1 / 13

Evolving Digital Collections at Harvard Science Libraries: A Comprehensive Perspective

This overview by Michael Leach, Head of Collection Development at Cabot Science Library, Harvard University, discusses the evolution of digital collections. It addresses the decline in usage of specific indexes and the increasing reliance on Google Scholar. The shift from print to electronic journals and books is highlighted, with ongoing evaluations of titles and packages due to budget constraints. The paper also examines eJournal packages and eBook usage patterns, along with emerging challenges in data management and integration efforts for seamless access for patrons.

galya
Download Presentation

Evolving Digital Collections at Harvard Science Libraries: A Comprehensive Perspective

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Evolving Digital Collectionsat the Harvard Science Libraries: A Perspective By Michael Leach Head, Collection Development Cabot Science Library Harvard University

  2. Overview • Indexes/Abstracts • eJournals • eBooks • Data • Integration M. Leach 1 June 2012

  3. Indexes/Abstracts • Talking about INSPEC, BIOSIS, PsychInfo, Web of Science/Knowledge, etc. • Seeing a drop in usage for some of the specific, subject based packages • May cancel some in near future (2-3 yrs) • WOS still have heavy/increased usage • GoogleScholar is fast becoming the “replacement” for many Indexes/Abstracts M. Leach 1 June 2012

  4. eJournals • Cancelling print in favor of “e” • Like most libraries • New titles only “purchased” in “e” • Yes, we still get new materials • Budget restrictions • Again, like most libraries • Evaluation of titles and packages ongoing • Cancellations are ongoing M. Leach 1 June 2012

  5. eJournal Packages • Some are “complete” • E.g. Springer • Others are title-by-title • E.g. Elsevier • Most “big package” deals are: • One year • Negotiated every year • Internally & externally • Harvard Library is a “consortium” unto itself M. Leach 1 June 2012

  6. eJournal Packages • Increasing use each year • Based on COUNTER reports • Drop in cost/use for most packages • Of course, package cost goes up each year • Overlap between publisher and aggregator packages are a concern M. Leach 1 June 2012

  7. eBooks • Currently have packages from Springer, Oxford U. Press, Safari, etc. • Many individual titles “purchased” • Also have aggregator purchases • Issues of overlap • No patron driven acquisitions • Due to complexity of internal collection $$ M. Leach 1 June 2012

  8. eBooks • Heavy usage (COUNTER) • Especially Safari! • Cost/use on par with eJournals • Use of “package titles” showing unexpected subject area usage • E.g. urban environments • MARC records from vendors/publishers • Quality varies M. Leach 1 June 2012

  9. eBooks • Challenges regarding addition of new titles to a given package/platform • And removal of titles • E.g. the “Safari” issue • Printing can also be an issue: • Some platforms limit amount • Chapter by chapter vs. whole book • When to get print vs. “e” • Or get both! M. Leach 1 June 2012

  10. Data • Data Management is in its “infancy” • Pilot projects have begun • E.g. Dataverse • Trained librarians is an issue • We have a “core” but need many more • Train-the-trainer has begun • Outreach to faculty • Challenging! M. Leach 1 June 2012

  11. Data Continued • Metadata • Hard to gather automatically • Manual entry is labor intensive • Level of “preservation” • Have yet to detail • Working on “procedures” • Costs: still unknown • Especially over time M. Leach 1 June 2012

  12. Integration • Access is still a challenge • ILS is primary platform • “e-resource” discovery page(s) • Google/Scholar • Patrons appear to want seamless access • Regardless of format or type of info/data • And managed by various citation and similar tools (RefWorks, Mendeley, etc.) M. Leach 1 June 2012

  13. Thank you! Contact information: Michael Leach mrleach@fas.harvard.edu 617-495-0791 M. Leach 1 June 2012

More Related