Original posting below:
Colleagues,
I am wondering how many of us have stopped creating annual subject
allocations for book and media purchases. I'd like to know any of the
following that you might want to address:
-whether you also changed your collection policy
-how your faculty have reacted to the change (if they were/are involved
in selecting materials for the library or are aware of your budgeting
practices)
-what are your observations about the effects of the change
-what your advice might be for others considering going that way
Thank you!
Dana
--
*Dana Hendrix*
Head, Collection Development and Acquisition
A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center
1001 E. University Ave.
Southwestern University
Georgetown, Texas 78626
(512) 863-1241 Office
(512) 863-8198 Fax
http://www.southwestern.edu/library/departments/acquisitions/
<http://www.southwestern.edu/library/>
=================================================================================================================================================================================================
(1)
From:
Helen P Mack <hpm0_at_Lehigh.EDU>
At Lehigh University for the first time this year, we are using a single
fund for all media purchases, including streaming fees. Before this, we
had allocated the funds into broad areas, such as humanities, sci-tech,
etc. This makes my life as an acquisitions librarian much easier.
Our funding structure for books has evolved over the years. There was a
time when we maintained a fund for each academic department, plus a few
internal discretionary funds, such as reference, missing replacements,
e-books, big tickets, and an amount set aside to offset overspending in
the periodicals budget line.
When we started an approval plan over 15 years ago, we split the
departmental funds into separate firm and approval amounts, so we could
track the spending. However, over the years, with continuing periodical
price increases, we felt that it would be easier to endure further cuts
if we returned to the concept of a single fund for each academic
department.
And last Spring, we reviewed our collection policy by taking a closer
look at patron behavior. This resulted in the further consolidation of
funds: we combined all the science departments into one fund and all the
engineering departments into another. We analyzed the way some
departments seem to interact with others and combined those budgets --
English & theatre, religion & philosophy, international relations &
political science. Some have maintained their separate identities --
art, music, history. Our faculty are not aware of any change in this
regard, other than our annual round of journal cancellations.
So far, so good, but it is too early to know if this methodology has
been effective. We have not actually rewritten any policies yet. For
some of us, it has been hard to accept the fact that we really don't
have the money to both shape the collection into some well-rounded ideal
and give people what they want. When funds are limited, you give your
users what they want, what they will use, not what we think they should
have. Ouch!
Helen P Mack
===================================================================================================================================================================================================
(2)
From:
"Brian C. Gray" <bcg8_at_case.edu>
We now allocate to 3 subject groups (science/engineering,
arts/humanities, social sciences). Librarians in each group decide how
to spend the money. They are encouraged to think outside the box and
collaboratively. For example, they may make a big purchase up front
before doing some kind of allocation. Or, they may set aside a shared
pool for use later in the year.
Faculty are aware as they helped derive the policy by several sitting on
a task force, and it was shared widely. The policy says our
subscriptions can not exceed 80% of our collection budget. It also says
what the percentages are assigned to the 3 groups.
Brian
Brian C. Gray, MLIS
Team Leader, Research Services
Librarian: Chemical Engineering and Macromolecular Science & Engineering
Email: brian.c.gray_at_case.edu <mailto:brian.c.gray_at_case.edu>
Blog: http://blog.case.edu/bcg8/
Kelvin Smith Library 201-K
Office hours in Nord Hall: http://researchguides.case.edu/profile/bcg8
Case Western Reserve University
Kelvin Smith Library
11055 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-7151
Phone: (216) 368-8685
Fax: (216) 368-3669
Received on Wed Feb 06 2013 - 03:01:22 EST