CDL: Purchasing multiple copies? (responses 1-4)

[Original post followed by responses.]


From:  Angi Faiks <faiks_at_macalester.edu>

Hello,

I would be happy to learn from all of you what your policies/practices
are for purchasing multiple copies of books for your library.  For
example, if a professor wants 3 copies of a book to put on reserve for
a class, do you do that?  If not, what do you suggest to the faculty
member as an alternative route?

Thanks for your input.

Angi

-- Angi Faiks, Associate Library Director, Collection Management Team 
Leader Dewitt Wallace Library Macalester College, St. Paul, MN


==#1==

From: Thomas Izbicki <izbicki_at_jhu.edu>

We try not to add multiple print copies.  Any request for such is to 
be discussed with faculty.  The problem has not arisen lately.

I suspect e-Reserves has displaced some of the potential demand.

Tom Izbicki

Thomas Izbicki
Collection Development Coordinator
Eisenhower Library
Johns Hopkins
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410)516-7173
fax (410)516-8399


==#2==

From: Paula Adams <apaula_at_nova.edu>

Hi Angi,

At our library, we explain to faculty that we try not to compete with the
book store as we are slowing moving towards not purchasing textbooks 
at all.
If we have one copy of the book, we'll place it on reserve but for a 
second
copy we kindly ask faculty to supply that copy.

********************************************
Paula Adams
Reference/Social Sciences Bibliographer
Alvin Sherman Library
Nova Southeastern University
954.262.5485
apaula_at_nova.edu


==#3==

From: Deborah Ruck <druck_at_mcw.edu>

Hi Angi,

If the previous edition has been on reserve before I check the usage 
and condition (wear & tear) of those copies.  If demand warrants the 
purchase of multiple copies, we'll do it.  If the usage does not 
support the purchase of multiple copies, I share the usage information 
I have.  I may compromise and buy 2 rather than 3 copies.  I also tell 
the professor that we will monitor demand at the Circulation Desk and 
will purchase additional copies if necessary.  This rarely happens. 
Sometimes the library will buy 2 copies and the professor will put 
their own department copy on reserve.  The department copy is placed 
on special reserve, which means that the book is not library property 
and needs to be returned after the class is over.

If the request is for purchase of a new title that has not been placed 
on reserve for a class before, we find out the number of students in 
the class, whether it is a required text, and the price of the item. 
Required texts for large classes are most often purchased in multiple 
copies, usually not more than 2.  Professors provide special reserve 
copies in this case, too. Some of our reserve textbooks are now 
available in electronic format so this has had an impact on the number 
of copies we buy in paper format.

Deborah Ruck
Information Resources Librarian
Medical College of Wisconsin Libraries
8701 Watertown Plank Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226-0509
druck_at_mcw.edu
(414) 456-8522
Fax: (414) 456-6532
http://www.lib.mcw.edu/


==#4==

From: Samantha Franklin <sfranklin_at_lcsc.edu>

Hi Angi,

We do not order multiple copies of books for the library's collection.
If a faculty member needs to put multiple copies of a book on reserve,
they will usually order the number of books they need from our campus
bookstore and then put them on reserve as personal copies. We will be
fine-tuning some aspects of this for the coming academic year, but that
is generally what we do here. Hope that helps.

Thanks,
Samantha

*********************************************
Samantha Thompson-Franklin
Assistant Professor/Public Services Librarian
Lewis-Clark State College Library
500 - 8th Ave.
Lewiston, ID 83501
phone: 208-792-2557
fax: 208-792-2831
sfranklin_at_lcsc.edu
********************************