Annie Gabriel Library
Archive & Special Collection Evaluation
Completed by: Steve Emerson
Date: May 8, 2013
Identify which collection is being evaluated:
P. Boyd Smith Hymnology Collection
Southern Baptist Depository and Archive
Wallace Collection
California Baptist University Queenie
Nie Wieder! Collection
Simmons Archive
Rare Books Collection
1. Does this collection have an Acquisition Plan? If so, rate the plan using the rubric on the last
page of this document (Acquisition Plan row only). Explain your chosen rating.
No plan, because this collection is closed.
2. If this is an active collection (eligible to receive new materials), are new materials being added to
the collection regularly? If not, why?
Inactive collection.
3. Evaluate the collection. If possible, compare and contrast the collection to at least one
respected collection of similar materials at another institution. Some questions to consider are:
Comparison was made between the AGL Wallace Collection and the Point Loma University Ryan
Library’s (RL) Wesley Collection. RL’s collection is narrower in focus than the AGL’s, but both
collections contain material similar in genre and subject matter, with mixtures of primary
documents and secondary materials.
a. How many titles does each collection have in relevant call number ranges?
Total Vols.
BL (Religion)
BR (Christianity)
BS (Bible)
BT (Doctrinal Theology)
BV (Practical Theology)
BX (Christian Denominations)
AGL
2336
57
173
212
389
1036
372
RL
618
4
14
22
26
21
526
b. What are the oldest, most recent, and average publication dates within each collection?
Oldest
Most Recent
Average
AGL
1767
1964
1920
RL
1707
2004
1860
c. Are there any authors/editors of whose work one or both of the collections have a
significant amount?
John Wesley, Charles Wesley, Richard Watson, William Carvosso, Thomas Coke, David
Brainerd, Peter Cartwright, George Whitefield
d. Which formats are represented in each collection (book, journal, DVD, online resource,
etc.)?
Both collections are almost entirely books.
e. Are there any publishers of whose titles one or both of the collections have a significant
amount?
Totals for Wallace Collection only:
Hodder and Stoughton – 152 titles
Revell – 112 titles
Marshall, Morgan and Scott – 97 titles
Zondervan – 61
Macmillan – 52
Morgan and Scott – 51
Epworth Press – 50
Nisbet – 47
f. How similar are the environmental storage conditions of the collections?
The AGL Wallace Collection is stored in the library basement, a part of the library with no
climate control. It is housed on a combination of metal and wooden shelves. The basement
is kept mostly dark when unoccupied, with motion sensors triggering full lighting.
Storage conditions for the RL Wesley collection are unknown.
g. What are the usage policies of the collections?
AGL Wallace: The Wallace Collection circulates, but it is stored in a limited access area of
the library (the basement), so patrons request titles at the front desk and items are
retrieved for them.
RL Wesley: The Wesley Collection does not circulate. Patrons may request items by
contacting the Reference Desk, and item use is restricted to the Reference area.
h. How are new materials identified and acquired for the collections?
AGL Wallace: New materials are not actively being added to this collection.
RL Wesley: Unknown
i. How are the collections publicized/advertised?
Both the AGL and the RL advertise their collections on library Web pages. Both libraries
have a page dedicated to special collections, and there is a brief description of the
collections on those pages, with links to the titles in the library catalog as well. The RL does
have a prominent news item on the library web site front page that advertises “New Books
and Featured Collections.” Following a couple of links from that news items leads directly to
a catalog list of items in the Wesley Collection.
4. Identify and discuss strengths and weaknesses of the collection. Rate the collection using the
rubric on the last page of this document.
Coverage – 3 (See strengths and weaknesses below for details)
Authority – 4 (Most of the works in the collection possess the authority necessary to be the subject of
study by undergraduate and graduate level researchers)
Scope – 4 (Most items in the collection are appropriate in level for undergraduate and graduate level
researchers)
Strengths of the collection include:
a. A strong collection of primary works by early 20th and late 19th century evangelists, including R. A.
Torrey, Gipsy Smith, Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, George Truett, Fanny Crosby, and William Aitken.
b. A strong collection of both primary and secondary works related to the development and spread of
early Methodism, including the work of John Wesley, Francis Asbury, Peter Cartwright, Thomas Coke,
and others.
c. A strong selection of early 20th (and a few late 19th) century studies of evangelism, revivalism,
soteriology, and (protestant) missiology.
d. A solid collection of primary and secondary works related to Charles Finney.
e. A solid collection of studies on the Sermon on the Mount.
Weaknesses of the collection include:
a. Few if any significant first editions of primary works related to the collection subject area.
b. Sparse coverage of the 19th century protestant foreign missions movement.
c. Sparse coverage of 20th century Pentecostal revivals and denominational growth.
d. The collection has several works in it that fall well outside of its scope; i.e. works about Benjamin
Franklin.
e. The close of the collection in the early 1960s obviously keeps out current studies on evangelism.
5. Does the collection align with CBU and Annie Gabriel Library’s institutional visions? Rate the
plan using the rubric on the last page of this document (CBU Vision row only). Explain your
chosen rating.
5 – Excellent. CBU defines itself in part as an institution committed to the Great Commission, with
degree programs in Christian Ministries and an emphasis on student participation in International
Service Projects, so a library special collection devoted to Evangelism is an excellent fit for the AGL.
6. Is the collection housed in an environment that meets its security and preservation needs? Rate
the environment using the rubric on the last page of this document (Environment row only).
Explain your chosen rating.
2 – Poor. For the most part the basement is not an ideal place to store the Wallace Collection, because
it lacks climate control and the basement area of the library is prone to flooding (although the collection
is stored in an area of the basement where it is highly unlikely that it would be subject to direct water
damage). Additionally, a significant portion of the collection currently resides on wooden shelves. Light
conditions for the collection are good, because the collection is kept in the dark most of the time. The
basement is generally kept locked, although there is an outside door to the basement that is sometimes
used by maintenance, facilities, and IT workers, and it is occasionally left unlocked.
7. Identify specific acquisition and improvement goals for the collection
a. Relocate the Wallace Collection to a place with better environmental conditions.
b. Consider restricting access to the collection to in-library use only, because many of the items in the
collection are fragile.
c. Consider opening the collection to new additions, allowing it to grow in some of the areas of
weakness detailed above in question 4.
8. Additional comments, thoughts, etc.
Archive & Special Collection Evaluation Rubric
1 (Very Poor)
Goal is stated in vague
terms, no additional
information is provided
2 (Poor)
Basic goal is stated with
minimum specificity
3 (Acceptable)
Goal is stated, some
specificity
4 (Good)
Clear goal is stated,
specificity is adequate but
in need of refinement
Coverage
Many topics un/under
represented
Core topics represented, few
minor topics
Authority
Majority of material has
little to no author
identification or
accountability
Too basic, does not
adequately support
research
Core topics are
represented, but
somewhat lacking
Many unaccredited
works, with some
journalistic/popular
Core topics well
represented, many minor
topics
Mostly
journalistic/popular works
with many scholarly as
well
Mostly scholarly, but still
reliant on non-academic
resources
Acquisition
Plan (Q1)
Growth
Minimal, new materials
very rarely added
Very slow, materials
added occasionally but
not actively sought out
Materials are a mix of
unaccredited,
journalistic/popular, and
scholarly works
Fairly basic, with some
scholarly resources.
Adequate for research by
non-scholars and
undergraduates
Moderate, a few items
purchased each year to
maintain the collection
Vision (Q5)
Environment
Does not align
Very poor, materials are
at high risk of damage,
deterioration, and/or
theft
Very minimally aligns
Not ideal, majority of
materials require
improved conditions for
long-term storage
Somewhat aligns
Acceptable, materials would
benefit from a more
controlled environment, but
are not in immediate danger
Scope
(Q6)
Too technical/overly
complex
Good, several items
purchased each year with
the aim of improving the
collection
Aligns well
Good, majority of materials
are well-preserved and
safely housed
5 (Excellent)
Goal is very clearly
defined and supported
with a specific collection
plan/parameters
All relevant topics are
well represented
Materials are primarily
to exclusively scholarly
Scholarly/academic,
appropriate for the
highest level of research
Strong and regular, in
support of a living and
active collection
Strongly aligns
Excellent, all materials
are in their ideal storage
environment and are
appropriately secured