Title

It Can Be Done! Planning and Process for Successful Collection Management Projects

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2013

Abstract

Many academic libraries face the challenge of decreasing the size of print collections. This paper offers perspectives on a range of activities for successful projects. At Connecticut College, W. Lee Hisle found that, with proper planning and execution, a successful Collection Management Project can be completed without substantial campus turmoil. Hisle discusses project principles, communications strategy used, data used to “sell” the project, and lessons learned. This project allowed the bookstack footprint to be reduced by one-third without loss of access of any item. Pat Tully, from Wesleyan University Library, presents some lessons learned from a last-copy weeding project that was carried out in 2011 to create space for new books and for a substantial art book collection. The project was controversial and led to a series of difficult campus discussions, but inviting faculty input into weeding decisions ultimately strengthened the understanding and trust between the faculty and the library. Pamela Grudzien and Fran Rosen discuss organizational challenges and workflow changes in Technical Services as libraries engage in large collaborative weeding and retention projects. Their libraries are part of the Michigan Shared Print Initiative (MI-SPI), a collaborative project to identify and manage a shared collection of widely held low-use monograph titles. Grudzien, from Central Michigan University, shares new workflows that incorporate retention responsibilities and discusses the development of a tool that facilitates member communication about volumes that are missing or in poor condition. Rosen shares details about a comprehensive project using MI-SPI weeding lists at Ferris State University.

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS
 

The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the author.