Myth and reality: Using the OCLC/AMIGOS collection analysis CD to measure collections against peer collections and against institutional priorities |
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| Institution: | Assistant Director of Libraries For Collection Management and Development W1508 Frank Melville Memorial Library State University of New York at Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY 11794-3300 U.S.A. |
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| Abstract: | Faculty and administrators are quick to measure their institution's library collections against Association of Research Libraries (ARL) statistics and/or the collections of other academic libraries. Both faculty and administrators often choose unrealistic peers for comparison. Such comparisons bring the unrealistic expectation that the library will build collections at the level of better funded libraries without receiving equivalent funding. This paper describes the use of the OCLC/AMIGOS Collection Analysis CD in documenting the gap between myth and reality and in providing information that will be useful in the development of a rational system for allocating resources. The paper compares the actual acquisitions of a third quartile ARL library (the State University of New York at Stony Brook) during a 10-year period (1980–1990) with those of a “mythical” peer group named by the University President (15 university libraries with ARL rankings considerably higher than that of Stony Brook) and a more realistic peer group (the 29 ARL libraries ranked directly above and below Stony Brook in the 1990–1991 indexed rankings). Stony Brook acquired only 68% of the titles acquired by the mythical peer group, but 90% of those acquired by the average “realistic” peer. A more detailed subject by subject comparison against the two peer lists provides information useful in dealing with deans, department heads, and faculty. A comparison by subject revealed a discrepancy between the Library's collecting patterns and the goals and priorities of the University. Third priority programs were being supported at a higher level than first and second priority programs. |
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