Implementing Collection Lifecycle Management
Toolkit: subjectguides.uwaterloo.ca/collectionlifecyclemanagement
Annie Bélanger@annie_belangerNovember 2015Charleston Conference
Agenda
Collection Lifecycle Management & Creating Buy-In
Policies: From Development to Withdrawal
Working the Collection Lifecycle Management Way
uWaterloo & Lessons Learned
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Collection Lifecycle Management
Assess strengths & gaps
Your TurnDo you use the concept of collection lifecycle management to discuss collections?
Why Collection Lifecycle Management?
Because there is:• Holistic• Ongoing• Proactive• Engaged
Shifting Paradigms• Empowerment, not
loss• Working within
constraints ≠ sacrifices
• Focus on strategic retention
• Move the partnership to positive ground
Curating Collections• Careful ongoing
curation of the collections to preserve what is strategically important at each moment
Start, Build Buy-In• Find champions• Speak often, and consistently• Articulate why• Demonstrate benefits• Build trust
Your TurnHow have you created buy-in?
Policies Enabling Purpose
Empowered Staff
Strong Collections
Proactive Services
Engaged users
Responsive Programs
Collection Development
Your TurnDo you have an overarching collection policy?
Do you have collection development policies at thesubject level?
Retention Policies• Promote a proactive approach to collection
retention and withdrawal • Directly address the often unique
long-term research needs • Improve engagement with faculty in regard
to collection maintenance• Support ongoing collection evaluation
Developing Retention Policies• Key areas of research and teaching• Unique, distinguished collections• Short-term vs. long-term retention
Withdrawal Policy
• Encompass retention, shifting, and withdrawal
• Empowers Library to make decisions
• Underpinned by clear procedures and communication channels
Align procedures & practices
• Walk the talk! Policies without procedures are just placeholders.– What processes enable implementation?– Challenges in managing collections?– Ways to build trust around collection
management?
Your TurnDo you have a withdrawal/weeding policy?
How effective has it been in moving forward with larger scale projects?
Do you feel empowered to curate the collection?
Working the CLM way• Be proactive and engaged• Leverage stakeholder input and data to
articulate overarching policies and craft ongoing, flexible processes
• Develop evidence-based approach to collection management
Live Collection Evaluation• Create a sustainable plan for ongoing
material reviews• Develop data collection protocols• Create title level rules to “automate” general
weeding• Know what, if any, are the long-term needs
for collection areas– Preserve these & build trust
Collection Evaluation• As part of an
ecosystem of research
• No one way
Ask Questions• What are the collection’s focal points/areas of
concentration?• Is the collection strong and relevant? Conversely, what
are its weaknesses?• Are materials being used regularly by students, faculty,
etc.?• Is the collection supporting or impacting other
collections?• Are certain material formats more desired than others?
Know what your data can do for you
Context is key.• Usage data:
– Shows us what gets used, how often it gets used, and when its used
– Can’t tell us why or how something gets used• User engagement to answer the why and
how
Align Evaluation With Policies• Identify short-term need material• Build collection review into yearly
operations• Keep the communication channels open
Your TurnWhat collection evaluation initiatives have you undertaken?
Trial by Fire
Piloting
Walking the Talk
Learnings• Link between the policies• No one approach fits all• The power of stakeholders• Know what your data can/can’t do for you• Hesitation can lead to paralysis
Your TurnHow have you approached collaborative withdrawal processes?
How might retention policies fit in your culture?
Thoughts?
Toolkit: subjectguides.uwaterloo.ca/collectionlifecyclemanagement