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The realities of budgetary constraints, and a transformative digital world, point to a future in which academic libraries continue to expand demand driven acquisitions in order to maintain necessary access. However, legitimate concern has arisen regarding the affect this shift might have on the coverage and scope of library collections. The gathering of diverse perspectives, and subjects that support minorities may fall to the way side through the further embrace of DDA, buried in fulfilling the needs of the majority. This paper investigates the University of Utah's demand-driven acquisitions program and the potential for imbalance in the collection. Data regarding campus demographics and the DDA pool itself are considered. Rather than discouraging the use of DDA, the primary purpose of this research is to put forth tangible ways in which librarians can deliberately counterbalance the focus of DDA purchases in order to ensure collections remain inclusive and diverse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Libraries are offering more services through social media Web sites like Twitter and Facebook, and this presence online is encouraging more conversation between libraries and patrons, including collection development requests. A review of popular Twitter and Facebook library profiles reveals the most successful accounts to be those where the library actively engages its users online. Through these media, libraries can have direct, immediate conversations with patrons that result in patron-initiated material requests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a paradigm shift from librarian-mediated collection development to patron-initiated selection of library materials. The authors report on two programs at The Ohio State University Libraries (OSUL): an interlibrary loan purchase-on-demand program and two tests of ebrary's patron-driven acquisitions program, in which patron usage triggered behind-the-scenes purchase of e-books. Results of the tests were analyzed by user activity, subject area, publisher type and level, and imprint date. OSUL and OhioLINK consortium holdings were reviewed to evaluate availability, duplication, and circulation of titles purchased by patrons. OSUL subject librarians were polled for comments on patron-selected titles and the funding implications of patron-driven selection. The authors discuss changes in the philosophy of collection development, and the role of patrons and collection development librarians in the evolving e-book environment in academic libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2007 Texas A&M University (TAMU) Libraries adopted an approach to monograph collection development that uses an unconventional fund structure and sets aside funds for user requests, called Suggest a Purchase. After initiating this change, the libraries realized that its patrons had become actively engaged in selecting materials for the collection. Data will be presented describing user and librarian levels of satisfaction with the Suggest a Purchase program. Additional data will be presented describing what was requested, what was ordered, how much the materials circulated, who requested materials, and the increase in requests over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes how library instruction sessions (both one-shots and credit-bearing information literacy courses) can be used as collection development opportunities. Students were assigned the project of selecting materials for the library's collection as a way to demonstrate understanding of research tools. The titles selected by the students were purchased by the library. The author discusses the creation of this assignment and how it served to increase course enrollment and build a more useful library collection. This model integrates outreach efforts with collection building and information literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New and emerging roles are transforming the landscape of academic librarianship. This paper focuses on the changes facing academic librarians whose activities and responsibilities in collections are shifting, particularly in the face of greater emphasis on user-driven collection development. Librarians' reduced role in routine collection development translates into gaining more time and support to move in other directions. Among many exciting and interesting opportunities, librarians apply their subject expertise in such strategic initiatives as information literacy, research, e-science, digital humanities projects, and collaborative print retention efforts. They can also participate more in campus affairs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses aspects of libraries and the acquisitions services required by library users. It is the contention of the authors that libraries are driven by the needs of their users but that library materials selected by librarians do not always address those needs. A number of related factors are examined including the increased number of interlibrary loans, collection development and the requirements of library users, and the acquisition of library materials requested by library patrons.

The Purdue University Libraries have been participating in a patron-driven collection development project for 10 years. This analysis focuses on the books purchased in the science and technology areas. The author found that the books were appropriate and in many cases identified emerging or interdisciplinary topics that might have been missed by librarians. In addition, data proved to be a rich source of information for collecting, such as identifying publishers or emerging areas that warranted further attention from selectors. Although not replacing librarians as the major collection developers, patron-driven selection is one successful way to augment collection development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a flurry of interest in programs for collection development through patron-initiated requests. However, some librarians have been concerned that such methods run the risk of producing idiosyncratic collections with poor usage and poor use value. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries have operated such a program through the Interlibrary Loan Department over a five-year period. The following study assesses the relative performance of the program's interlibrary loan-acquired monographs in terms of prices paid per rates of annual circulation, relative use at the topical level, and annual rates of circulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Purdue University Libraries was an early implementer of purchasing rather than borrowing books requested through interlibrary loan. This pioneering user-initiated acquisitions program, started in January 2000 and called Books on Demand, is managed by the interlibrary loan unit. Now that the program has reached its tenth year, the authors revisit their initial 2002 study to analyze books purchased in the six top subject areas across the whole decade. In their review of the liberal arts titles selected, subject librarians found that the books were appropriate additions and that these titles expanded the cross-disciplinary nature of the collection. The Books on Demand service offers a seamless method for all users, especially graduate students, to provide input into the collection building process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author discusses the future of collection management and the need to improve user-centered features. The author believes that a common practice in collection management is to develop collections based on what librarians think users will want, rather than actually taking the time to learn what users want. She also points out that collections are often built based on policies that have been designed to lightened the workload of librarians. She urges collection managers to take a more user-centered approach, noting that this style of collection building is responsible for producing many world class libraries. She discusses several user-centered features such as self-checkout, home and office delivery and electronic books.

There is no standard form for patron registration at special collections libraries. The author recommends that special collections adopt a registration form that features a basic common set of information categories. The information gathered with these forms can be used internally to learn more about a collection's users and how to better serve them. The information can be compared and shared between libraries to gain more knowledge about the users of special collections and their needs. The challenges of updating and creating registration forms are discussed and suggestions are offered for their implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Item level surveys have a place in both public and university library collections. Although rarely applied outside of special collections, item level surveys benefit both patrons and library staff in several ways. These benefits include the reference or subject librarian's increased knowledge of the collection, which passes to the patron through reference services and collection building; the ability to compile precise statistics about how the collection is used by patrons; and the identification of particular challenges the collection faces (such as theft, mutilation, or damage). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]