Stopwatch Session 2

Forrest Link (The College of New Jersey)

Keywords: ebook selection, data analysis

Ebooks, treated with some reserve prior to the pandemic, are now the leading monograph purchases at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). But ebooks are sold under a variety of license options centered around user permissions. Beyond choosing titles, our selectors are faced with deciding which version of an ebook to purchase. This second-level decision has been taken largely on guesswork surrounding the anticipated demand for a given title. Errors in this guesswork can lead to unnecessary overspending (by purchasing multi-user versions of ebooks that receive very limited use) or, worse, borrower turnaways (where single-user ebbooks are needed beyond their licensing limits).

The researcher wondered if patterns might exist in borrowing records of titles purchased over the last few years that could be used to create selection guidelines to maximize user access to materials while reducing overspending. To attempt to answer this question, he obtained purchase and usage reports for titles acquired on the EBSCO and ProQuest platforms over the last three academic years.

This paper will describe the research process involved in gathering and interpreting user data and share the results of the study and its implications, laying out possible guidelines and alternatives for ebook selection and suggestions future studies. It will appeal to those interested in data analysis and ebook collections. It is expected that attendees will bring different experiences and varying viewpoints and that a lively Q&A session will ensue.

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Brian Gray (Case Western Reserve University, Kelvin Smith Library)

Keywords: Strategy, Collections, Communication

Have your library colleagues been overwhelmed with all the processes, policies, vendor information, and data that support collection management efforts? The Kelvin Smith Library at Case Western Reserve University implemented a holistic approach to collection development. The first transformational effort was to create a strategy committee to bring together the views and voices of every library team around building collections. For example, the committee will look at the general and special collections to make sure they are being developed in order to support the research and instruction efforts of the other. The committee will look at how the university’s institutional repository is supported through general research content.

The critical early actions included several critical communication efforts that allow all library staff to access the information related to every aspect of collections decisions and curation, no matter their knowledge of which team or person manages those tasks. The committee directed the efforts to inventory all collections information, including policies, reports, data, historical records, marketing materials, and a lot more. A collection of tools and communication channels were crafted to make sure everyone has the critical information they need.

Hear about the roles represented on the committee, the first-year actions of the committee, and the long-term goals. Learn about the communication efforts to make sure all library staff are informed and empowered in collection efforts.

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Linda Wobbe (Statewide California Electronic Library Consortium (SCELC))

Keywords: journal management, publishers, transfer, standards

The NISO Transfer Code of Practice helps publishers ensure that content remains accessible by readers and librarians when a journal or set of journals is transferred between parties, and supports a smooth process with minimal disruption. Publishers are asked to endorse the Code, and to abide by its principles wherever it is commercially reasonable to do so. Supporting publishers are included in a list of endorsers on the Transfer website. The Transfer Alerting Service, sponsored by the ISSN Agency, facilitates communication about journal transfers, and includes a database where details about transfers can be searched.

This session will describe the most recent work of the Transfer Standing Committee which is working on a new revision of Transfer to better support innovations in our industry such as open access, transformative deals, etc.

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Paul Gallagher (Western Michigan University) & Geri Rinna (Western Michigan University)

Keywords: Collections, reductions, budget, conflict, communications

COVID was difficult for many institutions, and for many the pressures of online learning, reduced enrollment, and campus changes resulted in significant budgetary challenges. Hear how one midwestern university navigated a twenty percent reduction in acquisitions costs, and how cancellations were managed over a multi-year period. Gain insight into campus communications, where there were concerns, and how to have difficult conversations about the nature – and use – of a research collection.