Overview
One of the most challenging aspects of librarians’responsibilities is obtaining the resources and materials desired by their library users. Access, Ownership, and Resource Sharing brings together chapters by librarians and members of related businesses to identify the issues involved and clarify ideas associated with this important topic. Recent history has seen increased debate about the options available to librarians as they seek to fill the diverse needs of today's library user. This book provides needed guidance for today and stimulates further consideration and discussion of the issues presented.
Chapters in Access, Ownership, and Resource Sharing include:
• an overview of the issues involved in resource sharing, with suggested strategies for resource sharing and several highlighted pilot projects
• advantages and barriers of access to materials versus ownership
• a description of redesigning library collections to meet new conditions and opportunities, with special focus on a Louisiana State University project to identify necessary serial titles
• a discussion of collection access in which document delivery plays an important role in library programs and the ramifications of this strategy on the vendor/document delivery service
• a commentary on a mid-sized library's experiences, referring to literature on college libraries to compare access, ownership, and resource sharing among library settings
• a historical review of resource sharing and a status report on some current technology
• the state of academic and research library collections in North America in light ofincreasing output by publishers
• a view of how technology is affecting publisher/library/vendor relations and a discussion using recent management writings of library organization in a period of rapid change
The contributing authors present a useful and informative look at the current status of information provision and some of the challenges the subject presents. Librarians and others in the field will find in Access, Ownership, and Resource Sharing many tips and strategies to help guide them successfully into the future.