Overview of Issues in Contemporary
Collection Development
Julia Gelfand
Applied Sciences & Engineering Librarian
University of California, Irvine Libraries
jgelfand@uci.edu
A Presentation at the IFLA Acquisitions & Collection
Development 2008 Mid-Year Meeting
Guadalajara, Mexico
March 13,2008
Introduction
• Most libraries, including academic, public, governmental,
school and corporate libraries face challenges regarding
a more digital environment. Merging the traditional print
collections into a more blended and increasingly digital
collection will impact the range of accompanying library
services and both short and long term strategies for the
selection, acquisition, dissemination, use and
preservation of library materials.
• This presentation will examine those strategies and
related issues with a focus on the collection development
landscape and the decision-making that librarians must
engage in with some conclusions about future gazing.
Focus on Academic Libraries
• However, all libraries are functioning in the
e-realm, promoting digital access, collections
and communications
• Collection development, like a spider,
intersects with collection management,
acquisitions, electronic resources, licensing,
copyright, scholarly communications,
preservation, instruction & reference, liaison
& outreach
Focus on scholarly publishing –
major changes taking place with:
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Courseware
Textbooks
Reference Works
Multimedia
Multiple formats
Shorter runs of print; multiple editions
By all indication, libraries are format agnostic.
From ownership to access
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Publishing trends
Endangered monograph
Serialization
New forms of scholarly communication
Usage as an indicator of need
Value-added content and capabilities
User-Centered Libraries
• Meeting users’ needs.
• Competition between libraries and other
consumer-oriented alternatives.
• Growing demand for value-added services.
Community Assessment
• Need for patron input and feedback
concerning library satisfaction.
• Collections tailored to “just in time” rather
than “just in case” scenarios.
User Behavior
• Changing readership habits.
• Increased demand for electronic data
retrievable by means of remote handheld
consumer products.
Libraries as Place
• Establishing community.
• Transforming quiet places into collaborative
environments.
• Café culture melded with the library experience.
• Reconfiguring space.
Library Users
• Steven Abram – five major communities that
matter to libraries
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neighborhoods
workplaces
entertainment/culture
learning
research
Three Conclusions
1. All have a connection between people –
most critical
2. All can be improved & empowered with
technological solutions aligned with users'
profiles
3. new model of community development is
emerging
Impact of the Google™ Effect
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ease of use
ubiquity
24/7
instant gratification
always find something
partnering with libraries
Collection Assessment & Evaluation
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Collection size & metrics
More collection-centered & client-centered
Data-intensive
Performance-based by function, ILL, etc
Mixed content in collection – adding free to
fee-based
• Fiscal responsibility
• Technology-driven
Fiscal Accountability
• Tracking financial expenditures.
• Determining sources of supply.
• Investment in technology.
Libraries and the Librarian
• Blended librarian roles
• Applying "Design Thinking" – like evidencebased or problem-based learning
• Organizational structures
• Collection Development – part Public
Services / part Technical Services
Library Cooperation
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Role of Consortia
Economics & management of sharing
Builds collection strength
Distributes processing
Reinforces digital reference
Shares & extends staffing
E-Resources
• Building digital libraries.
• New sources of supply.
• Growing recognition as mainstay data sources.
• New models for procurement/licensing.
Technology Infusion
• eResources everywhere – eBooks,
eJournals = digital libraries
• Small is better – hand-held devices, phones
• Mobile & remote preferred
• Incorporating Web 2.0 features
• New communication strategies
• Treating new form of Grey Literature
Online Catalogs
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Dinosaur status?
Federated search engines
is MARC obsolete
other metadata standards
Institutional & disciplinary repositories
Open Access
• Institutional & disciplinary repositories.
• Authors’ rights.
• Scholarly communication practices.
More abstract issues
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Revise collection development policies
Interdisciplinarity
Globalization
Commercial influences
Economic realities
Fundraising
To the future – ongoing concerns
• Analogies to real life.
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Energy independence.
Four pillars: Nano, Bio, IT, Neuro.
Globalization.
Multiculturalism and diversity.
Longevity – posterity perpetuity & preservation.
New & emerging disciplines.
Risk management.
Emerging world powers.
Environmental concerns.
Human rights & censorship.
New partnerships.