Collaborative Collection Development: Engaging Liaisons and Sharing Information

Abstract

Librarians at the Bailey/Howe Library of the University of Vermont found themselves in a challenging situation at the start of the 2016 fiscal year. Facing nearly unprecedented budget reductions, librarians were forced to assess current collections and expenditures, and look ahead to an uncertain future. With a critical eye on existing collection development practices, Bailey/Howe librarians embraced a spirit of collaboration and piloted a new evaluation project which engaged librarian liaisons and supported a more informed renewal decision-making process.The collection development librarian worked closely with the liaison program director to design a project which asked liaisons to rank the library's electronic resources. The project required liaisons to provide feedback on existing resources in a holistic manner, which would be used by the collections team for renewal and cancellation decisions. This exercise provided the added opportunity for bridge-building between library departments and improved transparency. Liaisons were asked to rank electronic resources in their subject areas and evaluate multidisciplinary resources as a group. The collection development librarian supplied liaisons with resource lists which contained current and historic pricing and usage information. Additionally, the collection development librarian met with liaisons to discuss usage statistics and developed a quick reference sheet about usage data for liaisons to consult as needed. Although budget reductions are an unfortunate, yet common, reality in most academic libraries, the approach taken by Bailey/Howe librarians laid a foundation for collaborative collection development and liaison engagement.