Collection Development as a Social Process
This document summarizes a study examining how social and cultural factors influenced the collection development process for a women's studies collection at an academic library from the 1970s to the mid-1990s. It found that tensions arose between feminist and non-feminist librarians over whether to create a separate women's studies collection. While non-feminist librarians felt the collection should remain integrated within traditional disciplines, feminist librarians argued a focused collection was needed to meet user needs. By the 1980s, the university acknowledged women's studies as a separate field and gave space to the women's college library to develop a research center. The study concludes that collection development is a social process shaped by multiple dimensions, and more
Collection Development as a Social Process
- 1. Collection Development as a Social Process By Hur-Li Lee
- 2. Goal: To understand collection development as a social process Introduction WHY?
- 3. Social Cultural Influences on Collection Development as a Process Few studies have examined how these factors affect the collecting process and shape of collection
- 4. Historical Case Study 1970 - mid 1990s Academic library system of public research university, East coast U.S.A. Women's College & Women's Studies Collection Development Method
- 6. 3 Sources of Data
- 7. Data Analysis Chronology of events related to 4 categories: American society The university The university Library system Women's Studies at the university
- 8. women's studies is not recognized as a separate field outside of traditional disciplines No research being done on feminist perspectives Desire to change women's college library into a women's studies research library Background Brief No Status or Recognition
- 9. First Wave of Tension: 1970s Feminist vs. Non-Feminist Librarians
- 10. Non-Feminist Librarians 1. Patrons seek information based on discipline and want discipline related tools that retrieve sources specific to a discipline OBJECTION! 2. Social Sciences do not want historical material separated
- 11. 3. Not enough publishing outlet for women's studies research Publish or Perish
- 12. Feminist Librarians substantial user needs for information by and about women Focused collection will help information seeking Policy drafted.... Counter Attack Access Denied!
- 13. Feminist Librarians Unite female scholars commitment from university to a field growing in status Grants and Scholarships Global Think Tank Second Wave of Tension: 1980s
- 14. Non-Feminist Librarians Accept and acknowledge women's studies as a field of its own (outside traditional disciplines) Women's College given a research center within their library Second Wave of Tension: 1980s Desire for prestige
- 15. What Influenced Collection Development as a Process?
- 16. Qualitative but can't generalize Collection development as a process with multiple dimensions Unique because involved feminist politics Need for MORE research on advisory roles in collection development Conclusions
- 17. Lee, Hur-Li. "Collection Development as a Social Process." The Journal of Academic Librarianship 29.1 (2003): 23-31. Web. References
- 18. Do you agree with creating a separate focused library for women's studies and why? If yes, why are small focused libraries important for patrons and their research needs? Can you think of any other interdisciplinary fields now that may face the same obstacles when developing collections? Considering the fact that the librarians never asked patrons what they wanted, do you think their opinions on collections development were valid? If you were in their shoes at the time, do you think it would have been vital to address the patrons about the issue? Discussion Questions