Collection Evaluation in Academic Libraries

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.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsChapter 1. How Collection Evaluation Can Benefit Your LibraryChapter 2. Approaches to Evaluating Your CollectionChapter 3. Before You StartChapter 4. Benchmarking – Collecting and Analyzing the DataChapter 5. Benchmarking—Interpreting and Acting on the DataChapter 6. List-Checking — Collecting and Analyzing the DataChapter 7. List-Checking – Interpreting and Acting on the DataChapter 8. Usage Statistics—Collecting and Analyzing the DataChapter 9. Usage Statistics—Interpreting and Acting on the DataChapter 10. Citation Analysis – Collecting and Analyzing the DataChapter 11. Citation Analysis—Interpreting and Acting on the DataChapter 12. Sharing What You FoundIndexAbout 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.