Collection Evaluation in Academic Libraries

A Practical Guide for Librarians

By (author) Karen C. Kohn

Publication date:

24 June 2015

Length of book:

204 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Dimensions:

280x217mm
9x11"

ISBN-13: 9781442238602

Librarians have long used data to describe their collections. Traditional measures have simply been inputs and outputs: volumes acquired, processed, owned, or circulated. With the growth since the 1990s of cultures of assessment, librarians have sought statistics that are evaluative rather than simply descriptive. More recently, exponentially increasing journal prices and an economic recession have intensified the need to make careful purchasing decisions and to justify these to administrators. A methodical evaluation of a library collection can help librarians understand and meet user needs and can help communicate to administrators that the library is a good use of the institution’s money.

Collection Evaluation in Academic Libraries: A Practical Guide for Librarians equips collections managers to select and implement a method or several methods of evaluating their library collections.

It includes sections on four tools for evaluation:

• Comparison to peer institutions
• Core lists
• Usage statistics from circulation and ILL
• Citation analysis

Chapters on each of these approaches present the advantages and disadvantages of each method, instructions on data collection and analysis—with screenshots—and suggested action steps after completing the analysis. With a unique combination of step-by-step instructions and discussions of the purpose and role of data, this book provides an unusually thorough guide to collection evaluation. It will be indispensable for collection development librarians and anyone looking to strengthen the culture of assessment within the library.

Preface
Acknowledgments

Chapter 1. How Collection Evaluation Can Benefit Your Library
Chapter 2. Approaches to Evaluating Your Collection
Chapter 3. Before You Start
Chapter 4. Benchmarking – Collecting and Analyzing the Data
Chapter 5. Benchmarking—Interpreting and Acting on the Data
Chapter 6. List-Checking — Collecting and Analyzing the Data
Chapter 7. List-Checking – Interpreting and Acting on the Data
Chapter 8. Usage Statistics—Collecting and Analyzing the Data
Chapter 9. Usage Statistics—Interpreting and Acting on the Data
Chapter 10. Citation Analysis – Collecting and Analyzing the Data
Chapter 11. Citation Analysis—Interpreting and Acting on the Data
Chapter 12. Sharing What You Found

Index
About the Author

Step-by-step instructions for information gathering and analysis and generally using Excel files are the basis of this guide, though reference is also made to the two major collection evaluation software tools: OCLC’s (Online Computer Library Center) WorldShare Collection Evaluation and ProQuest’s Intota Assessment. Both tools automate the process of data compilation and peer comparison to some extent but are not necessary to accomplish the twin goals of collection evaluation and improved collection development. As Kohn (collection development manager, Arcadia Univ.) points out, the analysis of appropriate data is also useful in weeding decisions and to reinforce increased budget requests. With lengthy overviews of the traditional methods of library collection analysis: list checking, holdings counts, circulation counts, and citation analysis, this manual also includes some guidance on the use of COUNTER reports for electronic holdings. Where this guide shines is in its final chapter on how to present the results to specific audiences. Verdict: New librarians will find this guide invaluable for creating a collection evaluation plan for their libraries and even experienced librarians will likely unearth something new, even though most of this ground is well-trodden.