Adding Haystacks to Our Needles? Assessing Changes in Collection Composition after the Introduction of Uncurated Packages

Although academic library print collections are traditionally carefully selected, collection strategies for online materials often involve the addition of large, uncurated packages of eBooks and other online materials. This study examines how adding such packages has altered the composition of one library’s collection in terms of publication date, format, and subject. It then utilizes WebPAC and Summon search results to understand how the collection is experienced by library searchers. Results show rapid growth in uncurated collections. Whereas WebPAC heavily favored newer items and eBooks from uncurated collections, Summon promoted print books from cultivated collections to a degree greater than expected.     

A Review of “The Kovacs Guide to Electronic Library Collection Development”

This article describes a computer program developed by the author to extract subject-level usage and inventory data from Aleph system reports and to track usage trends by subject over time. Two implementations of the program are detailed, at the Institute of Fine Arts Library and the East Asian collection at Bobst Library, both at New York University. Use of the program in processing inventory, in-house usage, and circulation data in greater detail is demonstrated. Information about usage trends within major Library of Congress subject areas provides collection managers with more precise data for use in a variety of collection management decisions. The article shows that the program offers significant new functionality for collection assessment.     

Will Library E-Books Help Solve the Textbook Affordability Issue? Using Textbook Adoption Lists to Target Collection Development

In response to rising textbook costs, many have urged adoption of open educational resources (OER) for students. However, library-owned e-books also provide free access to students, without the potential disadvantages of OER. In this study the authors explore the suitability of e-books as textbooks by examining the social sciences textbook list in Fall 2017 at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). Overall, 18% of the textbooks were available as a multi-user format and this rate increased with course level. Despite their limited availability, multi-user e-books provide a free, convenient option for students, and they may play a role in the textbook affordability solution.