Summary of Answers to the Survey on the Impact of the Internet on
Collection Development, posted by Sheila S. Intner
Total number of valid responses = 41
1. Do you collect Internet resources for your library? YES 35 NO 4
OTHER 2
2. How? Explain briefly. (The majority of answers described Internet
resources collected; but a minority addressed the methods by which Internet
resources were selected for collection. Both are reported below.)
A. Internet resources collected (answers ranked from largest to
smallest number of responses)
o each department/subject area has links to useful sites on the library's
homepage
o Internet resources are bookmarked on reference computers
o subscribe to Web-based resources including e-journals, government
publications;
responses often mentioned making choices between purchase by the
individual's library or joining in a consortial purchase
o catalog selected websites
o create "web-liographies"
B. Methods of collecting Internet resources-in general, identical to
methods used to collect other types of library
materials (answers not ranked)
o librarian-selectors evaluate Internet resources & select those
appropriate to the library's needs; then, selections are moved
along to the acquisition process
o faculty members inform collection development librarians about
resources to be collected; these requests are considered for collection
& moved to acquisitions
3. Do you use the Internet to collect offline resources? YES 36 NO 5
4. How? Explain briefly. (answers ranked from largest to smallest number
of responses)
o order online from e-merchants (e.g., amazon.com,
barnesandnoble.com), e-vendors (e.g., Baker & Taylor, Yankee Book
Peddler), & publishers
o consult online reviews available free from e-merchants, e-vendors, etc.
o search & buy out-of-print titles, especially from amazon.com,
bookfinder.com,bibliofind.com, & Advanced Book Exchange
o verify citations online using OCLC, amazon.com, BIP, catalogs of other
libraries, etc.
o have an Internet-based approval plan
o subscribe to book news, reviews, discussion lists & email reports for
information on new titles & supplementary professional information
o use websites with useful links
5. Other uses of the Internet? (responses not ranked-many answers given
here duplicated the responses to #4.)
o do subject searches of e-merchants & use their recommended lists
o search recent acquisitions in other libraries' catalogs
o consult award winner lists of e-merchants
o alert faculty to websites in their interest area
o generate order records by cutting & pasting from BIP
o use other libraries' collection assessment reports & selection policies
o participate in selection of statewide resources
o run pilot tests of new or potential subscriptions & services
o employ a website for weeding information, communication, etc.
o review management reports from local automated systems
o consult currency converters
o take distance education courses to expand knowledge of collection
development of electronic resources
o integrate information from many sources via multitasking
o conduct meetings with colleagues
o use Internet for information about videos & other nonprint formats
o post lists of new acquisitions
o post collection development policies
6. Type of library? ACADEMIC 31 PUBLIC 9 HIGH SCHOOL 1
7. Number of years using Internet? 1+ YRS. 8 2+ YRS. 12 3+ YRS.
6 4+ YRS. 7
5+ YRS. 5 6+ YRS. 2 NOT SURE 1
8. Number of years doing collection development? 1+ YRS. 3 2+ YRS.
6 3+ YRS. 4
4+ YRS. 2 5-7 YRS. 2 7-10 YRS. 2 10+ YRS. 22
Lynn Sipe lsipe_at_usc.edu
Director, Collection Resources & 213/740-2929
Director, Information Delivery Organization & Retrieval 213/821-1617 (fax)
University Libraries
Information Services Division
c/o IDOR, UVI-A
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0182
Received on Sat Feb 26 2000 - 11:16:38 EST