Library Collection Development Procedures: Selecting Electronic Resources

What?

• Electronic resources include individual e-books and e-journals and databases of text materials, streaming audio, or streaming video.
• E-resources support all colleges and disciplines
• E-resources account for more than half of the library's scholarly acquisitions budget
• E-resources costing more than $2,000 are evaluated and selected through the following process

Who and How?

• Faculty liaisons or individual faculty members suggest new resources to librarians. 
• Library subject specialists follow up on faculty requests, keep up with new resources in their disciplines, and suggest new resources.
• E-Resources Librarian researches functionality, cost, licensing, and technical questions and arranges and monitors trials of new e-resources.
• Collection Development Committee prioritizes requests and recommends purchases and subscriptions.
• AUL for Technical Services allocates funds for highest priority requests.
• Librarians and Library Marketing Committee promote the use of e-resources.

Where and Why?

• Most informational databases should be acquired through the library to
  • Avoid duplication of resources and costs
  • Ensure evaluation of resource quality by faculty
  • Ensure campus-wide access
  • Obtain best price, possibly consortial pricing
  • Ensure correct licensing and license management
  • Provide assistance to users
• Databases with restrictive or unusual access models may not be handled by the library.

When?

• Usage statistics are gathered continuously to monitor the effectiveness of e-resources
• Renewals are processed throughout the year. Cost per use is one factor in the decision to renew e-resources
• Requests for new e-resources are accepted at any time
• Selection of new e-resources is made in April or May for start dates in the ndw fiscal year (Sept. 1)