2014 Charleston Library Conference

Do local collection development decisions have an impact on consortium resource sharing agreements? And, does it matter? Many libraries make collection development decisions independently of others in their consortium. Because some of these decisions (e.g. moving to e-book only purchasing, reducing approval expenditures, increasing demand-driven activity, etc.) may reduce the content available to share with other libraries, the authors want to examine what effect these behaviors might have on interlibrary loan activity within a consortium. This study looks at collection development and resource sharing budgets, practices, and policies and considers the possible effects of widespread changes in collection development practices on interlibrary loan operations, particularly within a consortium but potentially across all lending partners. Attendees will hear results of the authors’ research study of one consortium, including local practices and policies that appear to have affected other member libraries. Attendees will consider whether this analysis identifies concerns that they should investigate with their own consortium partners. The group as a whole can then begin to explore how significant this issue might be on a national scale; whether these issues might be prevalent enough to warrant a broader analysis; and what solutions might be starting points for discussion.

This presentation is co-authored by Lars Leon, Head of Resource Sharing & Organizational Development at the University of Kansas Libraries, who is unable to attend the conference.