University Libraries has subject selectors working in a coordination with
the Assistant Dean for Collection Development. Together they work to collect
and to provide access to the intellectual and physical collections appropriate
to the mission of an educational institution, and specifically to the schools,
departments and programs of the University of Cincinnati.
Collecting principles
The electronic collection
The Electronic Resources Committee (ERC)
OhioLINK
Extending collections through access
Approved subject policies
Subject selectors develop the collection by choosing appropriate materials
University Libraries is an increasing electronic environment. While continuing
to build collections in the traditional formats, including especially paper,
University Libraries is increasing access to vast electronic resources for
UC community members. These include UC specific initiatives as well as initiatives
through OhioLINK - Ohio Library and Information
Network .
Within the libraries of the University of Cincinnati is the Electronic Resources Committee. This committee, chaired by the Assistant Dean for Collection Development of University Libraries, deliberates on the purchase of electronic resources deemed to be broad in coverage for the whole university community. The ERC advises the Policy and Planning Advisory Group, which in turn advises the Policy and Planning Group, the group of library directors of the five jurisdictions of the libraries of the University of Cincinnati. These include University Libraries, the medical and law libraries and the libraries of Clermont and Raymond Walters Colleges within the University of Cincinnati.
The committee considers recommendations from subject selectors, as well as
options presented by OhioLINK to its community.
University Libraries builds it collection with an understanding of its relationship to the State of Ohio's collection, as represented in OhioLINK .
Participation in sharing - University Libraries collection is a part of the shared OhioLINK central catalog, the statewide database made of the library collections of Ohio Link members throughout the State. While developing its own collection, University Libraries participates in building the state collection to satisfy state needs. This includes an understanding of the sharing of materials cooperatively in the State. The agreement, of course, allows UC users access to the same collection. Access is available to a broad array of resources purchased centrally and available electronically through OhioLINK. These include a variety of databases available at the OhioLINK Research Databases link as well as online access to over 6,100 journal titles and over 5.5 million journal articles in OhioLINK's Electronic Journals Center .
Participation in development - University Libraries is also involved in active
participation in OhioLINK's CIRM (Cooperative Information Resources Management)
Committee. The Assistant Dean for Collection Development serves on this committee
which, among other things, steers the development of the collection of databases
which make up a significant portion of OhioLINK's centrally available resources.
Selectors also participate in subject groups to discuss and recommend resources
to be added to the collection. In addition, there is movement toward cooperative
collection development partnerships in Ohio, allowing institutions to concentrate
their collecting efforts in specific areas, thereby freeing up resources somewhere
else in the State.
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