- Email: [email protected]
selection for public libraries discussion group June 26, 1989
Library
Acquisitions:
Practrce
& Theory,
Vol. 13, pp. 439-441,
1989
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved.
0364~6408/89
Copyright
$3.00
+
.OO
0 1989 PergamonPress plc
ALA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 1989
RTSD/RS COLLECTION MANAGEMENT/SELECTION FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES DISCUSSION GROUP JUNE 26, 1989 JOANNE ANDERSON San Diego Public Library 820 E Street San Diego, CA 92101
LIBRARY MATERIALS
PRICE INDEX COMMITTEE
Kathryn Carpenter, representing the Library Materials Price Index Committee, visited the meeting to find out if there was an interest in the development of a price index focusing on public library materials. There now exists an index for college books based on Choice. It is envisioned that a public library index would include adult and juvenile items. Whether reference books, annuals, or standing orders would be included is unclear. The Committee is also wondering if there is a single reviewing source comparable to Choice which could be used as an identification tool. Discussion group participants debated variables present in public library acquisitions, such as size of vendor discounts, paper vs. cloth bindings, quantities of fiction vs. nonfiction, varying sizes of libraries, and the impact of branch libraries. Questions were asked about existing price data already used by vendors and whether Publishers Weekly is an adequate reflection. Finally, the group was asked to supply a participant if the committee does decide to work on a price index for public libraries.
STATISTICS
AND BUDGET ALLOCATIONS
The question was asked if anyone has a formula for budget allocations using a statistical base. None of the members had a particular formula in place. Significant factors in intuitive allocation are available shelving, population, adult and juvenile circulation, and the political climate within the organization. Mobile (AL) Public Library conducted a manual use study of materials. It has also experimented by taking gross annual circulation statistics to allocate the circulating portion of a branch’s budget. The other half was based on the reference activity within the branch. This practice was discontinued because it was self-fulfilling and caused 439
440
J . ANDERSON
declines in reference and materials availability. Each branch now has a $15,000 base budget with the total budget split 45% for the Central Library and 55% for all branches. Broward County Library is dealing with the high turnover rate issue, especially as it relates to audiovisual time. The library does not really use an allocation formula, but does set aside 15% for replacements and is considering establishing a separate fund for high turnover items. Yvomre Chang of Seattle Public Library shared copies of the draft of the Collection Development and Management Committee’s Guide to Budget Allocations. She asked for comments since the document was having a public hearing at this conference. She mentioned that it does contain some language common to the public library and that “circulation” will be added to the section on use statistics. Other comments and observations dealt with five-year encyclopedia buying plans, statistics on titles vs. volumes owned, the importance of immediate access to materials by adults, and the effect of centralized selection on title counts.
CD-ROM PRODUCTS Seattle Public Library routinely uses on-line or CD products rather than sending patrons to print sources. There is a great deal of user satisfaction as a result of this policy. Materials funds are used to pay for CD products. The majority of the discussion group participants have at least one CD-ROM product in their libraries, A wide range of concer&Was aired. Among them were the paper and ink operating costs of Infotrac, changing discs, making the CD databases part of a local area network, and copying public domain software. The other big issue is the need for hardware to access the database, which has a significant imp&t on a selection decision. Other results are the rise in patron demand for a wider variety of periodical titles, the need for an expanded retrospective collection, and the management of a reduced number of access points when compared to paper indices.
TELEPHONE
BOOKS
These valuable reference items are increasingly difficult to acquire since the breakup of AT&T. Prices have risen substantially and some foreigntelfzphone books cost hundreds of dollars. Consequently, libraries are shrinking.their coBecti+s when demand continues to increase. It was suggested that since this is a universal prc#xn, ALA should be persuaded to lobby the regional telephone companies to-be more sensitive to the needs of libraries.
TELEMARKETERS Dealing with telemarketing hit a very responsive chord among the group members. “Cold calls” were uniformly disliked. Frequently, the caller wants the library to make a selection over the telephone. No one in the group makes a purchase in this manner. Representatives from major vendors who participate in the group pointed out that they do legitimate follow-up work by phone but do not press the decisions.
RTSD/RS Collection Management
441
O.P. ISSUES This topic is a continuing source of frustration. There was discussion of publishers’ “drop dead date,” the accuracy of availability via Books in Print, and the merits of dealing directly with a publisher for a given title. Some classic or well-known items are just not available from any vendor, which indicates that the publisher has made a conscious decision to no longer print a title yet carries it as “in print.” It was asked whether it would ever be feasible to ask publishers to keep a group of items in print, e.g., those in an important bibliography. Dover has made a business of bringing back in print major titles.
DISCUSSION
GROUP CHAIR
Marcia Romanansky, Yankee Book Peddler, is the incoming chair for 198940. Julie Pringle of Fairfax County Public Library will serve as vice chair.
Acquisitions:
Practrce
& Theory,
Vol. 13, pp. 439-441,
1989
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved.
0364~6408/89
Copyright
$3.00
+
.OO
0 1989 PergamonPress plc
ALA ANNUAL CONFERENCE 1989
RTSD/RS COLLECTION MANAGEMENT/SELECTION FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES DISCUSSION GROUP JUNE 26, 1989 JOANNE ANDERSON San Diego Public Library 820 E Street San Diego, CA 92101
LIBRARY MATERIALS
PRICE INDEX COMMITTEE
Kathryn Carpenter, representing the Library Materials Price Index Committee, visited the meeting to find out if there was an interest in the development of a price index focusing on public library materials. There now exists an index for college books based on Choice. It is envisioned that a public library index would include adult and juvenile items. Whether reference books, annuals, or standing orders would be included is unclear. The Committee is also wondering if there is a single reviewing source comparable to Choice which could be used as an identification tool. Discussion group participants debated variables present in public library acquisitions, such as size of vendor discounts, paper vs. cloth bindings, quantities of fiction vs. nonfiction, varying sizes of libraries, and the impact of branch libraries. Questions were asked about existing price data already used by vendors and whether Publishers Weekly is an adequate reflection. Finally, the group was asked to supply a participant if the committee does decide to work on a price index for public libraries.
STATISTICS
AND BUDGET ALLOCATIONS
The question was asked if anyone has a formula for budget allocations using a statistical base. None of the members had a particular formula in place. Significant factors in intuitive allocation are available shelving, population, adult and juvenile circulation, and the political climate within the organization. Mobile (AL) Public Library conducted a manual use study of materials. It has also experimented by taking gross annual circulation statistics to allocate the circulating portion of a branch’s budget. The other half was based on the reference activity within the branch. This practice was discontinued because it was self-fulfilling and caused 439
440
J . ANDERSON
declines in reference and materials availability. Each branch now has a $15,000 base budget with the total budget split 45% for the Central Library and 55% for all branches. Broward County Library is dealing with the high turnover rate issue, especially as it relates to audiovisual time. The library does not really use an allocation formula, but does set aside 15% for replacements and is considering establishing a separate fund for high turnover items. Yvomre Chang of Seattle Public Library shared copies of the draft of the Collection Development and Management Committee’s Guide to Budget Allocations. She asked for comments since the document was having a public hearing at this conference. She mentioned that it does contain some language common to the public library and that “circulation” will be added to the section on use statistics. Other comments and observations dealt with five-year encyclopedia buying plans, statistics on titles vs. volumes owned, the importance of immediate access to materials by adults, and the effect of centralized selection on title counts.
CD-ROM PRODUCTS Seattle Public Library routinely uses on-line or CD products rather than sending patrons to print sources. There is a great deal of user satisfaction as a result of this policy. Materials funds are used to pay for CD products. The majority of the discussion group participants have at least one CD-ROM product in their libraries, A wide range of concer&Was aired. Among them were the paper and ink operating costs of Infotrac, changing discs, making the CD databases part of a local area network, and copying public domain software. The other big issue is the need for hardware to access the database, which has a significant imp&t on a selection decision. Other results are the rise in patron demand for a wider variety of periodical titles, the need for an expanded retrospective collection, and the management of a reduced number of access points when compared to paper indices.
TELEPHONE
BOOKS
These valuable reference items are increasingly difficult to acquire since the breakup of AT&T. Prices have risen substantially and some foreigntelfzphone books cost hundreds of dollars. Consequently, libraries are shrinking.their coBecti+s when demand continues to increase. It was suggested that since this is a universal prc#xn, ALA should be persuaded to lobby the regional telephone companies to-be more sensitive to the needs of libraries.
TELEMARKETERS Dealing with telemarketing hit a very responsive chord among the group members. “Cold calls” were uniformly disliked. Frequently, the caller wants the library to make a selection over the telephone. No one in the group makes a purchase in this manner. Representatives from major vendors who participate in the group pointed out that they do legitimate follow-up work by phone but do not press the decisions.
RTSD/RS Collection Management
441
O.P. ISSUES This topic is a continuing source of frustration. There was discussion of publishers’ “drop dead date,” the accuracy of availability via Books in Print, and the merits of dealing directly with a publisher for a given title. Some classic or well-known items are just not available from any vendor, which indicates that the publisher has made a conscious decision to no longer print a title yet carries it as “in print.” It was asked whether it would ever be feasible to ask publishers to keep a group of items in print, e.g., those in an important bibliography. Dover has made a business of bringing back in print major titles.
DISCUSSION
GROUP CHAIR
Marcia Romanansky, Yankee Book Peddler, is the incoming chair for 198940. Julie Pringle of Fairfax County Public Library will serve as vice chair.