Print

Print
We weeded and moved our reference collection earlier this year. We did a preliminary study where we asked people not to reshelve the ref books they had consulted during a six week period, so that we could mark them with a dot. We found that usage during this time was less than 2% of the books in the collection, supporting our theory that these books were getting very little use.

We then established a committee that set guidelines for weeding the collection, and all subject librarians reviewed their own areas. We ended up with these approximate percentages:

Withdrawals: 18%
Moved to circulating collection: 23%
Stayed in reference: 54%

These percentages covered titles, rather than volumes. The books that remained in reference were moved from our reference area, which has become a study space, up to the second floor, to an out of the way space, where I expect they will get even less use.

We have been replacing print reference sources with online versions whenever possible. Even though I'm a staunch defender of print, I do believe that online versions of reference sources are much more convenient and get more use than the print ones ever will.

Karen Bouchard
Brown University



On Thu, Nov 13, 2014 at 3:57 PM, Carla-Mae Crookendale <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
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

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--
Karen A. Bouchard
Scholarly Resources Librarian for Art and Architecture
Rockefeller Library, Box A
10 Prospect Street
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912  USA

Phone: (401) 863-3218

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http://libguides.brown.edu/profile.php?uid=56435


Images at Brown blog, latest entry: https://sites.google.com/a/brown.edu/image-collections-in-the-brown-library/new-posts/worldwari

Tweeting all about art, architecture, music & more at: @KbouArtMusic

If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. Cicero. Epistulae ad Familiares, book IX, epistle 4.

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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]
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