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Information Resources Management Committee

Reason for doing Collections Development Policy Review

As collection managers, Information Services and Resources librarians work to ensure that Library resources relate as closely as possible to the teaching, learning and research needs of the UW community. We last systematically reviewed our collection development policies in 1989. Our academic departments have changed a great deal in ten years, especially since 1996, with many faculty retirements and subsequent new faculty appointments. At the same time there have been enormous changes in information technology and, in some areas, changes in teaching methods. We need to assure ourselves and our community that we are making the best possible use of our acquisitions budget and other resources.

The goals of collections policy review are to enhance and update our knowledge of the needs of our faculty and students and to record that knowledge in a useful manner. The Information Resources Management Committee's objective is to assist librarians in both gathering information and documenting information resource needs.

We have created a 'Toolkit' to help with these two goals:

  1. Information Gathering

    • The checklist provides suggestions about the kind of information you may wish to gather to build a general picture of your academic departments at this time.

    • The faculty questionnaire [in pdf format] will provide an opportunity for librarians to initiate conversations with faculty members about their specific needs. It can also serve as an introduction to new faculty members. By speaking to all faculty members librarians will be able to build a complete picture of the teaching and research activities of the academic departments. The questionnaire, filled out by the librarian during the conversation, should take only about 15 minutes.

  2. Documentation

Approval Plan profile revision

By the time collection policies have been revised, librarians will have built up a complete picture of the present activities of their departments, and may need to adjust the profiles based on changes in faculty and teaching activity.

A review of the operation of the BNA plan is not scheduled at this time. Any comments librarians may have on the plan will be noted for a possible review at a later date.

Information Resources Management Committee
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August 5, 2005