OhioLINK Cooperative Information Resources Management Committee (CIRM)
Statement of Assumptions & Objectives for Cooperative Collection
Development [rev. 7/16/93]
As academic programs develop in response to new technological,
economic, social, and intellectual priorities, libraries are required
to respond to ever-expanding demands for information resources. At the
same time, it is increasingly difficult to maintain support of
existing academic programs in the state.
The costs of intellectual resources are increasing at a much
higher rate than are either the Consumer Price Index or book and serial
budgets; for example, OhioLINK libraries saw price increases of 12% or
more between fiscal 92 and fiscal 93 while library budgets decreased an
average of 18%. This is not a new phenomenon: Since 1988, Ohio's
state-assisted universities have been forced to cancel approximately
9,214 serials subscriptions ($2,097,000). While this allows libraries
to maintain static materials budgets, it does not allow them to
continue the same level of acquisitions in support of existing programs
or to respond to new and expanding needs nor to respond to new and
expanding curricular needs.
The shared OhioLINK catalog, including order records, will enable
member libraries to make more efficient decisions on materials to be
acquired, decreasing the duplication of little-used materials and
increasing the acquisition of both unique and heavily-used titles.
Essentially, OhioLINK will provide access to more than 14,000,000
volumes. An estimated 55% of these volumes represent titles where only
a single copy is available at one of the OhioLINK institutions. The
percentage of duplication among OhioLINK institutions is much lower
than originally projected at the beginning of OhioLINK's development.
Based on the shared catalog, cooperative collection agreements can be
more effectively established among various institutions based on
curricular and research needs. OhioLINK will also provide mechanisms
for the mounting of shared databases providing for more cost effective
identification and delivery of information resources to faculty and
students.
ASSUMPTIONS:
1. Cooperative collection development will increase access to
information resources for OhioLINK member institutions and
their constituents. More effective access to information can
be achieved through joint efforts.
2. There is a fundamental shift from ownership to access and
ownership. Cost of intellectual resources (whether purchased
or accessed) will continue to increase.
3. Information resources are expanding exponentially both in
number and in kind.
4. Increasing the breadth of information access through OhioLINK
will allow member institutions to increase depth of
information in support of local institutional programs as well
as programs across the state.
5. Document delivery (both electronic and physical) is a key
element to the success of cooperative collection development
efforts.
6. In order to carry out necessary collection and use analyses,
OhioLINK must have adequate statistical tools. Only in this
way will OhioLINK be able to adequately identify related and
complementary collections and identify the need to improve
specific collections in relation to use. A major assumption
is that collection and use data will be available, as well as
appropriate statistical analysis tools.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Maximize limited fiscal resources statewide. Expand
intellectual resources by cooperative measures.
2. Enhance access to expanded intellectual resources for all
OhioLINK constituents.
3. Develop models for analyzing collections and use in order to
make informed decisions.
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