From: "Sally Loken" <loken_at_wln.com>
WLN Conspectus Users Group Meeting
ALA Summer, Washington, DC, June 28, 1998
1. WLN Report
The Spring 98 issue of the WLN Participant summarized tools
developed for collection management and development in medical
libraries, including the new NLM Conspectus and WLN's abilty to
analyze bibliographic files with NLM call numbers. The idea of
including conspectus numbers in approval plan slips has not advanced
much, but there are still positive reactions from librarians and it
may surface again. WLN has experienced an increase in collection
analysis requests, including gap analysis, especially since the
OCLC/AMIGOS collection development analysis is no longer available.
WLN can arrange for tailored analyses which include the peer
institutions selected by the library. An enhancement release of the
WLN Conspectus Software, 6.3 for Windows, is now available and a new
Mac version is expected soon. Work has begun on Release 7 using
Visual FoxPro and with additional software it will be possible for
libraries too create reports on the Web (so long as they have a
server available). A beautiful new WLN logo has been developed and
was proudly shared with the group.
2. Update from the National Library of Australia
Library infrastructure improvements are making it possible for
information to be accessible beyond the National Library. NLA is in
the process of documenting collection development policies and links,
as well as collecting agreements. The National Union Catalog is also
available. Other libraries can look at documents on the website and
data can be used to make a "gateway," or directory of 3,000
Australian Libraries that can be searched by name, library name,
geographical location, type of library, etc. There are links to
websites and online catalogs, if they exist, and also addresses and
contact information for ILL use as well as others. In the future,
they hope to use Z39.50 to search the catalogs. The Australian
Libraries Gateway url is: www.nla.gov.au/libraries. Subject
collection strength information will be added in September.
Plans are to work with state libraries which are producing a
directory of libraries in their state, "harvesting" conspectus data (levels
3-5) so they can be loaded into the NLA database. So far, only 50 of 3,000
are available. Ninety percent of the libraries use DDC, so they are looking
for ways to integrate with LC. Another plan is to develop a method to find
libraries which collect in a specific subject, e.g., geology (called
"dynamic subject clumping" by the British) by searching a group, or clump,
of catalogs and do it dynamically. Less progress has been made in gathering
"collecting intention" data, since it is hard to get a commitment from
libraries about subjects they will/will not collect.
The goals are to achieve infrastructure improvement using
conspectus data and methods.
3. June Pinnell-Stephens indicated that the Alaska conspectus
accomodates both LC and DDC libraries, integrated into worksheets at the
general Division level and in the Comments.
Alaska is drafting a new project on electronic resources by
working on statewide database licensing. The public libraries will submit
their number of users. The general information level in large population
centers is viewed as 3a and all others, 2b; similarly for Academic
libraries. There is also a difference between general information needs
(3b) and specific information level 3c-4. By identifying where possible
electronic resources match the needs of libraries, a profile is
generated of the information needs of public and academic libraries
and the electronic resources that meet the needs. This draft will
be available on the website around the end of July. URL is
www.educ.ak.us
4. Washington Research Libraries Consortium conspectus:
The eight libraries have been cooperating for many years
and are preparing for cooperative collection development by
doing the conspectus. Hope to begin this Fall.
5. A written report on Conspectus in New Zealand - Current
Activities was distributed. Elaine Hall, Deputy Director of the
National Library, indicated the objective is to bring more people
into the conspectus program, and much progress was achieved in May
due to Mary Bushing's visit and the training she did.
6. Dennis Stephens reported that at least five
campuses have been cooperating in a WLn automated group
analysis, i.e., "snapshots" of joint and individual collections. In
the next year or two they hope to add some public libraries. This
will supply very useful data that cannot be achieved otherwise. June
indicated that it can help librarians see changes over time that
result from targeted weeding and cooperative collection development
activities - see collection management at work.
7. Diana Thomas, West Chester University in Pennsylvania
reported a fledgling conspectus project. They are one of 14 state
system schools migrating to Endeavor. Worksheets are completed and
the next step is data input and reports. This information will be
provided to academic departments for help in weeding.
8. Mary Bushing requested ideas or comments for updating the
guide to Evaluation of Collections. Mary is on a sub committee of CMDS
responsible for revising this guide, now 10 years old, and their hope is to
have a draft ready by 1999 Annual Conference. There will be a new section
on electronic support by vendors for collection analysis.
9. Election of new users group chair: June Pinnell-Stephens was
elected by acclamation; her term will begin at the Midwinter 1999
meeting.
Notes submitted by Dora Biblarz, Chair
Dora Biblarz
Associate Dean
University Libraries - Continuous Improvement
Arizona State University
biblarz_at_asu.edu <mailto:biblarz_at_asu.edu>
Received on Wed Jan 06 1999 - 17:29:10 EST