Basic List of Veterinary Medical Serials 2nd Edition, 1981, With Revisions to April 1, 1986

This article contains a list of core veterinary serials that the Veterinary Medical Libraries Section of the Medical Library Association feels should be in any veterinary medical library serving an institution accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association. It is a list that can serve as a nucleus from which the collection can be further developed as determined by the research thrust of the institution that the library is serving. An adjunct list of important human medical and general science serials is also included to help guide the librarian in developing the collection.     

Using a reverse diversity audit approach to evaluate a dermatology collection in an academic health sciences library: A case presentation

IntroductionA reverse diversity audit is a newly coined method which involves creating an authoritative list of materials and then checking for the presence of the list items in a collection. The method combines list-checking and diversity audit steps and is intended to assess diversity in a specific topic area. We formalized and applied a reverse diversity audit to examine the diversity of dermatology resources in an academic health sciences library.Case presentationThe reverse diversity audit involved four steps: (1) determining the scope, (2) identifying the authoritative list, (3) checking the existing collection, and (4) identifying the gaps. From these investigations, 55 items were identified as important resources for a diverse dermatology collection. 43 of these items were available through our library system or as open access. The remaining items were marked for purchase.ConclusionsThe reverse diversity audit proved to be an organized and feasible way to assess diversity in our dermatology collection. This type of audit can be adapted for different topics and areas of diversity. We suggest that this approach may be useful for other libraries looking to assess diversity in their collections.     

构建高校图书馆学习研究“双引擎”的服务新模式

高校图书馆的优势在于馆藏资源的专业化和系统化,以及高质量的学科馆员队伍。文章提出构建学习、研究"双引擎"的服务新模式,就是将馆藏资源、物理空间、图书馆服务按照本校学科专业布局及学习和研究的不同需求重新整合,实现图书馆的核心价值,使高校图书馆成为学习者的"学习引擎"和研究者的"研究引擎"。     

The necessity for a collection development policy statement

The heart of the library lies in its collections, and collections have to be built continuously. Budgetary constraints perforce stress the need for better defined collection development policy, although the ultimate goal should be an improvement of library service rather than any reduction of library cost. A written collection development policy facilitates a consistent and balanced growth of library resources, and a dynamic policy is one that evolves as the institution grows. Such a policy is based on the understanding of the needs of the community it serves and seeks to define and delimit the goals and objectives of the institution. A collection development statement is not a substitute for book selection; it charts the forest but does not plant the trees. It should be used as a guidepost, not a crutch. Book selection requires judgment and the courage to choose. A sound collection development policy, on the other hand, provides the necessary rational without which a collection may grow amoebalike, by means of pseudopodia.     

Evaluation of Corporate Reference Collections

Results of several research studies indicate that corporate reference collections may differ in kind and in definition from reference collections of other types of libraries. It was found that a corporate reference collection may not embody a "core"; it might not imply ownership of items; it might rely heavily on referral sources; and it might be redefined functionally as a wlndow or gate to rentable information. The corporate librarian may make little distinction between a reference book and any other item in the library collection. Further, evaluation of such a corporate reference collection entails the evaluation of other parts of the library. This includes the ability of librarians to use any source to answer reference questions or provide information for the decision makers in the corporation; such a mode implies that the presence of a reference collection may be counterproductive to the provision of information services. Methods of evaluation were also considered as indicators of performance distinct from output measures.     

Diversity Literary Awards: A Tool for Assessing an Academic Library’s Collection

Abstract

Diversity literary awards and other sources were used to create a list of high-quality titles written by and about underrepresented groups. This list was used to assess the diversity and inclusiveness of the library collections of a land-grant university in the Pacific Northwest and compare it to peer institutions. Gaps in the collection and acquisition processes were identified and will be used to improve the processes to increase the number of diverse titles added to the library’s collections.     

Toward a theory of collection development

Libraries exist because of the benefits they make possible to patrons and others, which benefits derive essentially from libraries' collections. A library collection should be seen as an investment. Benefits are returned on that investment and may justify the investment. Benefits remain potential benefits until use of materials in the collections results in actual benefits. Because of the role of benefits in justifying the investment, and the role of collections in providing benefits, this paper contends that collection development is the critical function in a library. Support is developed for this contention, which contributes to a theory of collection development, by focusing deserved attention on collection development, on library collections, on the related issues of benefits and return on investment, and on the question, Why do libraries exist? Finally, the discussion attempts to convince senior library managers and others of the obligation to ask if the benefits deriving from a library collection justify the dollars invested in that collection.     

Tailoring periodical collections to meet institutional needs

A system for tailoring journal collections to meet institutional needs is described. The approach is based on the view that reference work and collection development are variant and complementary forms of the same library function; both tasks have as their objective a literature response to information problems. Utilizing the tools and procedures of the reference search in response to a specific collection development problem topic, the author created a model ranked list of relevant journals. Finally, by linking the model to certain operational and environmental factors in three different health care organizations, he tailored the collection to meet the institutions' respective information needs.     

Moving from Analysis to Assessment: Strategic Assessment of Library Collections

ABSTRACT

Collections are one of the core resources provided by libraries and are often seen as what defines a library. Collection policies and priorities are put into place to guide the growth of libraries’ collections. However as time passes, are the collections created best suited to the current patron population? Collection assessment can be used to evaluate how well the developing collection follows the guidelines that have been put into place. Collection assessment can also be beneficial in the library strategic planning process by identifying strengths and weaknesses in the collection, particularly in new areas of interest. It can also help identify areas that may need additional funding to continue the level of support previously maintained for an area.     

The ASVIN Project: a study of electronic and printed veterinary science journals in the UK and Ireland

ASVIN was a Research Support for Libraries Programme (RSLP) Funded Project, whose principal aim was to develop better co-operation between nine libraries in the veterinary and animal health field. The project examined a number of library-related areas, such as journal archiving, collection development policies, development of a common Z39.50 catalogue interface, grey literature, and printed and electronic journals. This paper examines the latter, whilst also providing a detailed analysis of printed journals held in partner libraries. Comparisons of the nine partner library collections are undertaken with a range of secondary sources, and an ASVIN core list of veterinary journals was developed. It looks at some of the issues relating to e-journals, expressing the benefits and concerns that many librarians are experiencing, such as licensing arrangements, archiving and general management issues.     

An introduction to web scale discovery systems

This article explores the basic principles of web-scale discovery systems and how they are being implemented in libraries. "Web scale discovery" refers to a class of products that index a vast number of resources in a wide variety formats and allow users to search for content in the physical collection, print and electronic journal collections, and other resources from a single search box. Search results are displayed in a manner similar to Internet searches, in a relevance ranked list with links to online content. The advantages and disadvantages of these systems are discussed, and a list of popular discovery products is provided. A list of library websites with discovery systems currently implemented is also provided.