Duke University: William R. Perkins Library Collection Analysis Project. Final Report.

To enable the William R. Perkins Library to focus attention on its collection development operation, a six-member study committee was appointed to review within the present and future environment of the university current collection development policies and procedures and to suggest changes as appropriate to ensure effective use of the library's and the university's resources. The committee first studied the history of collection development in the libraries and the environment in which collection development activities occur. The interim report included here presents the committee's findings in the following areas: environmental analysis (including university goals, research and instructional programs, fiscal factors, and publishing industry trends); history and description of the library collections (including developers of the collection, cooperation, and perceptions of collection strengths); and current collection development operating practices (including funding, staff positions and responsibilities, and objectives and goals). In the next phase, 14 staff members were assigned to 4 task forces charged with examining the allocation of materials funds, assessments of the library's collections, the development of collection policies, and organization and staffing for collection development activities. The reports of the task forces are included here. The study committee assessed and synthesized the recommendations of the task forces into 19 final recommendations which are presented in this final report. (THC)