CDL: Purchasing multiple copies? (responses 5-6)

[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



==#5==

From: "Pakala, Jim" <Jim.Pakala_at_covenantseminary.edu>

For a working collection such as ours, multiple copies of titles in
heavy demand are essential. Today in building design, implementation 
of services, institutional outcomes assessment, etc., the 
student/patron is the focus, so why not when it comes to number of 
copies? For the same reason, we avoid electronic access that permits 
only one user at a time, unless the potential demand for the material 
is such that one-at-a-time use is reasonable.

Having said that, I hastily add that other factors weigh in, such as 
whether new editions are so frequent that more than one or two copies 
seem hard to justify, whether a previous edition meets course
requirements, whether students are supposed to buy the title, whether
the title is in print, whether the campus bookstore stocks enough,
whether the material is optional reading, etc.

Jim

James C. Pakala     jim.pakala_at_covenantseminary.edu
Library Director    Phone: 314-434-4044 x4101; Fax 314-434-4819
Covenant Theological Seminary
12330 Conway Road; St. Louis, MO 63141-8697


==#6==

From: "Cann, Cheryle J." <cann_at_umsl.edu>

We've only purchased multiple copies if there was a need at one of our
6+ distance sites, all the same program course and instructor. This 
was mostly for our College of Nursing who had MSN - a little bit of
education reserve for one class in two places.  Not too much either -
only reserve books (6x4). And a traveling set of patient assessment 
videos.

Please share any other replies (this one is 1-4) - it's an interesting
question.

Cheryle

Cheryle J. Cann
Head, Ward E. Barnes Library
University of Missouri - St. Louis    phone: (314) 516-5909
8001 Natural Bridge Road              fax: (314) 516-6468
St. Louis, MO   63121                   email: cann_at_umsl.edu