LIS 615
COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
Instructor: Dr. Kovacs
Office: 302 Curry Building
Telephone: (336) 334-3479
Fax: (336) 334-5060
E-mail: Bea_Kovacs@uncg.edu
TopClass®: bkovacs
Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 2-4 p.m. Friday by appointment only.
E-office hours: Tuesday, Thursday 2-4 p.m. (Weather and power permitting)
Time: On the web.
Course description:
Study of the principles and procedures involved in the building of library
collections, including collection development, collection evaluation, and
collection maintenance. (Prerequisites: none; 3 credit hours; core course).
Course objectives:
Upon completion of LIS 615, the learner will be able to:
· Verbalize the role of collection management with relation to other library and information activities.
· Demonstrate knowledge of the principles and purposes of collection management.
· Recognize the strengths and weaknesses of the various tools available for selection of library materials.
· Articulate through verbal and written means, current library issues involving collection management and their impact on the library’s collections.
· Discuss the social and technological forces influencing the management of library collections.
Teaching strategies:
The primary teaching strategies for this course will be online. Students will
engage in discussion through the use of TopClass® and chat rooms
throughout the course.
Course outline:
A. The
Library in its environment
1. The
community
2. Institutional framework
3.
Resource-sharing and networking framework
4.
Standards and guidelines
1. Public libraries
2. School library/media centers
3. Special libraries
4. Academic libraries
a. Community colleges
b. Colleges
c. Universities
C. Collection development policies
1. Design requirements
2. Subject structure
3. Levels of collection
4. Gifts and exchange
5. Deselection or weeding
6. Evaluation of collections
D. Selection processes
1. Demand vs. quality
2. Criteria for judging materials
3. Selection aids and reviewing sources
4. Selectors and library committees
5. Electronic information sources
a. Types of sources available
b. Formats available
c. Selection criteria
d. Issues involved in acquiring
and using electronic
sources
E. Acquisitions
1. Pre-order searching
2. Direct ordering
3. Vendors, Jobbers, Dealers
4. Order plans
a. approval
b. blanket
c. standing
d. rental
e. subscription
f. book clubs
g. remainders
h. reprints
i. gifts and exchange
F. Publishers and publishing
1. Types of publishers
2. Nature of published materials
3. Production and new technologies
4. Publishers and the Internet
I. Marketing; budgeting
1. Marketing by publishers and resellers
a. direct mail
b. review copy plans
c. advertising
d. other marketing methods
2. Budgeting for library collections
a. book collections
b. serials subscriptions
c. non-print materials
d. special collections
e. subject allocations
H. Collection evaluation
1. Quantitative methods
a.
Statistical methods
b. Usage
studies
c. Other
quantitative methods
2. Qualitative methods
a. Core
lists
b. Citation
analysis
c. Other
qualitative methodologies
I. Deselection or weeding
1. Deselection
2. Theft
3. Inventory
4. Storage
J. Censorship
1. Confidentiality and patron’s rights
2. Reconsideration requests
3. Selection vs. censorship
K. Copyright
1. Impact on developing collections
2. Impact on resource sharing and interlibrary lending
3. Implications for print/non-print collections
L. Conservation and preservation
1. Materials conservation/preservation
2. Methods
3. Considerations
M. Collection management in the future
1. Issues for future access
2. Concerns about future access
3. Predictions
Course calendar:
|
Date |
Topic(s) (Course Outline Section) |
Assignments |
|
Session 1 |
Acquire text |
|
|
Session 2 |
Framework for collections (A 1, A 2) |
Select topic; read chapters 1, 2 |
|
Session 3 |
Framework for collections (A 3, A 4) |
Read Chapter 16 |
|
Session 4 |
Types of libraries (B) |
|
|
Session 5 |
Collection development policies (C) |
Read Chapter 3 |
|
Session 6 |
Selection of materials (D) |
Read Chapters 4,6,7,8,9,10 |
|
Session 7 |
Acquisitions (E) |
Read Chapters 11, 12 |
|
Session 8 |
Publishers and Publishing (F) |
Read Chapter 5 |
|
Session 9 |
Marketing (G.1) |
Read Chapter 13 |
|
Session 10 |
Collection evaluation (H); |
Read Chapters 14, 15 |
|
Session 11 |
Censorship (J); |
Read Chapters 18, 19 |
|
Session 12 |
Conservation and preservation (L) |
Read Chapter 17, article by Joseph Branin, Frances Groen, and Suzanne Thorin, The Changing Nature of Collection Management in Research Libraries," Library Resources & Technical Services 44(1): 23-32, January 2000 |
|
Session 13 |
Collection management and the future (M) |
Read "Epilog" |
|
Session 14 |
Discussions about abstracts and summaries of findings |
Post abstract and summary of findings |
|
Session 15 |
Wrap up session |
Exam 4 due |
The week of March 5th is Spring Break. There will be no online class activity during that week.
Requirements:
Text:
G. Edward Evans, Developing Library and Information Center Collections. 4th ed.
Littleton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, 2000.
Readings:
Required readings are identified in the course calendar. In addition, students
are expected to read current issues of professional journals to identify and
explore current issues and concerns relating to collection management on their
own.
Electronic resources:
Students must have email addresses and access to the Internet.
Assignments/Activities/Projects:
There is one term paper, due at the start of Session 13. Students are
expected to participate in online and chat discussion, and to contribute
regularly. There are four exams, identified in the course calendar.
Academic Honor Code:
Each student is required to sign the honor statement on all major work
submitted for the course. The appropriate statement can be found at:
<http://saf.dept.uncg.edu/studiscp/Honor.html>
Attendance policy:
Students are required to participate in discussions for all class
sessions. If a student is unable to participate in a class session, the
instructor must be notified prior to that session, if possible.
Grading policy/Percentages:
Attendance and participation/Online discussion (30% of final grade)
As part of attendance and participation, the student is required to take part
in threaded discussions, to contribute experience and knowledge to the class.
The extent to which the student participates will determine the grade for this
requirement. Students will be evaluated on how effectively they incorporate
what they have seen and learned into discussions and writing assignments. Each
unexplained non-participation will result in a half-grade reduction.
Term paper (30% of final grade)
During Session 1 or Session 2, the student is required to select a topic
relating to collection management, in consultation with the instructor.
(A list of previous topics is provided at the end of the syllabus as a
guide.) Papers must be edited for typographical and grammatical errors.
The student may be asked to act as a resource person for the topic chosen, and
will provide an abstract and summary of findings for classmates on
TopClassâ.. The paper is due during Session 13.
Examinations (40% of final grade)
Exam 1 will cover Course Outline Sections A through C after Session 5.
Exam 2 will cover Course Outline Sections D through F after Session 8.
Exam 3 will cover Course Outline Sections G through I after Session 10 and Exam
4 will cover Course Outline Sections J through M (due at the end of Session
15). Each examination will count as 10% of the final grade.
LIS Grading Scale:
A = Superior; exceeds course requirements; demonstrates the ability to:
integrate concepts covered in class sessions and readings; think abstractly,
logically, critically, and ethically about issues; analyze problems
objectively, identify needs, set goals, and formulate original and creative
solutions; and communicate clearly and concisely.
B = Good; meets course requirements; demonstrates the ability to: understand
concepts covered in class sessions and readings; apply concepts to practical
problems; and communicate clearly and concisely.
C = Weak; but acceptable on a limited basis for graduate credit.
F = Failure; does not meet course requirements.
I = Incomplete; indicates the inability, for reasons beyond his/her control, to
complete course requirements by the end of the term in which the course is
offered. (A grade of Incomplete is not encouraged, and is available only in
consultation with the instructor).
W = Withdrawal; withdraws from the course within the time period specified by
the University.
NC = No Credit (for those who audit the course).
POSSIBLE TOPICS
FOR TERM PAPERS
(in no particular order)
PUBLISHING
Recent trends in the publishing business.
Recent trends in the production of print materials.
Recent trends in the production of audio or visual materials.
Recent trends in marketing materials to libraries and librarians.
The impact of electronic information sources on library collections.
The impact of the Internet on selection for library collections.
COPYRIGHT
Aspects of the copyright law in relation to school library/media centers.
Aspects of the copyright law in relation to academic libraries.
Aspects of the copyright law and the Texaco decision in relation to special
libraries.
Aspects of the copyright law in relation to public libraries.
Use of videos in violation of the current copyright law.
Proposed revisions of the copyright law under consideration by the U. S.
Congress.
Piracy of copyrighted works and the international scene.
Impact of the Digital Millenium Copyright Act of 1998.
ACQUISITIONS
Problems encountered in the acquisition of special collection materials.
Acquiring print materials versus acquiring electronic or other formats.
COMMUNITY ANALYSIS
Community analysis for an academic library collection development program.
Community analysis for a special library collection development program.
Community analysis for a public library collection development program.
CENSORSHIP
Recent censorship problems in the state.
Recent censorship problems in the region.
Recent censorship problems in the nation.
Recent censorship problems involving the Internet.
RESOURCE SHARING
The impact of resource sharing on collections in public libraries.
The impact of resource sharing on collections in academic libraries.
The impact of resource sharing on collections in special libraries.
MISCELLANEOUS
Budgeting for library collections.
Issues in conserving/preserving library collections.
OTHER TOPICS MAY ALSO BE CONSIDERED, INCLUDING AREAS TO BE DISCUSSED DURING THE COURSE, AS LISTED IN THE SYLLABUS.
SIGNIFICANT JOURNALS
The student should regularly examine current issues in
the following:
COLLECTION
BUILDING
COLLECTION
MANAGEMENT
LIBRARY
ACQUISITIONS: PRACTICE AND THEORY
LIBRARY
RESOURCES & TECHNICAL SERVICES
PUBLISHER’S
WEEKLY
THE SERIALS
LIBRARIAN
Issues of Library Journal that appear each
February 15 explore the publishing/librarian interactions from a variety of
viewpoints, and are highly recommended.
OUTLINE FOR SHORT BIOGRAPHY TO BE PUBLISHED ON TOPCLASS®
(For those without library experience, it is important for everyone to know this in order to assist you with developing a context for what is covered in this course. Without context, many of the course topics may be confusing.)
(Since we will probably never meet as an entire group, this will assist others in getting to know who you are. Online courses have a tendency to promote isolation, and make people feel as if they are not part of a group. We will try to develop collegiality via informational tidbits about everyone. If you have a photo of yourself that you can include, this will help. If you cannot insert a photo of yourself, please send one to me and I will scan and insert it for you.)
Remember: TopClass® is a secure site, and no one who is not registered
for this course will be able to see any of this information. Your privacy
and safety are assured against all outsiders!