2016 Charleston Library Conference

The researchers conducted an environmental scan of thirteen of Washington State University Libraries' peer institutions. The set of chosen libraries were similar to WSU in size and scope (e.g., a similar land-grant mission, or a veterinary school without a law school or a medical school). The libraries surveyed were drawn from members of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Washington State Legislative Peer Set, and WSU's Global Challenge State Peers.

Surveys and follow-up interviews covered a broad range of collection development issues including details about administration, policies and procedures, the place of Interlibrary Loans in collection development, Big Deals, open access, textbooks, and open educational resources. Questions regarding collection funding sources, fees, and storage facilities were also covered.

This session will report on the surveys and interviews collected and show how they can inform collection managers' decision-making and collections strategy during a period of rapid change and tight budget times by providing details about how other academic libraries are handling assessments, Big Deal conversations, and journal cancellations.