The book contains a series of papers presented at the University of Oklahoma Libraries Conference in 1998, “Challenges of Collection Development: Digital Information, Internet and Print Materials”.
Collection development in the electronic library context is a topic of great interest to all academic libraries. In this book, a group of experts give their evaluation of the situation and their suggestions concerning action which libraries might take. A common message is that things are happening right now, and we have to realise that the digital environment forces us to accept new methods and new ways of organising libraries, etc., in a lot of areas. Things are changing fast and in a way it is a paradox to review this book two years after the papers were originally presented. Some of the considerations are already somewhat out of date.
This is not to say that the book is out of date – on the contrary. It is highly relevant as an inspiration to academic librarians in their considerations of the future and in their strategic thinking. Although the book focuses on collection development, most of the papers also deal with the role of the library in the digital future.
The seven papers in the book deal with different aspects of the topic. I have no intention of reviewing all the papers, and will only mention some topics which I found particularly interesting.
James Neal, director of the Milton S. Eisenhower Library, at Johns Hopkins University, describes the challenges which the library faces in an electronic environment. It is a professionally strong paper with valuable considerations for libraries seeking to identify their future role. Strategic analysis is also the topic of Joan Giesecke, in her paper about scenario planning and collection development. She describes some methods which can be used in this process, e.g. a simplified model used in collection development areas at the University of Nebraska‐Lincoln.
Kenneth Frazier, director general of library systems, at the University of Wisconsin, discusses the ethical dilemmas of library collection development. Following a description of three cases and a number of recommendations, he concludes with the following reassuring remark:
“The time is ripe to change scholarly communication for the better. If librarians act as wise consumers of information products, encourage technical innovation that benefits information users, and promote public awareness of the importance of open access to information, librarians – like other highly respected professionals – will be recognised and rewarded by society.”
In several papers, libraries are recommended to be more pro‐active. Dennis Dillon, head of collection and information resources, at the University of Texas at Austin, recommends a re‐definition of our role as information middlemen, librarians have to be more demanding and have to expect more from the vendors, and we need to add value to information as it moves through the information chain. Co‐operation, partnership and networks with a regional, national or international focus are mentioned in several papers. It is interesting that we can probably expect vendors to be partners in some areas. In two final papers, two vendors describe the role of themselves – it is interesting that they also recognise the need for stronger co‐operation with libraries.
I have read the book with great interest, and in general feel that its papers are of high quality. I am sure that it will be a source of stimulation for library managers at several different levels.
