 |
 |
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: December 21, 2005 CONTACT: Ed Weissman, [log in to unmask], 607-255-5754 JANUS CONFERENCE PROMPTS RE-ENVISIONING OF COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT DIRECTIONS Collection development officers from top ARL libraries, library directors, faculty, and others attended the "Janus Conference on Research Library Collections: Managing the Shifting Ground between Writers and Readers" in October at Cornell University. More than eighty invited participants came together to reflect on past accomplishments and to create an action plan for re-envisioning collection development in research libraries. The conference was timed to occur approximately twenty-five years after Cornell University Library completed its original assessment of collection development methods and values, and the ALA Resources and Technical Services Division (RTSD) Pre-conference on collection development was held in Detroit. In many ways, these two events shaped the vision and set the standards for the field of research library collection development. The Janus program committee presented Six Key Challenges for Collection Development with Actions for Consideration: 1. RECON. Convert print holdings to digital form. 2. PROCON. Ensure that scholarly publications in the future are available in digital form. 3. Core definition. Define items that compose a core collection in each discipline and ensure that all research libraries have access to the same core. 4. Publisher relations. Negotiate collectively with publishers. 5. Archiving. Develop and implement cooperative methods to maintain traditional and digital holdings for the long term. 6. Alternative channels for scholarly communication. Create a network of publishing structures that scholars can use as a supplement or alternative to standard scholarly publishing channels. While most participants accepted the challenges, there was considerable discussion regarding actions and follow-up. Participants have formed six working groups to recommend concrete action plans for each challenge. The groups are already conferring by e-mail, and results of the discussions will be considered at the ALCTS Chief Collection Development Officers meeting at ALA Mid-Winter. For more information, visit http://www.library.cornell.edu/janusconference/