Overview

Collection development is a cornerstone of librarianship; and with the rapid pace that library materials are produced, a thorough knowledge of collection development is more important than ever before. However, with the myriad of choices available, creating a meaningful collection can be a daunting task. Building and maintaining a health sciences library collection can be a challenge, especially in scenarios where there is no dedicated collection services department or collection development librarian. Often in library school curriculum, collection development strategies are discussed, but specific examples of bibliographic sources may not be covered in detail, particularly for health sciences resources. Many collection development books often discuss the creation of policies, budgeting practices, and usability. This book is a comprehensive reference guide for those who will be creating and curating their library health sciences collections. Moving beyond a traditional list of titles, this guide will focus on several formats and areas. It features specific bibliographic information for top resources for a variety of subject areas and in a variety of formats. This book is designed for all librarians, whether new or experienced. Each chapter of this title does a deep dive into an area of health sciences library collection building, as well as covering how to maintain a current collection. This book is designed to provide readers with a resource to lean on in determining the best bets in providing their users with health sciences resources to support curriculum, practice, and other user needs. Readers who are interested in gleaning techniques for maintaining their health sciences library collection will also benefit from this how-to guide as it details the deselection process. Every health sciences librarian, no matter their experience, can benefit from this reference guide.

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9781538172728

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Reviews

"""Building Health Sciences Library Collections"" is an indispensable guide for health and medical librarians looking to develop, diversify, and innovate their collections . With practical insights and expert advice on discipline-specific materials, open educational resources, and how to stay on top of collections trends, this book offers a comprehensive roadmap to building a world-class collection that meets the needs of a diverse range of patrons."" --Elizabeth Ketterman, MLS, East Carolina University, Director of the Laupus Health Sciences Library The book offers thoughtful approaches to the many facets of collection development, including sections on specific topics as well as general concepts and principles. Each chapter features a wealth of resources for the topic discussed, providing the reader with a path forward if a deeper understanding of the topic is required. -- ""Journal of Hospital Librarianship"" This handbook offers a useful mix of practical advice, personal experiences, case studies, and lists of recommended sources. Several chapters provide thoughtful overviews of specific topics, including nuanced discussions of plusses and minuses of different decisions. The chapter on diversity and inclusive collections was particularly detailed. Both people new to collection development and experienced practitioners can dip in to find relevant and timely information. It would pair well with a more comprehensive how-to-do-it-manual. --Erin Wentz, MSLIS, Electronic Resources Librarian, Assistant Professor, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences This handbook provides an approachable introduction to building collections in the health sciences, covering a wide range of specialties including medicine, nursing, and allied health disciplines. It is designed as an essential guide to starting a new collection and one of its strengths is the curated lists it compiles of recommended books, journals, databases, websites, and other resources pertaining to those specialties. Of particular interest is a chapter dedicated to building diverse and inclusive collections, again with lists of recommended titles. However, as the book acknowledges, the health sciences are ever-evolving so readers should use this text as a starting place and should consult other supplementary texts. This open access book is authored by the Medical Library Association Collection Development Caucus and can serve as a companion text. The book under review will be most appropriate for new collection development librarians, library directors starting a new library, or liaison librarians supporting new academic programs or clinical departments. Recommended. Professionals. -- ""Choice Reviews"""

"""Building Health Sciences Library Collections"" is an indispensable guide for health and medical librarians looking to develop, diversify, and innovate their collections . With practical insights and expert advice on discipline-specific materials, open educational resources, and how to stay on top of collections trends, this book offers a comprehensive roadmap to building a world-class collection that meets the needs of a diverse range of patrons."" --Elizabeth Ketterman, MLS, East Carolina University, Director of the Laupus Health Sciences Library This handbook offers a useful mix of practical advice, personal experiences, case studies, and lists of recommended sources. Several chapters provide thoughtful overviews of specific topics, including nuanced discussions of plusses and minuses of different decisions. The chapter on diversity and inclusive collections was particularly detailed. Both people new to collection development and experienced practitioners can dip in to find relevant and timely information. It would pair well with a more comprehensive how-to-do-it-manual. --Erin Wentz, MSLIS, Electronic Resources Librarian, Assistant Professor, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences This handbook provides an approachable introduction to building collections in the health sciences, covering a wide range of specialties including medicine, nursing, and allied health disciplines. It is designed as an essential guide to starting a new collection and one of its strengths is the curated lists it compiles of recommended books, journals, databases, websites, and other resources pertaining to those specialties. Of particular interest is a chapter dedicated to building diverse and inclusive collections, again with lists of recommended titles. However, as the book acknowledges, the health sciences are ever-evolving so readers should use this text as a starting place and should consult other supplementary texts. This open access book is authored by the Medical Library Association Collection Development Caucus and can serve as a companion text. The book under review will be most appropriate for new collection development librarians, library directors starting a new library, or liaison librarians supporting new academic programs or clinical departments. Recommended. Professionals. -- ""Choice Reviews"""

"""A library's collection is often viewed as the heart of the library;"" Megan Inman, coeditor of this brief, accessible, and useful volume observes in the first chapter. As illustrated in this book, building collections in the health sciences can be challenging, in that health sciences is a broad topic area comprised of highly specialized and often technically complex specialties... Building Health Sciences Library Collections: A Handbook is a great resource, particularly for any librarian new to collecting in the health sciences. It provides the reader not only with key resources, but an understanding of the challenges unique to this environment. This is also a useful volume for those experienced in health sciences collection development, as it is a changing field and there are always new resources to be considered. Each chapter is well written and thoroughly footnoted, in a brief and accessible volume that users will reference repeatedly. -- ""Medical Reference Services Quarterly"" ""Building Health Sciences Library Collections"" is an indispensable guide for health and medical librarians looking to develop, diversify, and innovate their collections . With practical insights and expert advice on discipline-specific materials, open educational resources, and how to stay on top of collections trends, this book offers a comprehensive roadmap to building a world-class collection that meets the needs of a diverse range of patrons."" --Elizabeth Ketterman, MLS, East Carolina University, Director of the Laupus Health Sciences Library The book offers thoughtful approaches to the many facets of collection development, including sections on specific topics as well as general concepts and principles. Each chapter features a wealth of resources for the topic discussed, providing the reader with a path forward if a deeper understanding of the topic is required. -- ""Journal of Hospital Librarianship"" This book is a well-rounded and informative guide, crucial for anyone involved in library collection development, especially in health sciences. The chapters cover a wide-range of topics, each addressing a unique facet of health sciences library collections. It's a resource that doesn't just inform but also equips librarians with the knowledge and tools they need to effectively develop and maintain health sciences library collections in a rapidly evolving landscape... This book offers valuable insights into the field of health sciences librarianship. Compared to other texts, this one stands out for its practical focus on collection development in health sciences, making it particularly relevant for librarians directly involved in building and maintaining these specialized collections. 4 Stars! -- ""Doody's Review Service"" This handbook offers a useful mix of practical advice, personal experiences, case studies, and lists of recommended sources. Several chapters provide thoughtful overviews of specific topics, including nuanced discussions of plusses and minuses of different decisions. The chapter on diversity and inclusive collections was particularly detailed. Both people new to collection development and experienced practitioners can dip in to find relevant and timely information. It would pair well with a more comprehensive how-to-do-it-manual. --Erin Wentz, MSLIS, Electronic Resources Librarian, Assistant Professor, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences This handbook provides an approachable introduction to building collections in the health sciences, covering a wide range of specialties including medicine, nursing, and allied health disciplines. It is designed as an essential guide to starting a new collection and one of its strengths is the curated lists it compiles of recommended books, journals, databases, websites, and other resources pertaining to those specialties. Of particular interest is a chapter dedicated to building diverse and inclusive collections, again with lists of recommended titles. However, as the book acknowledges, the health sciences are ever-evolving so readers should use this text as a starting place and should consult other supplementary texts. This open access book is authored by the Medical Library Association Collection Development Caucus and can serve as a companion text. The book under review will be most appropriate for new collection development librarians, library directors starting a new library, or liaison librarians supporting new academic programs or clinical departments. Recommended. Professionals. -- ""Choice Reviews"""

"This book is a well-rounded and informative guide, crucial for anyone involved in library collection development, especially in health sciences. The chapters cover a wide-range of topics, each addressing a unique facet of health sciences library collections. It's a resource that doesn't just inform but also equips librarians with the knowledge and tools they need to effectively develop and maintain health sciences library collections in a rapidly evolving landscape... This book offers valuable insights into the field of health sciences librarianship. Compared to other texts, this one stands out for its practical focus on collection development in health sciences, making it particularly relevant for librarians directly involved in building and maintaining these specialized collections. 4 Stars! ""Building Health Sciences Library Collections"" is an indispensable guide for health and medical librarians looking to develop, diversify, and innovate their collections . With practical insights and expert advice on discipline-specific materials, open educational resources, and how to stay on top of collections trends, this book offers a comprehensive roadmap to building a world-class collection that meets the needs of a diverse range of patrons."" The book offers thoughtful approaches to the many facets of collection development, including sections on specific topics as well as general concepts and principles. Each chapter features a wealth of resources for the topic discussed, providing the reader with a path forward if a deeper understanding of the topic is required. This handbook offers a useful mix of practical advice, personal experiences, case studies, and lists of recommended sources. Several chapters provide thoughtful overviews of specific topics, including nuanced discussions of plusses and minuses of different decisions. The chapter on diversity and inclusive collections was particularly detailed. Both people new to collection development and experienced practitioners can dip in to find relevant and timely information. It would pair well with a more comprehensive how-to-do-it-manual. This handbook provides an approachable introduction to building collections in the health sciences, covering a wide range of specialties including medicine, nursing, and allied health disciplines. It is designed as an essential guide to starting a new collection and one of its strengths is the curated lists it compiles of recommended books, journals, databases, websites, and other resources pertaining to those specialties. Of particular interest is a chapter dedicated to building diverse and inclusive collections, again with lists of recommended titles. However, as the book acknowledges, the health sciences are ever-evolving so readers should use this text as a starting place and should consult other supplementary texts. This open access book is authored by the Medical Library Association Collection Development Caucus and can serve as a companion text. The book under review will be most appropriate for new collection development librarians, library directors starting a new library, or liaison librarians supporting new academic programs or clinical departments. Recommended. Professionals."

Author Information

Megan Inman, MLIS, is the Collection Development Librarian at Laupus Health Sciences Library at East Carolina University. In her current role, she oversees the selection of collections purchases made in all formats. She leads the review and negotiation of electronic and continuing resources license agreements and participates in the management of the library's electronic resources management system. Prior to her work as a collection development librarian, she worked for nine years as the Liaison Librarian to the College of Allied Health. Marlena Rose, MLIS, is the Assistant Director of Collections and Historical Services at Laupus Health Sciences Library at East Carolina University. She has been at East Carolina University since 2013. In her role, she provides guidance on the library's collections budget and coordinates and develops collection management projects.

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