the research: The cases reviewed should prove instructive regarding the rights and limitations of public librarians and libraries to collect and maintain accurate content including grey literature regarding climate change as well as the rights and limitations of patrons possess to impact that collection development and maintenance process. Strategies and responses to interactions with patrons holding alternative viewpoints on climate change are forwarded to assist public libraries and its librarians in their efforts to collect and maintain truthful, trusted grey content regarding climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an account of the making of KBLab, the data lab at the National Library of Sweden (KB). The first part discusses the work involved in establishing a lab as both a physical and a digital site for researchers to use digital collections at previously unimaginable scales. The second part explains how the lab has deployed the library's collections as data to produce high quality Swedish AI models, which constitute a significant new form of digital research infrastructure. We situate this work in the context of uneven AI coverage for smaller languages, and consider how the lab's models have contributed to the making of important AI infrastructure for the Swedish language. The conclusion raises the possibilities and challenges involved in continuing this type of library-based AI development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of library use, collections and services among the students of engineering at King Saud University, Riyadh (KSA). Design/methodology/approach – A survey was designed to collect needed information about the level of usage of library collections, services and satisfaction of users. A well-structured questionnaire was circulated among the faculties, research scholars, postgraduates, undergraduates, and other categories to collect the necessary primary data, keeping in mind the objectives of the study. Findings – The findings clearly reveal that the majority of users of the library used the circulation service. The study found that a majority of research scholars consult the reference books for research work followed by undergraduate students who used the library circulation service. Research limitations/implications – The present paper consists only of College of Engineering users and the geographical area is restricted to the central library at the King Saud University, Riyadh. The scope of the paper could be extended to additional private and government universities in KSA and abroad. A comparative study could also be made between one country and another's university libraries and information centers for usage of library collections and services. Originality/value – There are a number of studies on usage of library collections and services, but this is the first of its kind within the King Saud University. As such, it should pave the way to fulfill the demand of users in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as well as foreign universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the goals of rationalising the retention of low-use print research collections, releasing library space, preserving and providing efficient and cost-effective access to print research collections are common to academic and research libraries on a global level the approaches and developments in the United Kingdom, Europe, the United States and Australia have all been different. This paper describes the creation and evolution of an Australian print repository, the CARM (CAVAL Archival and Research Materials) Centre, within the context of international developments. CAVAL is an Australian not-for-profit company established to provide library services to libraries in the region. CAVAL's members and owners are 11 Universities located in New South Wales, Tasmania and Victoria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing availability and prominence of e-books has led to a perception in some quarters that the requirement for physical books is decreasing, as most, or all scholarly material is openly available in digital form. Some academic administrators and librarians have suggested that it may be possible or desirable to have a solely, or predominantly electronic academic library. This study tests that assumption by randomly selecting a sample of titles from a mid-size Australian academic library and searching for suitable electronic copies. The conclusion of the paper is that a maximum of 33% of titles held by the case study library are available as e-books, and on a practical basis about 26% of titles held by the case study library could be readily obtained as e-books. [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 determine the materials cited in doctoral theses of botany, submitted to the Kuvempu University during the years 2000-2006, with the aim of improving the existing collection development of the library. Design/methodology/approach – The study employed descriptive research design. Theses submitted for the award of Doctoral degree from 2000 to 2006 to the Department of Botany, Kuvempu University were examined. The population of the study was all the theses submitted during the periods under study. Data were extracted from title page and references given at the end of each chapter. Extracted data were analysed using statistics. Findings – The study reveals that journals are the most preferred sources of information used by the researchers in the field of botany, accounting for 74.77 per cent of total citations, although citations from books, proceedings, theses, reports and patents are also found. It is also observed those researchers are not taking much advantage of internet resources. The journal Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (USA) was ranked the first, with 158 citations, accounting for 7.57 per cent of the total journal citations. Further, Bradford's law of scattering was applied. It is observed that major citations come from journal literature. In addition, more cited materials were contributed by multi authors and degree of collaboration is 0.75. Research limitations/implications – The paper presents a sense of the importance of botany research, and as such informs that community, as well as researchers involved in citation analysis. Originality/value – The outcome of the study is an original research work with citation analysis of doctoral theses in botany. It highlights the information materials available and used by researchers of the Botany Department for their research work and those which need to be added for a healthy collection. [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]

In September 2011, Flinders university library launched Findit@Flinders, the Primo discovery layer search to provide simultaneous results from the library's collections and subscription databases. This research project was an exploratory case study which aimed to show whether students were finding relevant information for their course learning and research. The library staff ran usability sessions and an online survey with students. These two methods identified the Primo elements participants were finding useful or not useful, and any problems they encountered. The results of the study provided mostly positive feedback and informed the library about aspects of Primo that could be modified to create a better user experience. The feedback has also been incorporated into student training plans to ensure the most useful approaches to Findit@Flinders are communicated to students. [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 – The purpose of this paper is to study the extent to which outsourcing of human resources (HR) is used and the attitude of the library staff towards outsourcing in science and technology libraries in Delhi and Chandigarh, India. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is the result of a survey conducted in 25 science and technology libraries of Delhi and Chandigarh, India. Questionnaire and interview tools of survey were used to collect the primary data. Findings – Most of the Indian libraries have been using selective outsourcing for many years, which has had favourable impact on the activities and services of these libraries. Outsourcing seems a viable solution, as a majority of the libraries lack the required permanent HR. Normally, outsourcing is considered to be an anti-staff and an anti-professional activity. However, the study found the library professional staff supportive of outsourcing because it reduced their workload and improved their skills and professional competencies. Originality/value – This paper explores the hidden practices of Indian libraries to fill the gaps present in required and available HR. However, they hesitate to accept openly that outsourcing is a tool for managing resources and services that are not available in-house. [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 – This paper aims to provide libraries with collections advice regarding fantasy role-playing games. Design/methodology/approach – Current and emerging publication and sales models of pencil and paper, tabletop fantasy role-playing games are explored. Details of print, print-on-demand, free and purchasable downloads, and subscription-based options for major fantasy role-playing games and alternatives are provided. Findings – Many options are available to libraries wishing to provide support for fantasy role-playing game programming. While an overwhelming quantity of publications are often available for purchase, usually only a bare minimum is required to run a role-playing game. Free or modestly priced options are available for libraries on a shoestring budget. Libraries interested in supporting fantasy role-playing game programming with collections need not spend much. Spending less on collections requires a greater amount of imagination, socializing, creativity, collaboration and literacy on the part of program participants. Originality/value – Many libraries are interested in supporting fantasy role-playing games with collections, but do not know where to start. While much is being written about gaming in libraries, little has been written to help libraries navigate current role-playing game book publication and sales models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an overview of current research on the use of e-books and e-book readers as they gain popularity in libraries. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is a literature review and a case study of a public library which has a Kindle lending program. An e-book case study is examined, highlighting a mid-sized public library which implemented a Kindle e-book lending program. The article includes a follow-up discussion as to how libraries are including digital content in their collections, and changing the way they do business to accommodate the new technologies that people are increasingly asking for. The paper also gives tools for librarians looking to start their own e-book lending program, and provide additional information on what resources are currently available. Findings – One conclusion can be made. E-books will not be going away any time soon. The Kindle lending program at the library has been extremely successful and well received by patrons Research limitations/implications – Because of this very small case study approach, the research results may not be generalizable. Originality/value – This research trend is new, and has not had much study. It gives a wide variety of opportunity for pilot studies, and subsequent ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to determine the adequacy of the public library system with respect to the total population as well as the viable population of different regions of Tehran city, the capital of Iran, especially pertaining to book collections in accordance with the IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted through a questionnaire distributed to librarians of the public libraries under study. The other resources of data used for this study are annual reports and official records of the libraries at the provincial and national level. Findings – The findings reveal the ratio of book collections with respect to the viable population of different regions of Tehran. Only one of 22 regions has a book collection as per IFLA/UNESCO Guidelines. Originality/value – This paper highlights how public libraries in Tehran are providing access to information resources and whether the book collections of the libraries are adequate as per international standards. It also suggests certain improvements for the existing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to ask how best to integrate cooperative and demand-driven collection development in order to simultaneously lower costs, create efficiency, reduce redundancy, increase the range of accessible materials and satisfy patron demand. Design/methodology/approach – By means of example, this paper outlines ways in which the University at Buffalo Libraries are merging demand-driven collection strategies with cooperative collection development and the rationale behind combining the two approaches. Findings – This paper presents an analysis of three demand-driven cooperative collection development programs describing the opportunities and challenges posed by such a combination and future directions in demand-driven collaborative programs. Originality/value – The paper provides insight into the structure and implementation of academic and multi-type library demand-driven cooperative collection development programs with possible applications for other library consortia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper aims to discuss the development of a core set of information resources management (IRM) competencies and to detail a plan for their acquisition by IRM librarians of a large academic university library. Design/methodology/approach – The paper examines the work of librarians who manage information resources at the University of Arizona Libraries to inform the development of a set of core competencies. The planned implementation and assessment of a series of training sessions for developing these competencies is also discussed, as is the role of individual librarians who have been assigned specific tasks related to broader issues not easily addressed by a training session. Finally, a prioritized list of mastery-level competencies for future development is defined. Findings – By defining in detail the information resource-related tasks for which IRM members are responsible, the authors were able to develop a plan for training modules that are designed to ensure core competencies for all team members. Originality/value – This paper is a detailed plan for developing competencies needed to manage information resources at an academic library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper seeks to discuss the results of a 2010 survey of LIS selectors at ARL institutions/libraries that do not support an ALA-accredited program to learn how and why LIS materials are collected at these institutions. Design/methodology/approach – Collection development librarians completed a survey that asked them to describe their institution's selection policies, practices, and budgets for LIS materials, along with their roles as LIS selectors/subject specialists. Findings – LIS collections primarily support librarians and staff in their daily work and ongoing professional development. However, most libraries' LIS collections budgets are comparatively small, selectors receive few requests for new materials, and collecting parameters vary by institution, but are limited in terms of subject, publisher, and audience. The majority of LIS selectors are also responsible for collection development in multiple subject areas and most engage in work outside collection development. Originality/value – This is the first paper to explore collection development of library and information science materials outside dedicated library school libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – This paper seeks to recommend a basic core collection of works by and about J.R.R. Tolkien for libraries by grade level. Design/methodology/approach – The author draws on her experience as a Tolkien scholar and editor of one of the major journals in the field. Findings – A basic collection should include some works beyond the well-known Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. Practical implications – The paper provides an ideal list for the library seeking to prepare for interest generated by the new Hobbit movie currently in production. Originality/value – While there are other bibliographies on Tolkien available, particularly on fan and society web sites, this one is arranged by grade level and includes audio-visual materials and recent scholarly and reference works, and is designed for library rather than personal use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose — This paper sets out to investigate the meaning, role and implications of contextual information associated with digital collections. Design/methodology/approach — This paper is based on an extensive review and analysis of both the scholarly literature from many disciplines about the concept of context and the professional literature (including standards) related to the description of information artifacts. The paper provides an analysis of context, distinguishing three main ways in which that term has been used within the scholarly literature. It then discusses contextual information within digital collections, and presents a framework for contextual information. It goes on to discuss existing standards and guidance documents for encoding information related to the nine classes of contextual entities, concluding with a discussion of potential implications for descriptive practices through the lifecycle of digital objects. Findings — The paper presents a framework for contextual information that is based on nine classes of contextual entities: object, agent, occurrence, purpose, time, place, form of expression, concept/abstraction, and relationship. Research limitations/implications — Research and development about and in support of digital collections will benefit from a clear articulation of the types, roles, importance and elements of contextual information. Practical implications — Future users of digital objects will probably have numerous tools for discovering preserved digital objects relevant to their interests, but making meaningful use and sense of the digital objects will also require capture, collection and management of contextual information. Originality/value — This paper synthesizes and extends a previously diffuse literature, in order to clarify and articulate core concepts in the management of digital collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Washington State University (WSU) librarians expanded the concept of a comprehensive serials decision database (SDD) first proposed by Metz and Cosgriff1 in 2000. Information about subscribed and unsubscribed serials was merged onto one spreadsheet from the integrated library system and subscription agent, interlibrary and citation databases, as well as journal use sources. The SDD, used for selection and cancellation projects, evaluation of electronic journal packages, and collection assessment, was recognized as a necessary serials management tool for WSU. There is a need for the commercial development of products that will replace this manual way of organizing information critical to collection development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The aim of this paper is to clearly show the process, cost, and benefits of an audio digitization project within a university library. Design/methodology/approach - From formulating the idea for a new digital collection available to patrons via the library catalog through implementation, promotion, and gathering feedback, each step is detailed. Findings - Although it is a time-consuming endeavor, the creation of unique digital library collections can produce a variety of benefits for both library patrons and librarians. Originality/value - The paper is written by a librarian who is neither a computer nor cataloging expert. It is an attempt to show others who may have important but antiquated collections that digitization projects may be successfully completed without advanced technical skills or a large budget. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper aims to summarize the importance of rare materials for academic libraries, including developments since the arrival of the internet and the effects of declining library budgets. Design/methodology/approach - The authors reviewed the literature on the subject coupled with their experiences with collection development. Findings - Collecting rare materials remains important for scholarly research, though harder to justify during a period of budget stringency. Academic libraries should discover creative ways to discover and add rare materials to their collections. Rare materials require special expertise in their acquisition, processing, storage, and use. Digitization is making rare materials more accessible but cannot substitute for the use of the originals in all cases. Practical implications - The authors provide a summary of recent thought on the status of rare materials in academic libraries - for libraries that include such collections or for those interested in increasing their holdings of rare materials. Originality/value - The paper provides a summary of recent trends in collecting rare materials in academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper aims to examine the methods of diversity-related collection assessment useful for large academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach - Several examples of diversity-related collection assessment (circulation and use statistics, WorldCat Collection Analysis, comparison to standard bibliographies, focus groups, patron interviews and surveys, stewardship letters, and a diversity collection development statement) are explored. Findings - Libraries wishing to assess a collection for diversity should have a clear definition of diversity in place before assessment. Many collection assessment methods useful for determining the diversity of a collection are not applicable for large libraries. Additional tools may need to be developed to facilitate this type of assessment in the future, especially at large libraries. Originality/value - The paper encourages librarians at larger academic libraries to rethink how the collections are assessed for diversity needs, and illustrates methods useful in performing this assessment in larger institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to look at the nature of funding for collection development activities at Chancellor College Library, University of Malawi, and see how that impacts on the collection development activities of the institution. Design/methodology/approach - A case study methodological approach was used, coupled with a review of the literature, annual financial reports and acquisition statistics. Findings - The results of the study show that funding for collection development activities at Chancellor College Library was inadequate and that inadequacy of funding had seriously affected the library's collection development activities. Due to the prevailing conditions, the library had been forced to rely on donations and exchanges as the principal means of growing its collection. Practical implications - The study recommends some practical interventions, which, if implemented, could ease the financial difficulties Chancellor College Library faces. The interventions include lobbying for an increase in the materials budget, drawing up proposals for possible funding by both local and international organizations, and the introduction of a library fee to be paid by students. Originality/value - Research undertakings in the field of collection development in Malawian academic libraries are limited, causing a dearth of literature on the topic. This study is therefore significant in that it will help in some way in filling some of the knowledge gaps that exist in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to describe the collaborative collection development initiative undertaken by the Indonesia Social Equity Project. Design/methodology/approach - The paper presents a brief history and descriptive analysis of an international collection development project. Findings - The paper examines practical issues that arose while building the library collection as a librarian/faculty collaboration, with the added element of having been conducted within a multicultural context. Originality/value - Similar case studies describing international collection development projects are rare in the literature. The article is of interest to librarians researching issues related to cross-cultural collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to describe the background to Chinese libraries and the general development and new trends in document supply in China. Design/methodology/approach -- The service operation, copyright protection and management mechanisms of document supply in China are described. New challenges to it and the responses are also identified. Findings -- The role of document supply in China is recognized as important and is developing rapidly as economic constraints on purchasing increase. Originality/value -- The paper will be of interest to all document supply librarians interested in developments in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the current state of digitization and digital collection development in public libraries in Croatia. Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on an online survey of public libraries in Croatia on digital collection development and digitization. In total, 165 public libraries were invited to participate in the survey, and Web survey was chosen as the most appropriate tool for surveying geographically dispersed libraries. Findings – The findings indicate that public libraries in Croatia have taken steps towards enlargement of digital content in their holdings by digitizing their existing library collections. Although the number of digital collections in public libraries in Croatia is still rather small, it is expected that it will increase in the near future. It is also encouraging that public libraries started digitization projects on their own, thus gaining the necessary experience and skills that would help them and other libraries in future digitization projects. Still, they need additional education about digital collection development and process of library material digitization. Originality/value – The paper article contributes to the growing body of knowledge about digital collections development and digitization in public libraries, as well as about benefits digital collections can provide for libraries in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to describe Qatar's Education City's six university libraries, their international patrons, collections, and services. Design/methodology/approach - The paper provides analysis of the data provided by various parties related to patrons, collections and services of the six university libraries in Qatar's Education during the calendar year of 2009. Findings - Education City's six branch libraries successfully support the needs of their patrons' curriculum and research needs especially in the e-resources. Originality/value - This research provides in-depth information for the Qatar Foundation, university and library administrators of main and branch campuses related to future e-licensing, collections acquisitions, and staffing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New and emerging roles are transforming the landscape of academic librarianship. This paper focuses on the changes facing academic librarians whose activities and responsibilities in collections are shifting, particularly in the face of greater emphasis on user-driven collection development. Librarians' reduced role in routine collection development translates into gaining more time and support to move in other directions. Among many exciting and interesting opportunities, librarians apply their subject expertise in such strategic initiatives as information literacy, research, e-science, digital humanities projects, and collaborative print retention efforts. They can also participate more in campus affairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper aims to examine how systems for organizing information construct rhetorical arguments for a particular interpretation of their subject matter. Design/methodology/approach - The paper synthesizes a conceptual framework from the field of rhetoric and uses that framework to analyze how existing organizational schemes present evidence in support of arguments regarding the material being organized. Findings - Organizational schemes can present logical arguments as posed in rhetoric, using two forms of evidence for their claims: relationship evidence from the category structure and resource evidence from the ways that items are assigned to categories. Research limitations/implications - This study does not attempt to identify all types of evidence that organizational schemes might use in argumentation. Further research may describe additional forms of evidence and argumentative structures. Practical implications - When creating organizational schemes, designers might develop a strategy to facilitate persuasive argumentation. Moreover, because arguments may be either strengthened or undermined through the assignment of resources to categories, both indexing and collection development may be seen as contributing to the overall design of an organizational scheme. Originality/value - While many researchers have asserted that organizational schemes form arguments, and while various studies have described what information systems might be said to communicate, this study focuses on how such communication may take place more or less effectively. This analysis foregrounds the potential for organizational schemes to be systematically and purposefully designed as rhetorical communication, to express particular ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a preservation needs assessment of the children's literature collections at the libraries of the University of Colorado in Boulder (UCB), Colorado. The article offers information on the preservation of children's literature as a genre in academic libraries and discusses the UCB Libraries assessment, called the Conservation Needs Assessment Project (CNAP), of juvenile literature in the circulating collection and special collections. The article offers information on the condition of the literature as found by the survey and presents recommendations for the preservation of the collections.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to describe how online survey tools can be utilized to gather input and feedback from faculty related to monographic collection decisions to evaluate current and guide future decision making. Design/methodology/approach - The use of an online survey tool for a particular collection development project is described and results of the survey are analyzed. Findings - It is found that online survey tools are an easy and valuable tool for gathering direct feedback from faculty and provide opportunities to engage faculty in conversations about a wide range of scholarly communications issues. Research limitations/implications - Online survey tools provide one means of evaluating collection development decisions that should be utilized in conjunction with other methodologies, e.g. circulation studies. Online survey tools can be utilized to allow faculty to recommend items for immediate purchase but could also be used to study faculty reactions to purchases that have already been made. Originality/value - The process and procedure outlined could be used by collection development librarians to evaluate current and historic collection development decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to understand how electronic grey literature is being incorporated into Women's Studies collections at academic libraries. Design/methodology/approach - The electronic grey literature holdings of four American academic libraries at universities with graduate Women's Studies programs were collected and analyzed. This included: databases; digital special collections; web sites; and online course guides that the library had created for Women's Studies courses. Findings - Women's Studies International and GeriderWatch were the two most popular databases, being available at three of the four libraries studied. The most popular web sites were University of Wisconsin - Women's Studies Librarian (www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/WomensStudies/) and WSSLinks: Women and Gender Studies web sites (http://libr.org/wss/wsslinks/index.html). Recommended web sites were overwhelmingly multidisciplinary in nature and covered a variety of topics related to Women's Studies such as business, art, health, music, and philosophy. The digital collections with women's grey literature all dealt with historical topics and were either about a specific group of people or a specific person or place that had a tie to the university where it was housed. Originality/value - Grey literature is becoming an increasing popular topic in collection development and document preservation. However, there is little research on grey literature created by women. Specific databases and web sites that were found in the collections studied are mentioned so that other libraries may use the information to enhance their own collections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most Australian libraries with important collections of rare books, or special collections, have many of their treasures derived from 'legacy' collections, the accumulation of decades of collection building. This paper describes the collection development approach of a relatively young institution with a special interest in the history of house and garden design and interior furnishing. In doing so it outlines some of the ways in which the lens of special interest illuminates areas for collecting that have traditionally fallen outside the scope of larger general institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- Currently there is a need for an updated assessment model that addresses and reflects the ongoing diversity of issues related to collection evaluation in academic libraries. The purpose of this paper is to provide conceptual guidelines and a model to support collection evaluation and assessment in this time of unstable and constantly changing patterns of information. Design/methodology/approach -- The paper provides a literature review of the collection evaluation and assessment. Based on an analytical study of environmental factors and their relationship to, and impact on, the library collection, the authors propose a new model of collection evaluation to address the needs of the current environment. Findings -- The paper identifies environmental factors in collection evaluation, establishes a set of ratios that need to be addressed and finally, provides a set of indicators for collection evaluation and assessment that can be selected from, and adapted to each library's needs. Research limitations/implications -- This paper bridges two different collection evaluation models, collection-based and user-based. It identifies that there is not a single appropriate collection evaluation method. It provides a different perspective to a body of literature that is mostly best practice-based. Practical implications -- With this research a new model is suggested that provides flexibility and adaptability. It offers a multidimensional approach that libraries can use and adapt to their specific situation. Originality/value -- The new model suggested here addresses a current need generated by a changing information environment. It adds a new approach to the body of literature in the area of collection evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For every document that we deliver to readers of The National Archives at Kew, over 150 are delivered via the web. Currently there are over 60 million individual documents digitized, categorized and in many cases transcribed and available to download digitally. Capturing the business of Government has also changed - we have started archiving the e-mails, the Word documents and the websites of Government instead of the memoranda and bits of paper of the past - seamlessly ingesting these into our digital archive, and making that available through our website. The task of digitizing the collections that reside on over 175km of shelving is not an easy one, however, nor is it something to which there is necessarily a right - or a wrong - approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to introduce the genre of tabletop fantasy role-playing games and provide guidance in building an initial collection. Design/methodology/approach - The first part of the paper is designed to present the development of tabletop fantasy role-playing games in a historiographic model, tracing the history of these games from the 1970s to 2006. The second portion is a bibliographic essay and critique of several noteworthy fantasy role-playing games, including analysis of the settings and systems of each game. Findings - The paper provides a history of the development of fantasy role-playing games and provides guidance on how to start a collection. The study recognizes a lack of academic research on the topic and seeks to provide a brief introduction. Practical implications - The paper provides a clear concise history of role-playing game development and balanced advice for librarians who wish to begin collecting role-playing games. Originality/value - This paper begins to fill the need for academic study of the subject and provides practical advice for collection development librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]