This article examines usage of print and ebooks at the State University of New York at New Paltz over 1 year. The goal is to identify book format preferences based on discipline. The data were studied using a two-step methodology: first, nominal analysis differentiated between use and nonuse; second, the percentage of expected use was calculated. This latter approach compares usage of books in each subject area to average usage across the collection, identifying disciplines where one format is used more frequently than anticipated. Findings indicate that ebook usage is higher in most schools, except for the Science and Engineering disciplines, in which readers had a slight preference for print. The authors propose that these insights could assist libraries in developing collection assessment strategies.
Digital primary source materials represent a growing asset class challenging academic libraries' budgets. This article studies citations and usage of the historical New York Times over the period 1984-2023 at Michigan State University. The time period brackets the acquisition of the full text backfile, with 20 years on each side of the acquisition. Citations increased markedly post-acquisition over the paper-index-to-microfilm era. Citations are consistently higher among theses and dissertations compared to scholarly journal articles. About two thirds of citations are from authors in Social Science disciplines. While general usage is decreasing, citation rates match the general rate of increase of university scholarly output. The article also explores ideas of cost-per-use and the value of differing kinds of collection usage.
The main purpose of the study was to analyze various aspects of open-access journals in the field of chemistry listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). The DOAJ is a platform that provides access to open-access journals that have undergone quality control processes. It serves as a comprehensive directory cataloging open-access scientific and scholarly journals across various subject categories. A survey methodology is well suited to investigating the evolution and current state of open-access journals in chemistry, following a comprehensive analysis. The study identified 315 open-access chemistry journals listed in the DOAJ, published in 16 languages by 101 publishers across 48 countries globally. General Chemistry (175) has the highest number of journals in the subdomain, followed by Organic & Bio-Chemistry (85). English is the predominant language of publication, with 295 journals exclusively using it. Switzerland ranks first with 51 publications in the DOAJ of Chemistry, followed by the United Kingdom with 46 journals. Most journals impose manuscript processing fees, while nearly one-third do not levy any charges. Moreover, nearly all journals use the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY) to ensure comprehensive copyright freedom. This analysis revealed that 2021 is significant due to the addition of 47 journals to the DOAJ. The open-access initiative has progressed markedly in recent decades, improving the accessibility of scientific research and intellectual discourse. Collaboration between academics and R&D organizations in the digital landscape is essential for the future success and growth of open-access publications.
Assigning library e-books as course textbooks can help to alleviate the financial burden of college for many students. Accordingly, libraries include e-books in their collection development policies and strive to educate users on the availability of these texts via the use of library research guides. Previous studies discuss library collection strategies and intentions to use e-books as textbooks, but do not discuss continuous or permanent plans. This study examined library policies at Hispanic Service Institutions (HSI's) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) to evaluate how these libraries approach and document their acquisitions of library e-books. Research guides at the same institutions were reviewed for instances of educating students and instructors on using library e-books as textbooks. Findings reinforce that libraries are actively purchasing and subscribing to e-books for course use because of advantages such as multi-user access, accessibility, and potential for high usage. Further, some libraries are documenting their acquisitions approaches and certain drawbacks like limited licenses and maintaining funding. Results also emphasize the importance of educating instructors and students regarding access limits, seeking assistance from librarians, and instructional support. This research highlights the active roles libraries play in acquiring e-books and educating students and instructors on best practices for effective use.
An effective medical library collection is important for research and educational support. The MUHAS library in Tanzania has a two-dimensional approach to collection development that involves purchasing books locally and book donations. The purpose of the study was to determine the successfulness of this approach in establishing a responsive medical library and the role of technical services and KOHA integration in effective accessibility of the library resources. A total of 135 faculty members and librarians participated in this research, and data were collected through document analysis, surveys, and interviews. Quantitative information was statistically analyzed using SPSS, while qualitative data were coded by themes using ATLAS.ti. The findings indicated that although donations of books are appreciated, there are concerns about the relevancy and currency of the donated materials, which do not meet short-term curricular needs. On the other hand, local acquisitions align better with departmental needs and have a better opportunity for the library to be responsive. Moreover, the KOHA library system provided improved access to library resources but exposed cataloging and metadata issues. The study concludes that the MUHAS library is an emerging library with a responsive service to teaching, learning, and research, but there are gaps in new emerging areas of study. The study recommends that a stronger faculty role in selecting library resources, suitable metadata management, and an increase in investment to support local acquisition of library resources are necessary to support the rapidly changing academic needs of the university community.
As Oregon State University Libraries (OSUL) began work to ensure that subscription licenses contained current and relevant terms and condictions , we realized that our collection development policies were outdated or non-existent. Employee turnover and the removal of collection duties from liaison librarians created a knowledge gap. To address these issues, a library-wide collaborative effort was launched to update collection policies. This work shifted us away from an insular approach to collection development decision-making. This article focuses on the collaborative process and the lessons learned from it, rather than the specifics of the collection development policies developed through it.
Faculty-driven enhancements for library services in engineering education, highlighting key insights into user satisfaction and challenges. To investigate preferred mode of knowing about new library collections, opinion on library services and collections, use of Library Consortium e-resources, satisfaction, Benefits and challenges. The study employed a quantitative approach using Google Form questionnaires to collect data from three hundred and six (306) engineering college faculties in Mysore, Karnataka, India. Questions focused on the preferred mode of knowing about new library collections, opinion on library services and collections, use of Library Consortium e-resources, satisfaction, Benefits and challenges. The data obtained was entered into an excel sheet and imported into SPSS to analyse. The data and hypothesis testing were conducted by statistical techniques such as mean, standard deviation, Skew, Kurtosis tests, and Factor Analysis. Findings: Faculty are very appreciative of library services especially the information services (Mean = 4.21) and textbooks (Mean = 4.28), but electronic resources (Mean = 3.96) need more attention in terms of availability and awareness. Their transformational nature is applauded in the E-Collections in terms of extended resources (Mean = 4.38) and 24/7 accessibility (Mean = 4.25). Nevertheless, the barriers to access (Mean = 4.45) and outdated materials (Mean = 4.25) are also important issues, and the modernization is required urgently. Library Consortium e-resources such as Springer (Mean = 1.55) are considered very useful but the satisfaction with other sources such as Emerald (Mean = 2.46) is mixed. The research suggests the revision of collections, the improvement of digital accessibility, and the user guidance to eliminate these problems. These results highlight the strategic improvements necessary to match the faculty needs with the library services. Finally, this study gives some practical results on how to maximize the effectiveness of the library in academic institutions.
Museums produce massive quantities of heterogeneous datasets, which are often held inside their walls. These data increase when dealing with textile collection-based institutions which are usually small or medium-sized and lack resources or expertise to deal with the current digital trend. This paper explores how silk collections have historically been held in European museums by means of a mixed analysis, using an online survey that reveals the problems museums face when conserving silk fabrics, especially in their documentation, cataloguing, and the management of their digital data.
Google Books is a renowned free e-book platform offering books across various fields. This study primarily focuses on the availability of Google Books in the area of library and information science. It also highlights the trending topics and the prominent authors in the field of library and information science who have uploaded books to the Google Books platform. The study collected data from the Webometric Analyst software using 654 search terms that cover the entire domain of library and information science. According to the results, in 2016, the highest number of books was uploaded to the Google Books platform. While analyzing the topics covered in the domain of library and information science, it was found that topics like "Information Literacy" appeared most frequently with 170 occurrences, followed by "Academic Libraries" (124) and "Data Governance" (116), and so on. Regarding publishers, it was found that "Routledge" and "IGI Global" are the two publishers that uploaded the maximum number of books on Google Books in the field of library and information science. Although a large number of books are available on Google Books, uploading more curriculum-based books could attract additional readers.
In March of 2025, during legislative debates over an "anti-DEI bill," the Mississippi Library Commission announced the removal of two complimentary index databases from state consortium offerings. In this study, the authors use the context of censorship in higher education to quantify this loss. Through assessing metrics of cost, collection overlap, discoverability, impact, and coverage, the authors analyzed the quantitative effect of this loss. The authors compiled a report and presented it to the university administration, who agreed that proceeding with reinstating access to these databases was both cost-effective and supportive of institutional missions.
The University of Alabama Libraries off-site, high-density storage facility for general collections began operations in 2003. An expansion in 2020 added 7,000 square feet of space for special collections materials. By 2024 there were 8,700 linear feet of materials in the space. In 2024 staff assessed procedures for ingesting materials and found opportunities for improvement. Staff began a coordinated effort between two units of the Libraries to bring practices in the special collections area into alignment with the well-established general collections area of the storage facility, with a focus on efficiencies. This study describes that analysis and process to establish best practices for the future.
The role of archival institutions in supporting records management in the organization that creates them cannot be understated. This study sought to investigate support provided by the Limpopo Provincial Archives to improve records management in the provincial departments throughout a record's life cycle. This multi-method study used both semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire to collect data from records management staff in the provincial government departments and archivists in the provincial archives of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The study covered the entire population of 77 records management officials for the questionnaire data collection from 11 provincial departments and nine interview participants from provincial archive institutions. A total of 77 questionnaires were distributed but only 53 questionnaires were returned to give 68% response rate. As a result 24 questionnaires were never returned or completed by respondents. The study discovered that support provided by provincial archives is not sufficient as required throughout the life cycle. The archives usually provide support upon request, which means they do not have a plan for regular support to the departments. The archival institution is required to ensure that records management is properly discharged in the provincial departments. The study proposes a framework that provincial departments may adopt and customize to improve their support rendered to the provincial departments and other institutions in their sphere of influence.
The archiving of armed struggle heritage in Zimbabwe is marred by complexities rooted in archivists' biases and in social and political factors that shape archival collections. The liberation struggle archives created by the nationalist movements are not available at the NAZ, more than forty-four years after independence. The article critiques the Zimbabwe archive as a site of power by assessing the politics that dictate the archiving of armed struggle collections. Interviews and document analysis conducted at the National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ) sought to address the key question of how armed struggle archives of the former nationalist movements in Zimbabwe have been preserved, organized, catalogued, and made available to the public. The findings of the study reveal that the gaps in armed struggle collections at the NAZ emanate from outdated archival legislation, and a lack of trust in the archival system, including the power play that has affected access to this heritage. The researchers recommend that a decolonial archival praxis be adopted at the NAZ by embracing a post-custodial approach to archiving liberation struggle archives.
Collection policies and collection strategies are essential documents guiding the collection management practices of academic libraries. Despite the importance of these policy documents in shaping libraries' collections, scholars have faulted the collections of North American academic libraries as lacking diverse voices. This study examined the roles of collection policies and collection strategies in sustaining and constraining the inclusion of equity-deserving groups in academic libraries' collections. Using a qualitative research design, 44 policy documents were analyzed while 18 collection librarians were interviewed. The findings revealed the double-edged roles of collection policies and collection strategies in collection management as they ensure librarians' agency, serve as documentation tools, promote accessibility and acquisition of resources for equity-deserving groups. Limitations such as lack of standardization, neutrality, and unclear responsibility and implementation also limit the usefulness of these policy documents. Recommendations were proposed to revive the waning interest in collection policies and collection strategies, including standardization, regular updating, alignment of policy documents with broader institutional goals, and deliberate actions to strengthen these policy documents.
The COVID-19 prevention measures in Malawi disrupted library services, forcing adjustments to continue operations. As the pandemic improves, this study examines how libraries should restructure and innovate, focusing on concerns, expectations, and strategies for post-pandemic collection development. The primary objective of this study was to assess collection development practices in the post-COVID-19 era at Bunda College Library in Malawi. The research paradigm adopted was a pragmatic approach, utilizing mixed methods to address the research questions. The total study population was 5,658 comprising 5,500 students, 148 lecturers, 2 senior administrators, 5 members of the library committee, and 3 librarians. From the population, a sample of 199 participants was selected. First and second-year students were excluded from the study, as they had not experienced the COVID-19 pandemic during their time at the College. The study adopted pragmatist research paradigm using mixed method approach. Qualitative data was collected through purposive sampling, involving interviews with 10 respondents drawn from librarians and library committee members and senior administrators. Quantitative data was collected using online questionnaires administered to 159 students and 30 lecturers, utilizing stratified sampling with a 10% sample size to ensure representativeness. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic (deductive) analysis, while quantitative data was analyzed using inferential and descriptive statistics with IBM SPSS (v 27). Findings from the study indicate that COVID-19 catalyzed a few changes in Collection Development practices at Bunda Library, driving increased acceleration and reliance on digital resources, and compelling the library to adopt agile approaches to respond quickly to the changing needs and preferences of the users. The study recommends that Bunda Library proactively foster collaboration with its stakeholders, provide adequate funds for collection development, put a disaster preparedness plan in place, and rebuild its information technology network infrastructure.
Article retraction is essential for maintaining research integrity but presents communication and management challenges within academic libraries. This study examines Iranian academic library professionals' familiarity with retraction concepts, reported practices, and perceptions of professional responsibilities. Using a cross-sectional survey of 120 respondents, the findings indicate strong conceptual awareness and broad endorsement of librarians' responsibility to identify and manage retracted content. Respondents reported reliance on structured databases and retraction-monitoring tools, alongside variability in catalog flagging, archival practices, and system-level tracking. The results highlight opportunities to strengthen workflow consistency and align local practices with international retraction communication standards and metadata frameworks.
For the last nine years, Academic Library Services at East Carolina University has led a two-part affordable and alternative textbook program to purchase electronic copies of required textbooks and to provide awards to faculty members to adopt, adapt, or create alternative materials. An update of our strategic plan encouraged an evaluation that would help the library realize the impact of these programs on the campus community and determine future areas of growth. Evaluation strategies focused on surveys and interviews in addition to data about library materials provided and the courses served. The current evaluation will guide future library efforts in light of recent changes to the campus bookstore.
This study investigates university students' perceptions and use of religious resources in an academic library. A questionnaire was administered to 537 students. Most respondents (85.1%) considered libraries appropriate for religious research, and 83.8% did not view libraries as biased toward particular religions. Gender differences were observed, with male students more likely than females to use electronic resources and consult librarians for religious enquiries. The most frequently used resources were the Holy Bible/Quran and textbooks by religious authors, while librarians were the least utilized source.
The notion of ghettoization, or "the gathering and then isolating a topic rather than integrating" them into their appropriate discourses, has been a longstanding critique within the library community. Despite increasing efforts within academic libraries to apply DEIA-related practices to collections initiatives, the literature related to the ghettoization of materials remains largely theoretical in nature. A series of significant space improvements and book moves presented the Binghamton University Libraries (BUL) with an opportunity to reenvision the layout of its on-campus circulating collection. One initiative under consideration was whether the integration of standalone foreign language collections into the general circulating collection would lead to increased accessibility of those materials and a more inclusive collection in general. To help situate the question, a circulation analysis was conducted that measured the usage of standalone foreign language collections in comparison to foreign language materials that are already interfiled with the general collection. While no conclusive results can be drawn from the analysis today, BUL decided to integrate all standalone foreign language collections into the general collection with the goal of exploring the change's effect on future circulation statistics, amongst other considerations. This article explains BUL's current context, introduces the related ways other institutions are applying DEIA-related practices into their collections activities, provides details and limitations of the circulation analysis, and discusses next steps for BUL's collections plans. Future research to build upon this case study is also proposed.
This study examines the availability of gender studies resources in academic libraries across Kazakhstan, addressing a gap in the literature on gender education within the country's higher education institutions. The research aims to assess the presence, scope, and relevance of gender-related materials in university library collections, with a particular focus on collection development in a Post-Soviet state. A comprehensive, multi-method approach is employed, including an analysis of university websites to identify gender studies programs, a review of online public access catalogs (OPACs) to evaluate resource availability, and an assessment of the depth and suitability of these materials for gender education. The study focuses on five Kazakhstani universities known for supporting gender-related studies. The findings provide critical insights into the current state of gender education resources, offering a foundation for further discussions on academic library collection development in the region.
