How can information systems support library collection development and management? (2024)

Information systems can help librarians to identify and evaluate potential resources for their collections, based on various criteria such as quality, relevance, demand, cost, availability, and diversity. They can also help librarians to compare and negotiate prices, licenses, and terms of use with different vendors and publishers, and to process orders and invoices efficiently. Some examples of information systems that support selection and acquisition are bibliographic databases, online catalogs, electronic resource management systems, and acquisition modules of integrated library systems.

Information systems can help librarians to organize and describe their collections in a consistent and standardized way, using metadata schemes, classification systems, and controlled vocabularies. They can also help librarians to create and maintain authority records, cross-references, and links between related resources, and to ensure interoperability and compatibility with other information systems. Some examples of information systems that support organization and description are cataloging modules of integrated library systems, metadata editors, authority control systems, and linked data platforms.

Information systems can help librarians to preserve and protect their collections from physical damage, deterioration, theft, or loss, by providing backup, storage, security, and disaster recovery solutions. They can also help librarians to provide access to their collections, by enabling users to search, browse, discover, retrieve, and use the resources they need, in various formats, languages, and devices. Some examples of information systems that support preservation and access are digital preservation systems, repository systems, discovery systems, and content management systems.

Information systems can help librarians to evaluate and assess their collections, by providing data and analytics on various aspects such as usage, satisfaction, impact, value, and return on investment. They can also help librarians to identify gaps, strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement, and to communicate and demonstrate their results and achievements to stakeholders and funders. Some examples of information systems that support evaluation and assessment are usage statistics systems, citation analysis tools, impact measurement tools, and dashboards and reports.

In order to use information systems effectively for library collection development and management, librarians need to have certain skills and knowledge, such as information literacy, technical literacy, data literacy, metadata literacy, and digital literacy. To help them stay up-to-date with the changing trends and demands of the information environment, librarians can benefit from various forms of information systems education. This can include formal courses, workshops, webinars, online tutorials, self-directed learning, peer learning, and professional development programs. With these resources, librarians can develop and update their skills and knowledge.

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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