Within the Higher Education sector there have been significant and ongoing changes
in the methods utilised by library users to acquire information. In light of this
recognition, a study was undertaken by a project team at the University Library,
Loughborough University, to determine the most appropriate strategy for developing
its extensive collection of printed reference material. Issues of space were a major
consideration. The intention was to base subsequent recommendations on evidencebased,
democratically obtained data. A largely practical approach was adopted with
data collected by means of a series of open meetings, a Step analysis and usage
surveys. The subsequent results pointed to a requirement to base future development
of the collection on a model comprising low levels of printed material with
correspondingly high levels of electronic material and management intervention. The
recommendations are currently being implemented at Loughborough and may be
appropriate for other academic libraries.
History
School
University Academic and Administrative Support
Department
University Library
Citation
REID, S., WALTON, G. and LUND, P., 2006. Strategic development of library reference collections in Higher Education : a case study at Loughborough University Library (UK). Library and information research, 30 (95), pp. 10-24
Publisher
Library & Information Research Group
Publication date
2006
Notes
This article was published in the journal, library and information research [Library & Information Research Group]. The definitive version is available at: http://www.lirg.org.uk/lir/ojs/index.php/lir