The collection policy reborn: a practical application of web‐based documentation

Abstract

Purpose

Aims to compare and contrast different collection policies and shows a practical application of web‐based documentation.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is a case study and general review that discusses how significant numbers of libraries today are posting collection policies on the web, how these policies may differ in form and practice from those of the past, and how the Howard‐Tilton Memorial Library at Tulane University developed and applied one such policy of its own. It also discusses examples of relevant literature and other collection policy web sites.

Findings

Its implications point to the value of developing sets of narrative collection policy statements focusing on specific academic disciplines and of beginning the policy‐making process with an assessment of the academic profile of the university that the library supports.

Originality/value

General discussion of collection policies has been absent from the literature for some time and the article should be valuable to those libraries without collection policies or those with older printed policies languishing in file cabinets.

Citation

Corrigan, A. (2005), "The collection policy reborn: a practical application of web‐based documentation", Collection Building, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 65-69. https://doi.org/10.1108/01604950510592689