Collection Development

The Collection Development Committee was founded in 2000 in order to formulate an overall collection development policy; to address issues of duplication, collection overlap, large purchase items, selection of electronic publications, and central fund purchases; and other issues as they arise, such as building an integrated reference collection (print & electronic).

Current members

Melanie Meyers (AJHS), Renate Evers (LBI, chair), Stefanie Halpern (YIVO), Bonni-Dara Michaels (YUM), Eric Fritzler (CJH), Rachel Miller (CJH), Lauren Gilbert (CJH)

Major accomplishments and work results

Policies

• Collection scope of the various institutions was formulated
• Collection grid of subject responsibilities and collection levels was formulated
• A collection policy for electronic resources was formulated

Issues of duplication

• The reference collection in the reading room was integrated; new additions to the reference collection are discussed in an ongoing process
• Periodical holdings were reviewed and duplicates identified.
• Agreements with major book vendors were established regarding purchase profiles to minimize duplication, ensure coverage, and take advantage of electronic ordering and processing.

Reference Collection/Shared purchases

• A collection of electronic databases and e-journals (such as Encyclopedia Judaica, World Biographical Information System, and JSTOR) was bought/licensed via a central fund on the recommendation of the Collection Development Committee.

Ongoing activities & future plans

• Work meetings or e-mail discussions to realize the collection policy (e.g. discuss library acquisitions in order to ensure coverage and minimize duplication, establish vendor agreements, etc.)
• Regular work meetings and/or e-mail discussions regarding the reading room reference collection (additions, removals, etc.)
• Evaluating the use of the purchased/licensed electronic resources
• Finding support and funding for the continuation and expansion of electronic & non-electronic research tools

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Documentation

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