[Original posting on this topic appeared in COLLDV-L no. 1296 which is
reproduced below; the responses follow it.]
From: Robin S Lent <rslent_at_christa.unh.edu>
I am wondering what kind of Library Impact Statements different
Universities require in order to approve new programs or degrees. How
extensive are the statements? What data is required? How seriously are
they taken? Do programs get turned down if the Library needs more
material money? Or, conversely, does the Library regularly receive
additional allocations when new programs are approved? Also, do any
Institutions have librarians sitting on committees that review proposals
for new programs?
Thanks for your help.
Robin Lent
Head of Collection Development
University of New Hampshire
rslent_at_Christa.unh.edu
=====================================================================
(1) From: "Sarah M. Pritchard" <SPRITCHARD_at_smith.smith.edu>
There was an informal survey of this same topic (see below, in
regard to "library impact statements") earlier this year on
COLLDV-L, conducted by Mary Bushing of Montana State University,
who posted summary results on August 26 [COLLDV-L no. 1220]. I too have
been very
interested in this topic, conducted a survey of liberal arts
colleges on the same sorts of questions, and have written a short
essay on it which will appear in the next issue of the newsletter
_Library Issues_ from Mountainside Publishing. The findings are
depressingly the same whether in ARL or smaller college libraries;
that is, the forms if used at all don't help much, few librarians
sit on the curriculum committees, the whole issue gets very
politicized with our faculty, and we rarely get new resources
even when entire new majors are introduced!
Sarah Pritchard
Director of Libraries voice 413-585-2902
Smith College fax 413-585-2904
Northampton, MA 01063 email spritchard_at_smith.edu
(2) From: Susan Peters <libslp_at_emory.edu>
We've had a number of new or expanding programs at Emory and obviously the
library has felt the impact. Usually, we find out "after the fact" of the
expansion, although a few times we've been lucky enough to get notice so
we can be prepared! I've done several collection/budget studies in order
to make the argument for additional library monies; in these statements
I've asked for large amounts over a 3 or 4 year period. The major reason
for this is that I think it's quite difficult to "spend wisely" over a
short period of time (say a year) and that the collection can grow more
successfully if I have time to select and acquire over a several year
period. I have used the AMIGOS CD in order to show gaps in our holdings
as compared to our peer institutions that have programs in the areas we
wish to support, and also to show the percentage that we are "down" in our
collection. I've used the same gap/percentage analysis and compared our
holdings to various quartiles of all ACRL libraries, not just a
certain peer group (again, using the AMIGOS CD) so that the
University Administration can see that we are not only comparing ourselves
to the top group. It makes a strong argument if one can show the holdings
are in the lower 20% of _all_ ACRL libraries! I've also done similar
studies using the National Shelf List count, but the low number of
libraries that have participated make this a more limited tool.
Susan L. Peters, Ph.D.
Coordinator for Language and Literature
Emory University, Woodruff Library
Department of Collection Management
(404) 727-0117
libslp_at_unix.cc.emory.edu
Received on Mon Jan 06 1997 - 17:04:24 EST