Holistic Thinking in Collections and Collection Development

Description

Poster talk presented during the Health Sciences Librarians of Illinois (HSLI) virtual conference on October 27, 2021.

Abstract

Libraries' sizes and organizational structures differ when it comes to assignment of official responsibilities for collection development and management. Publisher and vendor questionnaires ask whether one has final responsibility or an advisory role in decision-making. An argument can be made that we all can and should have a role in knowing about and providing information resources for our primary users, no matter our official job responsibilities. And more. Especially in today's scholarly communications and publishing landscape. A few use cases will be shared that make the argument that we all have access to and can take advantage of various opportunities- to monitor, watch, be informed about, act on, or "connect the dots" in health sciences collections-related work, in our libraries, in our parent institutions, and professionally. As new publishing trends bring new resources to the forefront, many that are free, traditional print collections and online subscriptions no longer should limit our definitions of collections-related work. Official duties and job titles should not limit us from thinking and acting holistically, in order to also take advantage of opportunities provided by interim responsibilities, committees and working groups. The objective is to look for interconnections, share and repurpose work, where possible, and to think holistically.

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