In preparation for the move to the new library the Library faculty will undertake a review of the Library’s circulating book collection. Such a review has never before been completed in the history of the Lupton Library. The Library’s circulating collection of books is approximately 350,000 items (all located on the 3rd floor). The Library’s goal is to have the collection evaluation process completed by August of 2011; we anticipate this process will take us 1.5 to 2 years.
The Library’s goal is to be as collaborative and transparent as possible throughout this process. As such, the Library has posted the list of all circulating books and all the documents related to this project on our wiki, available at https://wikilib.utc.edu/index.php/Collection_Evaluation_Project.
In a nutshell, the process is similar to the one we used in the Spring 2009 semester when we needed to cut $90,000 in active journal subscriptions, that is:
1. The Library Liaison assigned to your department will undertake an initial review and recommend items to be removed or replaced in the collection.
2. The Library will provide your department a list of recommendations for your review.
3. If you find any books on the list that you wish to keep in the Library, just let us know.
Please know we welcome your participation at any stage in the process. If you would like to be engaged in the process earlier, rather than later, please just let me or your library liaison know. I can already cite one example of a member of the departmental faculty working with a faculty librarian to start the review. Click here for a current list of library faculty liaisons http://www.lib.utc.edu/library-directory-3.html#_subject.
Please know there are no target numbers for this collection review. There is plenty of space in the new library for expansion, 50 plus years! Also please know that most libraries routinely review collection holdings. It is good information practice and one we will regularly undertake in the future.