Electronic Collection Development : A Practical Guide

Library Journal

While this guide contains some useful ideas and checklists for electronic collection development, it also incorporates many elementary errors. Lee (Digital Imaging, Professional Media, LJ 2/1/01) refers to MEDLINE as one of the "prime examples of TOC services." MEDLINE, one of the premier indexing/abstracting databases in the world, can hardly be flattered by being referred to as a simple "table of contents" service. Lee refers to netLibrary as a "print on demand" publisher. Far from it, netLibrary delivers no paper copies of any kind, and its electronic book service actually inhibits excess printing. In a flight of fancy that made this acquisitions librarian giddy, Lee suggests that annual electronic budgets be estimated by adding the existing recurring costs, an estimate of inflation, money for additional essential purchases, a contingency fund to cover unforeseen purchases, and 25 percent of the total cost of a desiderata request list. The author is the head of the Learning Technologies Group at Oxford University Computing Services. Perhaps that sort of budget request is granted in computing services, but libraries will want Elizabeth Futas's Collection Development Policies and Procedures (Professional Media, LJ 3/15/95), whose selection criteria for electronic resources and fund allocation suggestions will serve any library well. Not recommended.-Margaret Sylvia, St. Mary's Univ. Lib., San Antonio Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Booknews

A technical guide for librarians who need to understand what electronic resources are available, how they can make informed selection decisions and acquire resources cost-effectively, and how they can deliver the resources to users. Covers resources including regional library catalogs, bibliographic services, electronic journals, large text and image services, and subject-specific resources. Lee (Oxford U. Computing Services) devotes sections to collection development for e-journals and e-books, making resources available from inside and outside the library (including authentication issues), evaluating use (including kinds of usage statistics), and budgeting and planning. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)