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Aims to compare and contrast different collection policies and shows a practical application of web‐based documentation.

The article is a case study and general review that discusses how significant numbers of libraries today are posting collection policies on the web, how these policies may differ in form and practice from those of the past, and how the Howard‐Tilton Memorial Library at Tulane University developed and applied one such policy of its own. It also discusses examples of relevant literature and other collection policy web sites.

Its implications point to the value of developing sets of narrative collection policy statements focusing on specific academic disciplines and of beginning the policy‐making process with an assessment of the academic profile of the university that the library supports.

General discussion of collection policies has been absent from the literature for some time and the article should be valuable to those libraries without collection policies or those with older printed policies languishing in file cabinets.

Seeks to describe how Lied Library has responded to a rapid increase in the number of new academic programs and degrees at UNLV resulting from new strategic initiatives and tremendous growth of the university's student population during the past four years.

The authors focus on the role of the Collection Development (CD) department in the university's approval process for new academic programs and the role of subject librarians in assessing how well the Libraries' collection meets the demands of new programs proposed by faculty.

Detailed descriptions are provided of the process used by subject librarians and CD to develop the tools and guidelines necessary to assess library collections in support of new academic programs.

Provides information and a model for other libraries and subject bibliographers to use when developing library collection assessment processes and guidelines.

Provides practical information and tools for subject bibliographers and CD departments responsible for performing collection assessment reports for library administrators and/or university officials as new academic programs are proposed.

To describe and evaluate the collection of the library of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC).

The relevant Association of College and Research Libraries’ (ACRL) Standard for College Libraries of 1986 (Standard 2) is used to assess the quality of the Library collection.

The library of the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (ISTAC) achieves level B of the ACRL standard.

The paper takes one very particular, widely respected quantitative tool for collection evaluation and uses it “as is” – the paper thus accepts and applies the theoretical framework on which the tool is based, but applies it in a relatively unfamiliar library setting.

The description of the collection is of value to those needing to locate materials relating to Islamic culture and civilization; the implementation of the ACRL methodology is a useful demonstration of a practical tool for collection management and assessment.

It is important for any educational institution to establish an effective library collection, one that is able to support the teaching and learning activities of the institution. To ensure that the library achieves its objectives, evaluation of the library collection needs to be done. This paper applies an internationally accepted standard for collection evaluation to a particular library, giving a model for other libraries to follow, especially libraries in the developing world. It is important to demonstrate that libraries in the developing world can aspire to and attain standards designed for collections in developed countries: this paper achieves that goal.

An important responsibility of collection development libraries is to ensure that what is being collected is appropriate for the university’s curriculum and research needs. Unfortunately the large number of techniques that have been developed to measure collections work better with small college collections. As libraries grow and the range of library materials increase, many of these methods have proved to be inadequate. This study explores the use of statistics from the National Shelflist Count Project to gather enough valid statistical information to adequately assess large research collections.

In order to better understand how collections are used, this study aims to present a large‐scale analysis of usage patterns for non‐core monographs in the collections of fourteen general academic libraries of varying sizes.

Using Spectra Dimension, a collection analysis tool, this study compares use data from multiple academic libraries.

It appears that general academic libraries are overinvesting in legal materials and perhaps underinvesting in medical materials.

This study suggests that analysis of use data from multiple libraries may help individual libraries better understand their own collecting needs. Local issues may, however, override the broad patterns identified here.

In lean budgetary times, understanding collection use is key to making informed decisions about resource allocation for collection development. Libraries may be able to use these data to better manage their own materials budgets and collecting practices.

Though there have been a number of large‐scale analyses of collections, most have relied on sampling or have compared small portions of collections, and few have compared use across libraries. This study analyzes collection use across many institutions at a level of detail not possible before the introduction of multi‐library collection analysis tools.

The purpose of this paper is to present a case study of a specialty collection implementation: lesbian fiction, in the Barnard College Library.

The study employs a multistep approach to implement the development of a lesbian fiction collection. First, a collection profile was created to assess the current state of collection, and then a checklist was developed to serve as a collection development tool.

The collection profile provides important information for the collection development process. Consistent subject heading access control is essential for collection assessment and maintenance.

The collection proposal and the suggestions drawn by the study were adopted by Barnard Library for collection development and maintenance. The methodology applied and the resources consulted in the study can serve as references for academic librarians with similar collection development goals.

Very few studies have been done to discuss issues related to the collection development of GLBT themed fiction, particularly lesbian fiction in an academic library. This paper provides a concrete example of how Barnard Library carried out the selection of lesbian novels.

The main purpose of the study is to identify the current status of collection development organizational patterns and to make a comparative analysis of collection development organizational patterns of the four central university libraries of Uttar Pradesh (UP) i.e. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Allahabad University (ALU) and Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar University (BBRAU).

A well structured questionnaire was administered to the librarians and acquisitions librarians of the four central university libraries under study.

It has been found that there is a conspicuous difference between the two categories and that the newly centralized universities are lagging far behind the old centralized universities in collection development organizational patterns.

The present study consists only of collection development organizational patterns in central university libraries of UP. The scope of the study can be extended to some more centrally funded universities.

There are a number of studies on collection development organizational patterns in the world, but this is the first of its kind within Indian central universities.

Imagine, if you will, that the year 2010 has arrived, and that many of the wonderful things that librarians worked so hard for in the last half of the twentieth century have come to pass. Libraries of all types, large and small, are linked through a network of automated systems, providing total bibliographic access to the holdings of every library. Better still, patrons now receive items in hours or days through a combination of telefacsimile and ultrafast delivery. To the users, each library has become a gateway to all resources held by all libraries, and library information services are “location transparent,” that is, the patron has little awareness of where a piece of information may in fact have come from—it may be from a library across the street or from one across the country.

The most widely used method of qualitatively evaluating a library's collections is the list‐checking method, a process in which the library's holdings are compared with one or more lists of selected titles. The types of lists commonly used are published, standardized lists representing core or basic collections, catalogs of other libraries, or specialized subject bibliographies. The literature on this method of collection evaluation is extensive, dating back to the 1930s; covering the types of lists used for evaluations, the advantages and disadvantages of using such a method, and the various ways of implementing this type of evaluation.

This paper discusses emerging issues in selection and acquisition of electronic information resources in academic libraries of developing countries paying particular attention to the situation at the University of Dar es Salaam Library (www.udsm.ac.tz/library/). First, it discusses in historical perspective the application of information technology in provision of information services and specifically the provision of electronic information services at this university. Then it identifies emerging and challenging issues related to selection and acquisition of electronic information resources. The emerging issues include the information technology skills of staff and users, technology infrastructure, financial resources and collection development and management policy. In conclusion, the paper strategizes the way forward to make selection and acquisition of e‐resources contribute towards promotion of research, scholarly communication, teaching and learning at African universities.

Knowing how the library’s collection is being used and how patrons are feeling about its collection are important for the evaluation of the library collection. The former can be measured by conducting library collection use studies and the latter through a user survey method. Another method is to check library holdings against standard bibliographies. The citation analysis technique was chosen to evaluate the collection of the Ministry of Education library, Singapore. Results were counter checked with ILL data analysis results. Books were the most cited (96 per cent) resources followed by journal articles (1.5 per cent) and 69 per cent of the citations were published between 1980‐1994. The library had only 20 per cent of the citations and the rest were supplied through ILL. Results show a need for a change in acquisition policy with more focus on books, reduction in non‐used journals, and development of an efficient ILL.

This paper aims to elucidate the value of opening up digital collections for end‐user development of mash‐ups and to evaluate the suitability of libraries' infrastructure for this purpose.

The author surveyed ARL members' digital collection platforms to assess the terms of use statements and options for programmatic access.

The findings show that 17 per cent of the institutions surveyed offer some means for mashing up digital collections, and that, while more than half the collections surveyed have some form of terms of use or rights statements, they were not written to support this type of use case.

Results of the research suggest that a mashable digital collection service is feasible for most libraries.

This paper will be of interest to librarians who are considering providing application programming interface (API) access to their digital collections.

A prominent field of research in Library Science during the past thirty years has been collection assessment of college and university libraries. No other subject has received the attention in library literature as has the question of how to evaluate a collection to determine whether it adequately supports the goals, curriculum, and needs of the sponsoring organization. Collection assessment has also attracted more interest from scholars outside the library profession than any other aspect of librarianship. Research in this area should be of value to collection development personnel in all college and university libraries.

Among many unflattering characterizations of librarians is the one that accuses us of wishing to keep our collections neat, clean and in proper order on the shelves. That is, not being used. This is a half‐true, if exaggerated, statement. As rational professionals, librarians realize that if a collection is well used it is not always in order and available, or else the collection is not as good as it should be. Control—knowing where an item is, who has it—is the goal librarians strive to achieve, rather than maintaining every item in its place.

The changing demographics of the United States are reflected in the changing faces in universities and colleges across the nation. However, universities and colleges, including academic libraries, are still reacting as opposed to being proactive to these changes in their campuses. Academic libraries especially in the area of library resources are still grappling with the question of “How can we diversify our library collections?” In this chapter, the author examines the idea that one of the ways to reflect demographics on campus is for academic libraries to explore the concept of “belongingness” – the idea that students are seeing themselves on campus. This examination of belongingness hopes to answer the lack of representation of minority students in library collections through identifying gaps in the collection and acquiring diverse books and other resources. For minority students to see themselves in higher education institutions, academic libraries need to be proactive in helping students “belong” on campus.

This paper seeks to discuss the results of a 2010 survey of LIS selectors at ARL institutions/libraries that do not support an ALA‐accredited program to learn how and why LIS materials are collected at these institutions.

Collection development librarians completed a survey that asked them to describe their institution's selection policies, practices, and budgets for LIS materials, along with their roles as LIS selectors/subject specialists.

LIS collections primarily support librarians and staff in their daily work and ongoing professional development. However, most libraries' LIS collections budgets are comparatively small, selectors receive few requests for new materials, and collecting parameters vary by institution, but are limited in terms of subject, publisher, and audience. The majority of LIS selectors are also responsible for collection development in multiple subject areas and most engage in work outside collection development.

This is the first paper to explore collection development of library and information science materials outside dedicated library school libraries.

The purpose of this paper is to explore some major challenges in the area of collection management faced by university libraries in Pakistan.

The methodology includes a literature review and a survey of university libraries in Pakistan in 2004.

The challenges regarding collection management in university libraries in Pakistan are: handling the hybrid character of collections, service to users, training of collection management staff, collection evaluation, resource sharing and preservation.

This paper provides an example of the challenges of university libraries in a developing country which must plan and develop a customized paradigm of library service which combines the traditional and modern services.

The purpose of this paper is to present analysis of collection development in a specialized collection given the demand for electronic or online content.

A review of research in digital collection development was conducted with particular emphasis on veterinary medicine or medical libraries. This article provides a critique of research on digital collection development as it pertains to a specialized collection from the perspective of a veterinary medicine librarian.

As collection development tends toward a preference for electronic formats, many advantages for specialized user groups arise from purchasing electronic books.

As there are many specialized library types, collection development differs according to user groups. As a veterinary medicine librarian, the author presents a profile of collection development for a specialized user group.

Provides a brief historical background on why libraries are relevant to Maori. Discusses some of the factors and issues relating to developing Maori collections. Profiles a selection of libraries with Maori collections.

This paper aims to examine the current state of collecting with emphasis on small, independent and local digital media for the purpose of exploring librarians’ tools to develop unique collections with these types of cultural products included.

This conceptual paper is based on examination of the current state of publishing and digital media, of case profiles of independent digital content providers, of case profiles of public libraries using digital media to expand collections and of collection developers’ tools, including reviewing sources.

With regard to expanding collections from small, independent and local digital content providers, user-generated content (UGC) is offered as a tool for collection developers to use alongside other traditional reviewing sources. UGC allows for embedding collective voices into collection development practices to capture digital cultural products from these providers.

This paper reflects on the current state of digital content creation and publishing, including the limitations and possibilities in place for the future of public library collections from both large publishing companies and smaller media creators. Non-traditional digital media are cultural products produced for consumption and reception; therefore, we consider how these materials fit into contemporary collections, how they are connected to public libraries and subsequently are made available to library users.