CDL: Assessing political bias in library collections (response 1-2)

From: John P. Abbott <AbbottJP_at_appstate.edu>
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2007 16:34:28 -0500
To: Colldv-l <COLLDV-L_at_usc.edu>
Original posting is in the archives:

http://www.infomotions.com/serials/colldv-l/archive/2007/200701/0017.html

==#1==

From:
Lori Schwabenbauer <lschwaben_at_holyfamily.edu>

I don't know of a formula, Katheryn, but I can tell you that when I buy
political books I always try to buy at least two - one from each side!
If whoever purchases your Poli Sci materials keeps a principle like that
in mind, your collection should be fairly balanced - with of course some
additions from minority viewpoints such as libertarian, Green Party,
etc.

Lori

Lori A. Schwabenbauer, MSLS
Director of Library Services
Holy Family University
9801 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19114
267-341-3314 / fax 215-632-8067
Lschwaben_at_holyfamily.edu
http://www.holyfamily.edu/library/

==#2==

From:
"Streby, Paul" <pgstreby_at_umflint.edu>

The director at my library wrote the article cited below on this topic 
a few years back.  He examined possible political bias in serials 
holdings by U.S. academic libraries.  The details of his method and 
what he measured are dated in the electronic age, but the general 
concepts may shed some light on the question.  Among other things, the 
article includes lists of opinion journals of the left and right whose 
availability or lack thereof could show bias in a collection.

Houbeck, Robert L., Jr. "Locked in Conversation: The College Library 
Collection and the Pluralist Society." Journal of Library 
Administration 17:2 (1992), pp. 99-131

Paul Streby

Collection Development Librarian & Webmaster
Frances Willson Thompson Library
University of Michigan-Flint
(810) 762-3413
pgstreby_at_umflint.edu
http://spruce.flint.umich.edu/~pgstreby/

==#3==
Received on Fri Jan 26 2007 - 02:07:39 EST