[original post then response(s)]
Book Collection Analysis Tools
From: "Cecilia Harel" <harel_at_univ.haifa.ac.il>
We are a medium-sized university library and are considering doing an analysis of our
monograph collection. I would be happy to receive replies to the following:
1. Recommended collection analysis tools (we are aware of OCLC's Collection
Analysis Tool and Bowker's Book Analysis System). Are there others?
2. Comments from libraries that have used any of the collection analysis tools
regarding their usefulness, effectiveness.
3. What kinds of conclusions/actions you took as a result of your collection analysis?
You may reply directly to me <harel_at_univ.haifa.ac.il> or to the list.
==response #1==
From: "Jonathan Harwell" <jharwell_at_georgiasouthern.edu>
Hi Cecilia,
I recommend WorldCat Collection Analysis, especially if you also use ILLiad for
interlibrary loan. The ILL statistics, along with the collection statistics, provide good
visual representations of your lending and borrowing in various subject areas. My only
caveats are that you can't search ILL statistics for specific titles (although you can
browse by subject area to find titles), and there are some odd groupings of some of the
subjects (several different groups that all refer to health and medicine).
We've used these statistics, along with circulation and universal borrowing statistics, to
focus our approval plan only on subjects most in need of monographs, and to show us which
areas are most in need of journals.
I'd be happy to share sample graphs/screenshots if you like.
Jonathan
********************************
Jonathan H. Harwell
Collection Development & Assessment Librarian
Zach S. Henderson Library
Georgia Southern University
PO Box 8074
Statesboro, GA 30460-8074
(912) 478-5114
fax (912) 478-0289
jharwell_at_georgiasouthern.edu
http://mesoj.edublogs.org
Subject Specialist for Music, Sociology, & Anthropology
Received on Wed Dec 09 2009 - 03:03:15 EST