The De-selection en-masse at TUT: enabler for implementation of hybrid collections
Vivian Agyei · 2012
Session: 139 — Treating print in an increasing digital collection: issues, dilemmas and directions — Acquisition and Collection Development Abstract: The de-selection of large numbers of print items was prompted by an institutional decision to adopt the model of a single faculty per site following the merger in 2004. This implied having to relocate large numbers of information resources among the nine libraries. The relocation, still continuing, was an opportunity for the libraries to strive to remain with only relevant, current and physically good items. Previously, each of the three merger institutions was offering a large variety of programmes which became duplicated as a result of the merger. The process of moving collections to new parent (campus) libraries involved lecturers and librarians having to select items for relocation and dispose of the rest. Cataloguers were to change location of affected items. It became necessary to upgrade certain records and de- duplicate bibliographic records which had not been detected or for which time had not been made as yet. The whole process took much longer than was planned as some lecturers took their time to select items they wanted to retain and not all librarians were familiar with the new subject areas. Moreover, the librarians could not finalise the selection on their own. The criteria for de-selection were as contained in the policy on acquisition of information resources and that on collection development and management. The de-selection en- masse, despite its own challenges, created space and a good environment for implementing plans to increase e-resources. Print resources will remain part of the TUT library collections. Regular and systematic weeding of collections is performed to preserve quality, currency and strength of collections. However, while weeding provides opportunities for replacing some print with e-resources, considerations for replacement, collection development and management - especially in developing countries - should include preference of some academic departments for print material; and the implications of increasingly acquiring e-resources for additional funds are required to enable access (e.g. availability of computers and the Internet) to clients who rely mostly on the libraries to provide it.