Shared Collections

Libraries and the organizations that provide services to them are devoting more attention to system-wide organization of collections—whether the ““system”“ is a consortium, a region or a country. As a strategy for saving space and money while expanding access to additional materials and resources, the value of shared collections is indubitable. This collected volume from the Association of Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) spotlights the histories and experiences of several collaborations at academic libraries. Contributors share winning strategies for intentional decision-making in developing and managing shared collections, both print and digital, with expert guidance such as:

analysis of six consortia case studies, ranging from giants like CIC and CARL to regional collaborations like the State of Maine and Manhattan research libraries
elements to address in a memo of understanding among participating institutions
risk assessment methodologies that enable institutions to focus local resources where they will provide the greatest return; and
costs to anticipate for budgeting, such as collection analysis, space, validation, transport, staff, and administration

. With practical advice on issues such as governance and business models, demand driven acquisition, rare works, and access, this monograph is a valuable resource for academic library directors, administrators, and collection development leaders.

Author Biography

Dawn Hale is the Head of Technical Services at the Sheridan Libraries, Johns Hopkins University, where she is responsible for the library’s acquisitions, cataloging, and e-resources management and access. She served on the Editorial Board of the ALCTS Monographs Series, on the LRTS Editorial Board, the Ross Atkinson Lifetime Achievement Award Committee, the ALA Committee on Professional Ethics, the ALA Standards Committee, various LITA scholarship committees, as well as on several OCLC groups.

The Association for Library Collections & Technical Services (ALCTS) has been a division of the American Library Association since 1957, when the Resources and Technical Services Division (RTSD) was formed from the merger of several ALA units with common interests. In 1989, the membership of RTSD voted to change the name of the division to ALCTS. Its mission is to shape and respond nimbly to all matters related to the selection, identification, acquisition, organization, management, retrieval, and preservation of recorded knowledge through education, publication, and collaboration