Cooperative Collection Development

Abstract

A group of public and academic libraries in Northern California, realizing that there was some unnecessary duplication of collection emphases in a geographic region lacking major collection resources, decided to apply for an LSCA grant to explore the possibilities for cooperative colection development. The application was successful, and two years of support were given. The selector librarians, with the help of two consultants, did a number of statistical studies of their collections and examined their policies. They then developed agreements that formed the basis of a plan to improve their collective resources in major subject areas. The group is continuing to meet twice yearly to review and refine the agreement and to exchange information. Some unnecessary duplication of materials has been reduced because it is now agreed that certain libraries will honor commitments to collect books, serials and other materials in a particular subject intensively and to make the materials available to users from other ...