[original message followed by responses.]
From: Margaret Devereaux <deverema_at_cayuga-cc.edu>
This library is in the process of adjusting to a change of
directorship (we are actually under an interim director right now) and
so are taking this golden opportunity to make some changes in some of
the ways we operate. In the past, selection of materials has been
done primarily by librarians, with minimal input from faculty. Our
professional staff consists of 5 full time librarians (including the
temporarily vacant director's position) in two distant locations. Our
teaching faculty numbers around 75. Our collection is actually quite
strong based on librarian purchases. Because we are such a small
staff, we each spend time on instruction and reference; therefore, we
keep abreast of what students may be seeking to meet their research needs.
Our interim director's way of thinking is that we need to dramatically
increase faculty involvement in the selection process. Therefore, I
am looking for some practical ways to cultivate that. While faculty
have always been welcome and encouraged to make requests for titles
and/or subjects, there is, in fact, very little participation on their
part. In the past, I have disseminated book reviews, publisher's
flyers, tailor-made bibliographies of potential interest, etc., etc.,
with little effect. Occasionally, a few instructors will come to life
and be active for a stretch of time, but participation quickly tapers
off. Over all, this faculty has become quite unconcerned when it
comes to spending their share of the library collections budget.
If any of you have some very concrete and basic activities to
facilitate faculty involvement, I appreciate any and all suggestions.
You may respond to me directly, unless there is sufficient interest
from others on the list. Thanks in advance for your input.
Regards,
Margaret Devereaux
Collection Development Librarian
Cayuga Community College
Auburn NY 13021
==#1====
From: John Maxstadt <jmaxstadt_at_tamiu.edu>
We are a small university library (headcount enrollment 4,000). We
have liaison librarians assigned to the various colleges and
departments. It is the liaisons' responsibility to keep faculty
informed and involved with collection development. This is an "as
time permits" activity, so it isn't perfect, but we get fairly good
results. Hope this helps.
==#2====
From: "Mary Drewes" <mary.drewes_at_mail.und.nodak.edu>
Margaret,
Several years ago our University Senate approved a book allocation
formula to apply against the library's materials budget (for books and
standing orders). Each department is allocated a portion of the
budget according to the formula and each department is charged with
ordering materials for the library. If the department doesn't place
the orders or doesn't "spend" all their allocated funds, the
bibliographer places orders for his/her departments. The formula
should be fine-tuned after all these years, but most departments
willilngly purchase materials for the Library following our Collection
Development policy. The bibliographers still put a lot of time and
effort into this process though, so there are pros and cons for this
design.
Mary
Mary Hegle Drewes, Head
Collection Development & Information Access Services
Sciences Bibliographer
Chester Fritz Library
University of North Dakota
==#3====
From: Frank Galoof <frogdr_at_hotmail.com>
Margaret,
A contrarian view to your interim director's is that why entice the
camel in the tent? Particularly a community college situation where
you are not having to find extensive research level materials? User
involvement is a given 'good' from library school onward and an
appropriate level of involvement is good, appropriate, and should be
encouraged, but do I want the drivers in my city running the traffic
signals? Your CC has 5 professional librarians. You state you are
doing a fair amount of B.I. and reference work. If so, your staff
likely sees the 'big picture' of the college's information needs.
Before a wholesale effort to increase faculty participation, have the
materials budget allocated by department. Prof. Smith will come
forward, at your encouragement, with a entire catalog marked up that
will spend a huge chunk the book budget on one niche of one department.
The other side is maybe you are doing a good job now and some
conscious raising might help. Beyond naming department liaisons,
don't release too much control, because you will not be able to get it
back other than by liaison neglect, which is also very hard to
confront. Increase interest in selection through monthly or weekly
drawings, where a faculty member's name or business card is drawn and
he/she is 'given' $350 dollars to select materials (with a deadline).
Get the student paper to feature it. Serve coffee and danish in the
library once a week for faculty.
CC faculty are usually very busy with 3 or 4 sections per term or they
are adjuncts trying to keep body and soul together. They don't have
time to be librarians too. That's your job. Make it easy to submit
requests, i.e., no forms, just a title written on a Big Mac wrapper
should be sufficient. When the traffic signals work around here the
DoT phone is pretty quiet, but when not, there is an audible howl.
Good luck in your hiring.
Received on Sat Oct 25 2003 - 03:14:04 EDT