ACRL News Issue (B) of College & Research Libraries


3 2 2 /C&RL News

W orking with faculty to 
build collections

By Paul O. Jen k in s

R each o u t a n d  to u ch  so m eo n e

E ffective collection development in the col­lege library naturally starts with a thorough 
knowledge of the curriculum. Equally impor­
tant, however, is a good working relationship 
with your coselectors, the faculty. Too often 
this relationship is strained and breeds misun­
derstanding or even resentment when harmony 
and coo p eratio n are desired. To win the 
hearts— and perhaps the respect and trust— of 
faculty members, it’s often helpful to court them 
by employing one or more of the strategies 
described below.

• Put to geth er a bibliography o f  recen t 
faculty publications. It’s good for campus mo­
rale and can be shared with administrators. In 
order not to alienate those faculty who have 
yet to publish anything, include research inter­
ests as part of the bibliography. Update the list 
every three years or so.

June 2 deadline for 
sum m er classified ad s

For those of you who will be placing 
classified ads over the summer, this is a 
reminder that the News publishes a com­
bined July/August issue at the beginning of 
July and does not publish again until early 
September. If you have a position to adver­
tise before September, the deadline is June 
2 for the July/August issue. Late ads will be 
accepted on a space-available basis until 
June 14. To place an ad call Jack  Helbig at 
(312) 280-2513; fax: (312) 280-7663; e-mail: 
jack.helbig@ala.org.

• C om p ile a “F a cu lty  R e co m m e n d s” 
reading list. Ask faculty members to list five 
titles they think every student should have read 
by graduation. Publish the list in-house and dis­
tribute free copies to everyone who participated. 
The publication serves as a real catalyst for 
improved communication among participants 
and nonparticipants alike.

• Pursue a rigorous p rog ram  o f  SDI (s e ­
lective dissem ination o f  in form ation ) for 
faculty, based on the authors or interests iden­
tified by the two publications described above. 
Such a program might include a title update 
service wherein faculty are given quarterly 
updates of book titles published by specified 
authors or on specified topics. Print lists from 
CD-ROM products such as BIPplus or BT Link.

• Set up a system  by w h ich  faculty are 
in form ed  w h en ev er titles th e y ’ve re c o m ­
m ended have arrived and been cataloged. 
Send them an extra copy of a tide’s main entiy 
card, or use your automated system to gener­
ate notifications that include full bibliographic 
information.

• Get ou t o f  th e library and m eet fac­
ulty on  th eir turf. Serve on campus commit­
tees with them whenever possible. Eat lunch 
with them in the dining hall. Stop by the fac­
ulty mailroom to deliver memos and such. At­
tend faculty meetings whenever possible and 
make your voice heard at them. Lobby the ad­
ministration to include you as an ex-officio 
member of the curriculum and other appropri­
ate committees.

Using these and other ways to keep up good 
relations with faculty members can lead to an 
enhanced collection development program at 
your library.

Paul O. Jen kin s is h e a d  o f  collection development at 
the College o f  Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati; 
e-mail: jenkins@clcunix.m sj.edu

mailto:jack.helbig@ala.org
mailto:jenkins@clcunix.msj.edu


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