“We get to keep current on what’s going on, not every library has that privilege. But at SCAD, we have that,” Jackie Dunn, the Collection Strategy Librarian said.
Dunn explained the methods and collaboration that goes into acquiring about 5,000 books in an academic year.
“Collection strategy librarians, or acquisition librarians, purchase materials, not just print materials, but also databases and electronic resources,” Dunn said. She has a broader overview of the collection and ensures it lines up with the needs of students and faculty. Jen Library represents all subject areas offered at SCAD.
10-15 boxes arrive a week. Librarians, purchase requests, vendors,
“The new books are generally interfiled with the rest of the collection. There is a way, on our website, to find all of our new items,” Dunn said. http://library.scad.edu/search?/ftlist^bib39%2C1%2C0%2C239/mode=2
“The other full-time librarians can make their own purchases, but they all go through me for a final approval,” Dunn said. Each librarian has their niche areas, like graphic novels or fine arts. Dunn purchases all categories, filling the gap for a balanced collection.
Requests inform a lot of the library’s purchases. Dunn implores faculty and students to submit requests. One request can help them find similar titles in the subject area. The request form is available on the SCAD library website, under the “Research” tab, titled “Suggest a Purchase.” http://library.scad.edu/screens/request.html
ProQuest OASIS is the library’s main vendor. “They’ll send us suggestions that are tailored to SCAD’s programs,” she said. Subject parameters control the books that automatically ship through OASIS’s approval plan. New art books and new design titles were examples Dunn gave. The fine-tuning process took a few years. About a tenth of what Jen Library purchases are from approval plan.
“Amazon’s great for books that are out of print, obscure titles, or foreign titles,” Dunn said.
Donations are also valuable for gap filling areas of the collection. Coming across out of print books is a treat. The general public as well as students and retiring faculty donate. A fraction of them fit the collection’s needs. If the library already owns a title, Dunn compares the conditions. Sometimes, if donated copies are in better condition, she’ll swap them out.
Removing damaged items during inventory frees up some room, Dunn said.
Deliveries are brought into the third-floor offices. There, they are officially received, cataloged by Lauren Chase, and physically prepared for the shelves. Processing is extensive.
The active environment differs from other libraries Dunn has worked at. “We constantly have students in here, it’s not like a dead quiet library. Some institutions you walk in and it’s like no one is there. I see students pulling books out, scanning things, working on projects right outside on the Wacom’s, using the study rooms, going into special collections, and having classes in the classrooms,” she said.
