Collection Development as a Social Process

By Hur-Li Lee

Ashley D’Andrea

Goal: To understand collection development as a social process

Introduction

WHY?

Social

Cultural

Influences on Collection Development as a Process

Few studies have examined how these factors affect the collecting process and shape of collection

Historical Case Study

• 1970 - mid 1990s• Academic library system of public research

university, East coast U.S.A.

Women's College & Women's Studies Collection Development

Method

Triangulation

3 Sources of Data

Data Analysis

Chronology of events related to 4 categories:

American society

The university

The university Library system

Women's Studies at the university

• women's studies is not recognized as a separate field outside of traditional disciplines

• No research being done on feminist perspectives

• Desire to change women's college library into a women's studies research library

Background Brief

No Status or Recognition

First Wave of Tension: 1970s

Feminist vs. Non-Feminist Librarians

Non-Feminist Librarians

1. Patrons seek information based on discipline

and want discipline related tools that retrieve

sources specific to a discipline

OBJECTION!

2. Social Sciences do not want historical

material separated

3. Not enough publishing outlet for women's studies research

Publish or Perish

Feminist Librarians

substantial user needs for information by and about women

Focused collection will help information seeking

Policy drafted....

Counter Attack

Access Denied!

Feminist Librarians

• Unite female scholars

• commitment from university to a field growing in status

• Grants and Scholarships

• Global Think Tank

Second Wave of Tension: 1980s

Non-Feminist Librarians

Accept and acknowledge women's studies as a field of its own (outside traditional disciplines)

Women's College given a research center within their library

Second Wave of Tension: 1980s

Desire for prestige

What Influenced Collection Development as a Process?

• Qualitative but can't generalize

• Collection development as a process with multiple dimensions

• Unique because involved feminist politics

• Need for MORE research on advisory roles in collection development

Conclusions

Lee, Hur-Li. "Collection Development as a Social Process." The Journal of Academic Librarianship 29.1 (2003): 23-31. Web.

References

• Do you agree with creating a separate focused library for women's studies and why? If yes, why are small focused libraries important for patrons and their research needs?

• Can you think of any other interdisciplinary fields now that may face the same obstacles when developing collections?

• Considering the fact that the librarians never asked patrons what they wanted, do you think their opinions on collections development were valid? If you were in their shoes at the time, do you think it would have been vital to address the patrons about the issue?

Discussion Questions