Collection Development

Megan Allen
Suzanne M. Ward
- Role: Head, Access Services, Purdue University Libraries
- Academic Background:
- B.A. from UCLA
- A.M.L.S. from the University of Michigan
- M.A. from Memphis State University
Tanner Wray
- Role: Head, Access Services, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Academic Background:
- S.B. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- M.L.S. from Syracuse University
Karl E. Debus-López
- Role: Chief Acquisitions Librarian, General Library System, University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Academic Background:
- B.A. and M.R.P. from Cornell University
- M.L.S. from the University of Maryland

Libraries are exploring new collaboration models between interlibrary loan (ILL), collection development, and acquisitions.
This paper presents two models for purchasing books requested by patrons through ILL processes.
Key Metrics Reported:
- Turnaround time: Comparable to traditional ILL loans
- Average cost per book: $37.00$
- Patron satisfaction: Very high
The authors analyze circulation of titles and relevance according to bibliographer assessments.

Traditional ILL Model:
- One library borrows a book from another to satisfy patron requests, returning it after a pre-determined period.
- Costs incurred include staff time, supplies, shipping, equipment, and network fees.
Cost Study Findings (1996):
- Average cost of ILL transactions: $27.83$ for member research libraries.
- The borrowing library bears about two-thirds of the costs involved.

Libraries often purchase materials outside ILL such as dissertations from Dissertation Express or government research reports from NTIS.
Direct purchases can be lengthy due to supplier identification, cost confirmations, and payment arrangements.
Each library has its own acquisition policies, affecting how far they go to fill ILL requests.
Recent practices include purchasing popular titles and checking if faculty requests are still in print, transitioning from informal ad hoc responses to structured purchasing processes.

A few libraries have begun testing an on-demand model, focusing on purchasing rather than borrowing requested materials.
Collaboration: ILL librarians work with bibliographers and collection development officers (CDOs) to create guidelines for purchasing.
The CDO allocates specific funds for this initiative, with tracking systems in place for purchased titles.

First Report of On-Demand Partnership:
- Began in 1990 by ordering all ILL requests for in-print titles on a rush basis.
- Found it was cost-effective to purchase rather than borrow, leading to improvements in customer satisfaction and higher circulation of purchased titles compared to firm orders.

Focus: This paper compares the on-demand partnerships at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Purdue University, both publicly supported research universities with a strong student presence and similar enrollment sizes.

Libraries span over 40 locations, serving 41,000 students and 19,000 faculty/staff.
ILL Statistics:
- 2001/02: 38,000 ILL requests handled, 31,434 filled from off-campus sources.
- Additional 18,000 requests with over 14,500 filled from off-campus.
Collected $1.8 million$ on print purchases adding over 80,000 volumes to collections.
Initial Exploration:
- In early 2000, Director requested exploration on acquiring patron-requested ILL titles; interaction between patron needs and collection development identified as critical for potential enhancements.
Purchase Criteria:
- Items in scope for the General Library System (exclusions apply)
- Published within the last three years
- Maximum price cap of $250$
- High-use items may warrant additional copies

Workflow between ILL and acquisitions defined with established criteria for rush acquisition.
Experimentation began initially with a $2,000 allocation, later increased to $3,000.

ILL Protocol:
- Attempt to borrow from five libraries; if unsuccessful, check for purchase eligibility.
Acquisitions Protocol:
- Determine the availability of alternatives from preferred sources.
- Orders are prioritized based on urgency indicated by the patron.

Located in West Lafayette, Indiana, serving 38,000 students across 14 library locations.
ILL Statistics for 2001/02:
- Received 50,912 requests, of which 29,503 fulfilled from off-campus sources.
- Total monograph budget of $1 million$ , resulting in the addition of 16,000 books.
Pilot Project:
- Observed interest in a pilot project focusing on rapidly acquiring recently published titles.
- Funding initiated from non-recurring funds designed to sustain purchases for eligible titles through an online book retailer (primarily Amazon.com).

Books would be lent directly from ILL and cataloged after patron use.
Evaluation criteria mirrored those of UW-Madison, emphasizing recent scholarly works.

Evaluation is key to maintaining proper management and funding for on-demand programs.
- Criteria for Evaluation:
- Patron data on departmental affiliation and request status
- Subsequent circulation metrics
- Patron feedback on usability
- Analysis of bibliographic appropriateness
Collected data shows patron satisfaction rates, evaluation responses predominantly positive regarding timely services and book usability.

On-demand acquisition programs benefit libraries by filling immediate patron needs and enhancing collection usability, while blending distinct library functions.
Suggests that on-demand purchasing models succeed in high-funding environments (Purdue) and more modest budget settings (Wisconsin).
Evaluation includes bibliographer assessments, indicating high appropriateness for titles obtained, especially useful for interdisciplinary academic areas.
Future refinement based on ongoing data analysis; adaptation for various local needs and budgetary constraints is achievable, providing a customer-centered service effective in responding to patron demands.