Collection development procedure adopted for acquisition of EIRs across agricultural libraries of northern India
| Date | 09 October 2018 |
| Published date | 09 October 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/CC-04-2017-0012 |
| Pages | 1-5 |
| Author | Nazir Ahmad Bhat,Shabir Ahmad |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Collection building & management |
Collection development procedure adopted for
acquisition of EIRs across agricultural libraries
of northern India
Nazir Ahmad Bhat
University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, India, and
Shabir Ahmad Ganaie
Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore the change(s) brought about by the advent of electronic information resources in the overall
collection development process across agricultural libraries of northern India.
Design/methodology/approach –A survey was conducted in 2015 by using a questionnaire as a data collection tool. The investigator also
interacted with the librarians through telephone and also availed the e-mail service for required correspondence.
Findings –There is a major change in the identification, selection and acquisition procedures across agricultural libraries of northern India, as the
majority of these libraries are seen to adhere to an onsite demo of products and servic es, as the publishers/vendors to set online trial for ample of
time before any decision is taken. The libraries are also seen to take advantage of e-mail correspondence to identify, select and acquire best possible
information products against utmost economical costs. The responsibility of identifying and selecting the required items devolves mainly with
scientists/subject experts, whereas the requisitions of students and suggestions of library staff are comparatively taken as lesser cognisance, while
executing this job Library advisory committee is the most prominent authority responsible for final approval of the purchase of e-resources, while
“Heads of Divisions”also play a considerable role in this regard.
Research limitations/implications –Only seven agricultural libraries have been taken as a sample. Moreover, the work is confined to only four
aspects, i.e. the identification, selection and acquisition procedures adopted and the authorities responsible for carrying out the job. Other aspects
like that of adoption of proper collection development; policy and the criteria used for selection; and acquisition of information also need to be
studied. Similar studies need to be conducted in other parts of India and also across libraries of other domains of knowledge.
Originality/value –This is a first work of its nature in northern India with its domain as agricultural libraries. The findings will help the librarians
and the library advisory committees to decide on logical grounds about the identification, selection and acquisition procedures adopted at present
and look forward for bringing about the uniformity and improvement in the process and make changes in the policy to make room for efficient
acquisition of information resources.
Keywords Electronic information resources (EIRs), Impact of EIRs, Acquisition of EIRs, Agricultural libraries of northern India, Identification of EIRs,
Selection of EIRs
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
The process of collection development starts from identification
of an information resource and its selection by subject experts
and the efforts of library staff to identify and adopt the most
suitable mode of identification, selection and acquisition. The
advent of electronic information resources (EIRs) along with the
associated ICT infrastructure is observed to continuously bring
about one or another change in almost every library activity. The
advent of electronic form of information resources has made it
mandatory for the librarians to change their selection and
collection development strategies. It is because of the fact that the
nature, constitution and mode of availability, mode of storage
and delivery, quantum and cost, opportunities of sharing and
communication, etc. have registered a remarkable change.
Identification of an information resource has become easy, fast,
flexible and economical in the sense that a large number of
catalogues displaying lists of information resources pertaining to
a particular subject are readily available over the internet.
Therefore, whenever a subject expert intends to prepare a list of
information resources for procurement, he does not have to
wander from place to place or from library to library to collect
bibliographical details and compile such list. Moreover, at
present, the publishers have kept the librarians on their mailing
lists and keep them apprised about the newly published
information resources through e-mail alerts. The librarians in
turn immediately route these lists to teachers, scholars and
sometimes even to students of specific disciplines through
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on
Emerald Insight at: www.emeraldinsight.com/2514-9326.htm
Collection and Curation
39/1 (2020) 1–5
© Emerald Publishing Limited [ISSN 2514-9326]
[DOI 10.1108/CC-04-2017-0012]
Received 7 April 2017
Revised 11 November 2017
Accepted 4 January 2018
1
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