Most libraries have collection development policies that guide which gift items they will add to the collection and which not. For example, we would not add this title, although it sounds lovely, because our collection (and our associated policy) is focused on Alaskana and resources that State of Alaska employees would use in their work. I know that we’re not alone in throwing away or giving away many unsolicited gifts.
My recommendation is not to send the book out unsolicited, but rather to offer the book free of charge through various lists, being sure to include a detailed description. You might also offer the book to lists related to Middle Eastern studies, folklore, or literature, or to any subject specialists in those areas. You can find suggestions of sources for lists on the American Library Association website at http://www.ala.org/tools/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet03.
Freya
*********
Freya Anderson
Head, Information Services
Alaska State Library
PO Box 110571
Juneau, AK 99801
From: acqnet-request_at_lists.ala.org [mailto:acqnet-request_at_lists.ala.org] On Behalf Of Jesse Lambertson
Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 2016 11:01 AM
To: melanet-l_at_googlegroups.com
Subject: [ALCTS-acqnet] Sending a Book to Libraries
Hello everyone and Happy New Year!
I have a question about getting a copy of a book into library collections.
This question can be for any library type and I will consider any and all comments.
Context:
The Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center<http://sqcc.org/> (An organization in Washington, DC that promotes education on The Sultanate of Oman and the Indian Ocean. We are an educational arm of the Omani embassy) published a collection of Dhofari<https://www.worldcat.org/title/my-grandmothers-stories-folktales-from-dhofar/oclc/812739193> folk tales in translation about 4 years ago and have given it to many libraries across the United States. Some of these libraries added it to their collections even if they did not update their holdings in Worldcat. Some have done both.
It is a quality collection of folktales for which we do not charge. We give it away.
We are pondering, for this Spring, printing it again and sending it out to another round of libraries.
1. By poll, who do you think is the best contact at libraries to send the book along with a letter-of-description in order to increase the odds of it being added to the local collections?
I assume this varies by library type. I am wondering if the best contact is the subject specialist/department in academic/public libraries or technical services...or maybe acquisitions?
Thank you for any assistance as we get this together.
Cheers,
Jesse
--
Jesse A Lambertson
Librarian
Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center<http://www.sqcc.org/>
Ph: (202)-677-3967 Ext. 104<tel:%28202%29-677-3967%20Ext.%20104>
jlambertson_at_sqcc.org<mailto:jlambertson_at_sqcc.org>
عالم الانجازات ينحاز دوماً مع المتفائلين
Received on Tue Jan 05 2016 - 15:37:13 EST