evaluating academic library collections in the age of expedience: presented by: jen fabbi university...
TRANSCRIPT
Evaluating Academic Library Collections in the Evaluating Academic Library Collections in the Age of Expedience:Age of Expedience:
Presented by:
Jen Fabbi
University of Nevada Las Vegas Libraries
For the Professional Development Forum of the Mountain Plains Library
Association
November 6, 2003
Weeding with a New Tool
“Someday, we may go to the moon!”
Stanley Slote (1997)Weeding Library Collections:Library Weeding Methods
Serious problems in academic libraries, due to rapid growth and critical space shortages
Image of protectors and collectors of knowledge
Emphasis on numbers in determining value
Stanley Slote (1997):Other Barriers to Weeding
Professional work pressures
Public displeasure at discarded books
Perceived sacredness
Conflicting evaluation criteria
Shelf-time Period
The amount of time a book remains on the shelf between uses
Primary variable to consider when evaluating collections
Cut-off Point
Core collection (items that are used)
Noncore collection (items that aren’t used)
Establish an exact time point based upon type of library, subject area, circulation, and other criteria, which determines whether a book is core or noncore
Keeping-Level
Percentage of predicted use to be maintained after weeding a collection
“Level of future use”
Research collections 97% (the rest goes to storage)
Diversity of Opinions
Collections should be kept completely intact
Weeded gingerly by professionals only, using good judgment, not rules!
“Newer” Guidelines
Weeding should increase circulation
Speed of access and accuracy in retrieval is improved by weeding
Items least likely to be used in the future should be removed
Criteria Based on Judgment
“Riddled with difficulties”
“Books not for College Libraries”
Sunlink Weed-of-the-Month Club
http://www.sunlink.ucf.edu/weed/
Computer-Assisted Method
Dusty Book Lists
Challenge of measuring internal use
Slote’s primary objectives
Buy in to shelf-time period concept
Science fiction?
New Tool
3M Digital Materials Flow Management System
Components
Digital Library Assistant (DLA)
DLA Performs…
Shelf-reading Searching Inventory Internal use count Weeding!
DLA Choose criteria
Create item lists through integrated library system (i.e. Innovative)
Select information to display
Work with multiple lists
Happy Medium?
Use objective criteria for a first pass
Ability to look at items in context
Subject specialist judgment
Barriers
Price
Priority of the task
Emphasis on using the technology!
“Relocation”
New developments at UNLV Libraries
Lied Automated Storage and Retrieval (LASR)
DLA Screen & Demo
3/28 Press Trigger To Begin
Home
Search for Items
Queen Lear 196504/95 0 PS3515.E42 A698 V.1
Weed1
Someday Soon 199803/01 4 PA3513.A7217 A6 1992
Weed3
Clear all
Systems Psych 198711/98 1 PA3513.A7217 A6 1992
Weed1
Scenario--There were several weeding lists created. Weed1 contains books with copyright dates older than 1990, Weed2 from 1990-1997, Weed3 after 1997.
Questions??
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(702)895-3884