From: Jim Niessen <lijpn_at_LIB.TTU.EDU>
Colleagues,
Thanks for all the responses-- 21 counting those posted to the list
thus far. I'll try to give you an overview:
1. On exhibits and receptions: There are annual faculty book exhibits
and/or receptions in the libraries of four respondents, and less
frequent ones at five others. Two reported exhibit/reception-related
web pages, and two others gave URLs for ongoing online faculty
bibliographies.
2. Faculty book collections: One respondent correctly surmised that I
had read the following interesting article: "The acquisition of
faculty member publications at their university libraries," Case, Beau
David. Library Resources & Technical Services v. 44 no2
(Apr. 2000), pp. 84-91, wherein the author records the acquisition
rate of faculty publications at Indiana and Ohio State. Neither
library has an explicit policy, and the rates are between two-thirds
and three-fourths.
A higher percentage of respondents had something to say about this
question than the first one. In all nine reported a policy requiring
collection of faculty publications, and six reported no policy. Most
of the responses on the "yes--policy" side came among the last ten
responses. In most cases where there is a policy, it is for
acquisition for special collections rather than the circulating
collection. Three respondents reported a policy of buying "or
begging" one copy for circulation and one for special collections.
Several respondents made the connection between questions 1 and 2:
that it was difficult to identify faculty publications, but that the
opportunity to have them exhibited, and to be honored at a reception,
helps prompt authors to volunteer information or the books. One
respondent even reported featuring in occasional exhibits only those
books that are donated-- and that this inducement has been successful
in dramatically increasing the collection of faculty authors.
One variation I hadn't expected is collections of works not only by
faculty/staff but by others who have some connection with the
institution. One college has an online listing (link to the OPAC) for
such a collection, while another reports that a reception featuring
the Alumni Authors Collection is a regular event of the annual college
reunion.
I've been following up with many of you about details of your
responses, and can provide details on what I've summarized if you're
interested. As it happens, the Faculty/Staff Book Recognition
Committee that I chair just this week launched its new web page; you
can view it at http://www.lib.ttu.edu/brc/ . Our annual
receptions/exhibits have been going on for 16 years; my committee is a
new one so we've been reappraising the process. Without a doubt the
exhibits have helped alert us to faculty works and they've been good
for faculty/library relations. Our page has a history of the
exhibits, a bibliography of exhibited titles, and relevant links
including some of the pages you have told me about. I'd welcome your
comments!
Best,
Jim
James P. Niessen
Librarian for History & Foreign Languages
Texas Tech University Libraries
Lubbock, TX 79429-0002
tel: 806-742-2236, fax: 806-742-1964
Received on Fri Dec 15 2000 - 07:14:12 EST