Purpose
Libraries still endeavor to achieve diversity in many areas, including collections. Although many barriers to realizing this goal still exist, there are changes that can be made to improve the current situation. This paper aims to examine those barriers and discusses some ways librarians, administrators and publishers can help build inclusive academic library collections.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper will discuss the issues that the University of North Florida’s Thomas G. Carpenter Library discovered while trying to find ways to build a racially and ethnically diverse academic collection.
Findings
The lack of diversity in academic library collections has many causes, including inadequate institutional collection priorities, librarian bias, heavy workloads and the dearth of diverse voices in the publishing industry.
Originality/value
Diversity, equity and inclusion are key concepts to improving how libraries operate. However, libraries have struggled to realize this vision in many areas. This paper endeavors to identify ways academic librarians and publishers can make collections more diverse.
Over the past few years, Texas A&M University (TAMU) has searched for a way to administer its electronic subscriptions as well as the electronic subscriptions shared among the TAMU System. In this article, we address our attempts to implement an effective electronic resource management system (ERMS), both for subscriptions on the main campus and for those resources shared by its affiliate institutions throughout the TAMU System. Specifically, we describe two implementation efforts that have shaped TAMU's experience with ERM systems: our unsuccessful attempt to implement Verde and our more successful implementation of Gold Rush.
PurposeThe purpose of this article is to provide tips for electronic collection development for libraries with a meager budget.Design/methodology/approachThe information provided in this article is based on research on electronic collection development practices and the author's experience with electronic resources at small and large university libraries.FindingsThere are many useful electronic resources available for free because of the open access movement. Old ideas such as consortia and negotiating still help to keep costs at a manageable level for libraries.Practical implicationsLibraries will be able to maintain or reduce the costs they are spending on electronic resources, but still retain sources that fulfill their collection needs.Originality/valueThis paper combines new and old ideas and resources for electronic collection development into a short and easy‐to‐follow source.
When out of the office for conferences or other obligations, those who manage e-resources must often take their work with them. With the advent of Apple's iPad, the authors made the decision to investigate the possibilities and potential offered by this new device for mobile management of electronic resources. To accomplish this, the authors used iPads to test the various systems and tools utilized every day to manage and maintain the library's electronic resources to find out what worked, and what didn't. While the results vary by system, overall, the iPad is a useful but limited means for electronic resource management.
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