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Carla-Mae, A couple things: We conducted a survey of students and got a clear message about what they want or expect when they come into the art library. In response, we weeded and reduced the reference collection to half-height shelving; much less imposing. The top offers space to lay books for browsing. Most of the weeded works were put in the fine arts stacks. Second, we moved it to a spot near to the service point; easier to find, easier to provide quick reference. It is clearly labelled. The reduced collection gets a lot more browsers now, and nobody asks where it is anymore (a clear indication that they are finding it). On the subject of digital resources, the users (and faculty) have indicated that aside from properly illustrated journal content, they are not really interested in digital reference works. This is reflected in the rather low usage of the online reference resources that we do offer. Gary -- Gary Ginther, Fine Arts Librarian Frederick & Kazuko Harris Arts Collection, Ohio University From: Carla-Mae Crookendale <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Reply-To: Carla-Mae Crookendale <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Date: Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 3:57 PM To: "[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> Subject: [ARLIS-L] Print Reference Collection Hi Folks, At my library we've been having some discussions about the future of our print reference collections: * Who uses it and how? * Should we be moving towards digital resources instead? (A challenge with art, as image content isn't always in digital versions, or suitable digital resources may not be available) * Can we make it more relevant and user friendly through feedback from our users/ by moving it/ different signage etc? Has anyone else recently done work with their Reference Collections that can share some insight? Weeding, usage studies, redesign etc? Sincerely, Carla-Mae -- Carla-Mae Crookendale Visual Arts Research Librarian James Branch Cabell Library Virginia Commonwealth University [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> (804)827-0367 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> For information about joining ARLIS/NA see: http://www.arlisna.org/membership/join-arlisna Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.arlisna.org Questions may be addressed to list owner (Judy Dyki) at: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mail submissions to [log in to unmask] For information about joining ARLIS/NA see: http://www.arlisna.org/membership/join-arlisna Send administrative matters (file requests, subscription requests, etc) to [log in to unmask] ARLIS-L Archives and subscription maintenance: http://lsv.arlisna.org Questions may be addressed to list owner (Judy Dyki) at: [log in to unmask] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~