Creating a New Collections Allocation Model for These Changing Times: Challenges, Opportunities, and Data

This presentation focuses on the development of a formula for potential use in allocating the collections budget for Penn State and the questions that arose during the process. The Associate Dean for Collections, Information, and Access Services charged a Collections Allocations Team to examine the development and use of a collections allocation formula. The team used a variety of methods to guide the development of the formula including a literature review, a survey of ARL Chief Collection Development Officers, and discussions with fellow selectors within the University Libraries. In addition, the Team developed other recommendations related to the allocation of the collections budget, especially focusing on the process of collection development, duplication of materials across the University Libraries, and the rewriting of collection development policies.