The purpose of this statement
is to define, and to provide examples and best practices, of the skills needed
by selectors to develop and manage the Cornell collections in all formats. The Cornell library collections are developed
and managed, in order to ensure that Cornell faculty, students and staff have
the best possible access to that information they need to do their work. Collection development consists of
prioritizing and privileging specific resources in the information universe,
such that those particular objects are more immediately accessible and useful
to Cornell users. Collection management
consists of using the same or analogous criteria to prioritize resources that
are already part of the collection, in order to make decisions about their
accessibility, maintenance and retention.
1) COLLECTION
DEVELOPMENT ROLE - Understands the broad role of collection development in
the library, the University, and the profession - and incorporates that understanding into selection decision
making.
Examples: knows and understands University priorities,
college, school or departmental priorities, and CUL goals and objectives;
writes and keeps updated subject collection development policy; knows and
implements CPCRs; knows and adheres to ALCTS/ACRL guidelines; knows and adheres
to CUL collection development priorities.
2) CURRENT
TRENDS – Maintains awareness of current trends and research in collection
development and scholarly communication.
Examples: reads and makes contributions to the state
of knowledge on research library collection development; attends regional and
national conferences relating to collection development and scholarly
communications, participates in committees and delivers papers.
3) EXPERTISE
- Develops and maintains in depth bibliographical, topical and linguistic
expertise in assigned subject areas, and uses that expertise to build and
maintain the collection.
Examples: keeps current with subject literature;
attends relevant events on campus; is aware of new publications in the field;
is aware of gaps in the assigned subject or area collections; keeps foreign
language skills current.
4) LIAISON - Maintains active liaison with
constituencies, explaining current library goals and conditions to those
constituencies, and obtaining from them input on their information needs and
priorities.
Examples: meets regularly with each department or
program supported; meets at the beginning of the semester individually with new
faculty; knows and meets with graduate students in the field; creates
newsletters and/or Web sites to communicate new information.
5) RESOURCE
MANAGEMENT - Makes the best possible use of allocated resources – primarily
time and budget.
Examples: is familiar with individual serials and
standing order series, as well as their costs; uses tools that facilitate
efficient selection; tracks expenditures carefully; articulates budget needs
persuasively as part of the annual allocation; spends all of the budget, but no
more.
6) COLLABORATION
-
a)
Communicates and collaborates with other selectors and other CUL operations.
Examples: is aware of the subject responsibilities of other selectors;
routes relevant selection sources to other selectors; is aware of the needs and
responsibilities of processing and preservation, and takes these into account
when making selection decisions; participates actively on the appropriate
selection team.
b)
Seeks active collaboration with other institutions and other service providers.
Examples: knows and stays in contact with subject selectors at other
institutions; watches for opportunities to partner with other institutions,
publishers and vendors.
7) COLLECTION
MANAGEMENT - Applies bibliographical, subject and linguistic expertise and knowledge
of local needs and priorities to decisions relating to resources already in the
collection..
Examples: evaluates regularly the quality the
integrity of the assigned collections; reviews the condition of the collection
and works closely with Preservation; periodically deselects items from the
collection; periodically transfers materials to RMC or the Annex.
8) DONOR
RELATIONS - Supports external relations activities to enhance the
collections.
Examples: contributes to writing grants to obtain
funding that can be used for the improvement of the collection; works closely
with External Relations; meets with alumni and other potential donors to talk
about the quality and needs of the collection.