Collection Services Advisory Group Meeting Minutes
November 14, 2012
Present: Bob Alan, David Brennan, Bill Brockman (minutes taker) , Debora Cheney, Greg Crawford, Lisa German (Chair), Cecily Giardina, Patricia Hswe, Janet Hughes, Henry Pisciotta, Tim Pyatt, Ann Snowman, Jack Sulzer, Lisa White
1. Announcements
- In answer to a question regarding funds for end-of-year purchases, Lisa announced that the CIC is negotiating with a vendor, and that the outcome of the negotiations will determine our large-scale acquisitions for the fall.
- Congratulations to the Collection Retention Policy Group for its completion of a report and recommendations.
2. Collection Retention Policy Group Recommendations
- Discussion: Ann reviewed the recommendations’ list of overarching themes, noting that the single “urgent” recommendation was the establishment of a position of Collections Coordinator. There was discussion of the reports’ use of the term “subject specialist”; since some members of CSAG felt that the term was too exclusive and University Park-centered, the consensus was to use the term “selector” instead. Discussion of the annexes reflected concern for their present physical condition, and it was suggested that the phrase from report page 5--“the conditions of our remote storage facilities impact our ability to be leaders in preservation and retention of materials with consortial partners”—be incorporated into the recommendations. A suggestion was made that the report might pay more attention to digitization issues, especially ScholarSphere, which led to a discussion of retention policy, users’ ability to add and withdraw content to and from ScholarSphere at will, and an uncertainty regarding the Libraries’ role in such a setting.
- Actions: Ann will incorporate the few suggested revisions by December. The document was endorsed unanimously by CSAG. It will be distributed to librarians, a forum will be scheduled and comments solicited, a spreadsheet will be produced that will organize recommendations according to short-, medium- and long-term needs, and an implementation plan will be developed.
3. Special Collections Storage Space issues/ Annex Space
- There were nine positive and no negative responses to Tim’s suggestion (circulated last month by Ann) that space for 20,000 volumes from Special Collections be dedicated at Cato Annex 2. This will open up shelf space in Special Collections for a year’s worth of acquisitions. Both the Collection Retention Policy Group recommendations and the Space Consultants’ report acknowledge that Special Collections has especially urgent needs for shelf space.
4. Collection Development Statements
- Debora and Henry distributed recommendations for revising collection development statements and volunteered to coordinate further progress. Discussions was short due to a lack of time but will be continued on email.
Submitted by Bill Brockman
