Hi Kate,
I don't know how useful this strategy will be for a Legal Studies program, but we have had some success collecting materials for our Ph.D. program in Biblical Studies using the following method. Using WorldCat in FirstSearch we do subject searches, sorted by the Number of Libraries that hold the titles. Titles from the resulting lists are selected and saved to text files. The text files are then placed into JTacq and a search is initiated to determine what titles we already have in our local catalog.
Depending on your library's setup, the person doing the local catalog search can then select titles to purchase from the results list, or the list can be sent to a website where authorized selectors can make choices. Once selections are finalized, a broadcast search is done to determin the availability and cost of each title from primary, secondary, and used book vendors.
Obviously one shouldn't purchase academic titles based strictly on the holdings of other librarys, especially since a significant number may be held by public libraries. But, once all of the titles that are in your faculty's syllabi are acquired, it certainly can be a helpful secondary step.
I hope that adds another arrow to your collection development quiver. Feel free to contact me off list, if I can be of further assistance.
Blessings,
Don Butterworth
Technical Services Librarian
B.L. Fisher Library
Asbury Theological Seminary
don.butterworth_at_asburyseminary.edu
(859) 858-2227
----- Original Message -----
From: acqnet-l_at_lists.ibiblio.org
To: ACQNET-L_at_lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 9:40:41 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [ACQNET-L] Core titles for new program?
I’ve been asked to come up with a list of core titles to add to our collection to support a new program that is being vetted on campus: Legal Studies. Since the boundaries of this program are a little fuzzy (law and society, sociology of law) I’m not finding a lot of help with making a list of core titles that we should add to our collection. I’m especially concerned because legal titles go out of date quickly. Also, I don’t think we want to be in the business of starting a legal reference library with hard copies of state and federal statutes, etc.
Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions for places they might go to help generate a list of core titles in any discipline?
Kate Ross
Head of Technical Services/Acquisitions Librarian
Lavery Library
St. John Fisher College
Rochester, NY 14618
(585) 385-8136
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Received on Fri Mar 27 2009 - 20:21:48 EDT