I have been in the collection building for nearly thirty years and I would
say that I know more about creating an interesting collection than a
researcher
that is just interested in his very specific field. It's my job, 40
hours a week to
create the best collection possible. I don't think any researcher are broad
experts knowing what all researchers need.
According to Greg Raschke 30-40% of titles do not circulate. I imagine that
is the standing order fault. Packages are not the answer. I would say that
80-90% of journals and books in packes are not used because of low value.
The most absurd idea is to purchase on demand! What a collection, what a
library
or rather antiquarian shop you will creat. One novel by Steinbeck one
Rorty and
one stamp catalogue and so on. What a collection! Fascinating but worthless.
You don't buy books just for one researcher, youshould build a
collection that
includes the best books or journals in a subject.
Hard work, cherry-picking and professionalism can't be substituted by
quick fixes.
In bad times this is even more important.
Jan
John Williams wrote:
> Mike Huppert said:
>
>
>> Even with the academic background, unless you are an
>> active researcher at the cutting edge, you are out of touch.
>>
>
> Many librarians (in collection development?) are active researchers at the
> cutting edge. The same cannot be said of many faculty members.
>
>
> John Williams
> Technical Services Librarian
> Robert H. Evans Library
> Johns Hopkins University SAIS Bologna Center
> via Belmeloro 11, 40126 Bologna, Italy
> Tel.: 0512917811 - Fax: 051266985 - http://www.jhubc.it
>
>
--
De åsikter som framförs här är mina personliga
och inte ett uttryck för Göteborgs universitets-
biblioteks hållning
Opinions expressed here are my own and not
those of the Gothenburg University Library
Jan Szczepanski
Förste bibliotekarie
Goteborgs universitetsbibliotek
Box 222
SE 405 30 Goteborg, SWEDEN
Tel: +46 31 7861164 Fax: +46 31 163797
E-mail: Jan.Szczepanski_at_ub.gu.se
Received on Wed Jun 24 2009 - 04:00:16 EDT