CDL: (Response) Library support for new programs

From: John Abbott <abbottjp_at_appstate.edu>
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 14:03:59 -0500
To: colldv-l_at_usc.edu
> [The response is embedded in the original question below. ja]

>

> From: "Linwood DeLong" <linwood.delong_at_uwinnipeg.ca>
>
> >>> colldv-l 11/23/02 02:02PM >>>
> From:    "George, Mary Ellen" <georgem_at_ohiodominican.edu>
>
> We are in the midst of trying to figure out what appropriate
> quantitative and qualitative resource levels are appropriate for
> our collection when new courses and programs are introduced
> into the curriculum.  We've come up with more questions than
> answers and thought we'd turn to this group for thoughts and
> feedback.  Your help is much appreciated.
>
> Our main question is:  How does your library determine the
> level of resources needed, quantitatively and qualitatively?  Do
> you use a formula, such as the Clapp-Jordan formula, a
> methodology, such as the RLG Conspectus, or some other
> approach?
>
> Some other questions that would be helpful to hear from
> many of you about are these:
>
>         o       Does your collection policy address the level
> of library support necessary to support new academic programs?

>
>   Not in a quantified way.   Our internal procedures require that the Library be notified, when new courses are being introduced.
>
>         o       Do you have a set of procedures outlining how
> you determine resource levels?

>
>    Not a formal set of procedures.   As collections coordinator I often do a brief search, extracting keywords from the concepts contained in the course description, to see what our library holdings are.   We would never have the power to "block" or "disallow" a course on the basis on weak library holdings.   This serves as a wake-up call to us to ensure that we collect additional material in this area, and also send a notice to a professor or instructor, if we note that the library holdings in the subject areas of the proposed course are weak.   I am asked to provide a one or two-sentence comment on the library materials available to support proposed new courses.
>
>         o       Does your institution have a form that the library
> must complete indicating that the library conducted an evaluation
> of resources to determine support levels for new academic programs?
>
>   Yes.   We have a simple form that asks the professor/instructor to list a dozen or so major books that pertain to a proposed new course, together with some of the major journals that students would normally access.   We check this list against our holdings, and against the holdings of a sister university library here in our city.
>
> Linwood DeLong
> Collections Coordinator
> University of Winnipeg Library
>
>
Received on Thu Nov 28 2002 - 08:52:49 EST