Researcher ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9087-5462

Department/Program

Claremont Colleges Library

Document Type

Presentation

Publication Date

3-2023

Abstract

Our Library’s approach to collection development has evolved over time. Subject Liaisons no longer have assigned budget funds for each subject area, but instead work with consolidated discipline budgets within disciplinary teams to select books and make recommendations for larger purchases. These contributions to collection development are done in close collaboration with Collections Librarians and staff and in addition to Subject Liaisons' instruction, research support, and outreach responsibilities.

In addition to maintaining subscriptions and regular book purchasing, each year the Library selects larger and/or ongoing resources for acquisition from a long list of options accumulated through faculty and student requests, as well as offers received directly from vendors, or through SCELC.

While discipline level collection development encourages closer collaboration within the discipline teams and provides for increased flexibility in spending on larger multi-subject purchases and subscriptions, it reduces some of the clarity and accountability for individual liaisons and surfaces important questions regarding process transparency and decision-making power.

To ensure that our collection development work is built on transparent and reciprocal communication among all stakeholders, we built a strong relationship of interdependence and trust between liaisons and collections staff. We established internal infrastructures, tools for data collection and communication, and defined roles and responsibilities for the various participants in the process, specifying whether input, decision, or action is required.

This presentation describes the workflow for big ticket items consideration and provide examples of successfully engaging various stakeholders in collection development decisions.

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