1. Achieving Balance: Triumphs and Trials of Collection Management
What did we do?
Collection inventory: 1st complete analysis
Erasing project: preservation of books and scores
Why?
Know what is on the shelf
Reflect accurate holdings in catalog
Establish consistency of records
Item condition & duplication concerns
Shelf space issue in multiple collections
Upcoming system migration (Summer 2017)
Challenges
Faculty complaints
“You’re erasing fingerings I put in there for my students!”
“What if we need 4 copies in the future?”
Existing standards/practices varied
Too many versions of the same practice or process
Global changes difficult due to inconsistencies
Items appeared in wrong collections
i.e. CDs or LPs appearing in the book collection
Time commitment
Inventory started in 2013
Staff limitations
One librarian, utilizing student assistants when available
Other full-time staff needed as related to their area
Successes
We know what we have on the shelf!
Catalog accurately reflects library holdings
Standardization of data across collections
Establishing one set of good practices
Ready when new opportunities arise
New CD compact shelving (Done!)
Possible remote storage
How?
Shelf lists printed
Books and media collections fairly simple
Scores were a nightmare!
Shelves checked
Marked piece counts
Marked misshelved items
Basic evaluation of damage
System check of individual records
Editing of internal notes & updated copy numbers
Added piece counts
Noted circulation stats for weeding
Weeding of duplicates
Collections shifted as space became available
Retain annotated shelf list records
Who?
Collection Development Librarian
Student Assistants
Other full-time library staff
What’s next?
Start the process over again
Continue erasing project – priority to circulating items
Sara Nodine Warren D. Allen Music Library, FSU