2016 Charleston Library Conference

How We Decreased our Collection by 40% and Simultaneously Increased it by 50% in 10 Months!
(What?! How is that possible?!)

The Brennan Library at Lasell College had not conducted a systematic weeding in over 20 years. With space in demand, and the increase in online courses, desperate times called for drastic measures. Over a 10-month period the Library withdrew 40% of it's tangible collections. Simultaneously, the staff's focus shifted to promoting e-resources, and adopting the EBSCO EDS discovery layer. Using a weighted collection development allocation formula, the Librarians overhauled the materials budget and designed a departmental liaison program. Factoring in new e-book and streaming video collections, the Library's collection increased by 50% in spite of the massive withdrawals. This session aims to tell an encouraging story of a small academic library with limited funds and staffing that made extreme changes and saved itself from negative perceptions and imposing threats. Attendees will learn about practical ways to crunch numbers and visualize data in order to impress stakeholders. The Brennan Library added seating, zoned areas, and in-demand e-resources for a growing distance-learner population. By changing the collection development policy from "just in case" to "just in time," the Library now provides access to more items than ever before in the college's history. The endeavor involved creative thinking, and attendees may seek advice on how to strategize and make major changes in their own organizations. An access over ownership model gives small libraries the best bang for the buck and a recipe for success, provided that significant changes are communicated in a positive, exciting manner, and the Brennan Library's "makeover" proves it.