January 5, 2006

Here is a copy of the Subject-Specific Collection Development Template. I have included suggestions of information resources that may be useful when completing items on this template. Linda Brown and Julie Rabine helped me identify potential resources. Please feel free to consult with any of us for further suggestions or assistance.

coleen

Sample outline of a Subject-Specific Collection Development Statement

[Subject] Collection Development Statement

Persons responsible for collection

  • Librarian
  • Library Representative

Purpose and program description

Department web pages often contain useful information about degrees, majors, specializations, and accrediting body. Also consult with the Library Representative and perhaps even the department’s chair. Both the Undergraduate and Graduate catalogs can be very useful. They are online:

  • Accrediting body
  • Degrees offered / majors or areas of specialization
  • General education support

Scope of coverage

Department web page, Library Representative, and Department Chair.

Consult the Collection Development policy:

Consult the Course Descriptions—online:

Consult the Schedule of Classes:

Consult the Approval Plan: Connect to GOBI:

Select the Approval Folder and click on Approval Plan. Select the delivery method either by GOBI or email and then click on GO in the left side panel.

You may also consult the Fund Code Map: This is on page 86-95 of the Approval Plan.

  • Collecting level
  • Languages
  • Geographical areas (content)
  • Chronological periods (content)
  • Important sub-disciplines
  • Places of publication
  • Imprint dates

Types of materials collected

Take note of any significant differences from the collection development policy, i.e. textbooks (generally we do not collect but we do in some of the Sciences).

  • Included
  • Collected selectively
  • Excluded

Subjects collected

See the LC Classes on the Collection and Technical Services (CATS) Classification page:

See the LC Red Books (a set at the Reference Desk) or ClassWeb site:

There is also a link to this site on the CATS page along with instructions for finding library passwords to some of the tools you may need to use.

BGSU Online Catalog and OhioLINK may also help identify appropriate subject areas—what areas are we buying in already.

The Department web pages as well as SSCI and SCI may be helpful identifying faculty research interests.

  • LC classes
  • Subject descriptors (narrower than LC if necessary)
  • New/emerging subject areas
  • Faculty research interests

Interdisciplinary relationships

Are there other useful collections such as CurriculumResourceCenter, Popular Culture, or Government Documents? Are there connections to other departments on campus?

  • Subject areas
  • Collections (within LLR)

Other local and regional resources

For example….legal studies might find WoodCounty and UT Law Libraries useful. Health disciplines may need to depend on MUO resources.

Cooperative programs