Alabaster Carol, ,Developing an Outstanding Core Collection: A guide for Libraries 2nd ed. (2010) American Library Association,Chicago 9780838910405 191 pp, $60.00 ($54.00 ALA members) soft cover.
✍ Scribed by Mary F. Casserly
- Publisher
- Elsevier Science
- Year
- 2011
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 109 KB
- Volume
- 35
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 1464-9055
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
The book is based on the author's long experience in dealing with best practices at work, as well as in the training and education of information professionals.
From the traditional item-driven process, library acquisitions is "increasingly involved with the provision of access to content in a variety of formats." In this sense, Holden provides deep insights about a conceptual approach to e-acquisitions in the book's five chapters: The New Information Universe, Spheres of Access, Routes to Access, Service and Feedback, Acquisitions in a New Paradigm. Each chapter has its own list of references, enabling further study and research. An experienced practitioner will find support for professional development in the appended list of resources dealing with conferences, courses, e-mail lists, as well serials and electronic resources. Acquisitions in the New Information Universe is a valuable supplement to many existing guides, including Crash Course in Collection Development by Wayne Disher (Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2008).
The book, however, falls short in one major sense. The subtitle, Core Competencies and Ethical Practices, is marginalized in this book. There is neither is a definition of these terms, nor any in-depth coverage of what, how, where, when or why which of these affect the new information universe. Incidentally, "core competencies" as a term finds no place in the index, whereas "ethical practices" does find a passing reference. Therefore, anyone looking for core competencies will have to read, for example, Core Technology Competencies for Librarians and Library Staff (New York, Neal-Schuman Publishers, 2009).
One strength of the book is in its approaches and strategies focused particularly on e-acquisitions. This is especially true in Chapter 11, which discusses the emerging sub-disciplines pr professional areas of acquisitions. This is also the case in the sections on acquisitions as a service and future trends of electronic texts. With this in mind, Holden is recommended for LIS students in particular, but acquisitions librarians will find it a good refresher on the theoretical concepts and practical concerns involved in managing the e-access environment.