Hi Jonathan,
We have done this before, but not recently. You do not mention that it
includes special collections materials, and I am going with main stacks.
A key question is what is how is this number to be used: 1)
replacement cost or 2) valuing an asset? Usually it is the latter. Is
it about the Library or is the state trying to value all the
University's assets in aggregate? The auditor wants a number; knows
it will be large; and may or may not ask for a detailed methodology of
how you determined it. Only give them what they request.
Call your book and serials jobber and ask for direction. Yours is not
the first library to answer this question.
An unelaborated method is to:
Books:
1) Pull out only large, very unique sets for separate valuation. This
might be the Congressional Serials Set or similar.
2) From your book jobber obtain average current prices in specific
areas of the collections, maybe the same as your fund code arrangement,
but less granularity will probably be fine too, average prices in the
single-letter LC classes. Cloth or paper? Go with cloth.
3) Run a report in your ILS for the numbers of items in the call no.
ranges corresponding to #2. Multiple those numbers by the item-cost the
book jobber provided.
4) Can you add unit-item staff processing costs if this is
replacement? If it is a static valuation, probably not.
Journals:
Find the one-time purchase price for all the library's major journal
package online backfiles (v1n1- ) you hold (Elsevier, Wiley, Springer,
OUP, CUP, MUSE, etc., etc.). Using these, estimate the other pkgs or
publishers you cannot obtain.
Add all these up, then multiple by an X (20%?) factor that you explain
or not to account for how uncertain this process is.
Include a statement that scholarly materials inflate X% per year in the
early-2010's, and this valuation will double in ~Y years.
I am sure I forgot something. Others?
Best,
John
John P. Abbott, MS MSLS
Associate Professor & Coordinator, Collection Management
University Library
Appalachian State University
ASU Box 32026
218 College Street
Boone, NC 28608
828-262-2821 (vox)
828-262-2773 (fax)
abbottJP_at_appstate.edu
On 10/24/2012 1:52 PM, Lynn Sipe wrote:
>
>
>
> From: Jonathan Nabe <jnabe_at_lib.siu.edu>
>
>
>
> We need to come up with cost replacement values for our books and
> journals, for insurance purposes. Any advice or references would be
> appreciated.
>
> _____________
>
> Jonathan Nabe
>
> Collection Development Librarian/
>
> Science and Technology
>
> Morris Library
>
> SIUC
>
> (618) 453-3237
>
> jnabe_at_lib.siu.edu
>
>
>
>
Received on Thu Oct 25 2012 - 10:00:18 EDT