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
Karen Kohn is the Collection Development Manager at Landman Library, Arcadia University, where she has conducted a usage-based collection evaluation and an analysis of student bibliographies. She has a MS in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and an MA in Sociology from Temple University. Ms Kohn has published articles in College & Research Libraries and the Journal of Web Librarianship and has presented on collection evaluation at the Charleston Conference: Issues in Book and Serials Acquisitions and the Acquisitions Institute at Timberline Lodge. Slides from both of these conferences are available online, and links are available on request.
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.
*Library Journal*
In this guide to an important and always-evolving area of academic
librarianship, Kohn, a collection-development manager at Arcadia
University, explores how academic libraries can implement the most
current and effective methods for assessing their collections. Due
to shrinking budgets, rising prices, and the increasing need to
justify collection-development policies to the administration, it
is critical that librarians make informed decisions when it comes
to their collections. This book is well organized and
comprehensive, with illustrations, charts, and extensive
references. Each chapter is devoted to different
collection-development strategies, which include collecting,
analyzing, interpreting, using, and communicating the data. This
latest edition to the Practical Guides for Librarians series is a
must for collection-development librarians and for academic
librarians who need to learn more about this essential area of
librarianship.
*Booklist*
Kohn’s book, then, fills an important gap in the literature and
provides a vital service by gathering in one place discussion of
several of the most important techniques and tools used for
collection assessment…. Kohn has produced an attractively laid-out
book that summarizes the elements of collection evaluation in an
accessible, detailed manner. A librarian starting from scratch with
collection assessment should begin with this book. It provides all
the conceptual groundwork and step by- step instructions to carry
out this essential work. All librarians with roles in collection
management are advised to consult Collection Evaluation in Academic
Libraries.
*Technicalities*
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