Building Distinctive Collections: A Survey of Association of Research Libraries’ Member Institutions Acquisitions Infrastructure

Moon Kim, M. Angel Diaz, Betsaida M. Reyes, Florence Nthiira Mugambi, Paolo P. Gujilde

Abstract

This study explores how acquisitions practices and infrastructure influence building diverse distinctive collections within Association of Research Libraries (ARL) member institutions. Through an environmental scan of the existing acquisitions practices within ARL institutions, this study interrogates the collections-based methodologies that are utilized to purchase distinctive collections resources. The researchers analyze the aggregate acquisition methods from the survey, and the results inform new ways to decenter dominant narratives and Western ways of collecting. The study also aims to incorporate values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility into the acquisitions program to build distinctive collections and set best practices in building diverse collections moving forward.

Keywords

Acquisitions and Collection Development; Distinctive Collections; Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

References

“Acquisition.” In Dictionary of Archives Terminology. Society of American Archivists. Accessed September 13, 2021. https://dictionary.archivists.org/entry/acquisition.html.

Anderson, Rick. “Can’t Buy Us Love: The Declining Importance of Library Books and the Rising Importance of Special Collections.” Ithaka S+R. Ithaka S+R, August 1, 2013. https://doi.org/10.18665/sr.24613.

ARL Working Group on Special Collection. “Special Collections in ARL Libraries: A Discussion Report from the ARL Working Group on Special Collections.” Association of Research Libraries, March 2009. https://www.arl.org/resources/special-collections-in-arl-libraries-a-discussion-report-from-the-arl-working-group-on-special-collections/.

Baildon, Michelle, Dana Hamlin, Czeslaw Jankowski, Rhonda Kauffman, Julia Lanigan, Michelle Miller, Jessica Venlet, and Ann Marie Willer. “Creating a Social Justice Mindset: Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice in the Collections Directorate of the MIT Libraries.” Report, February 9, 2017. https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/108771.

Barker, Nicolas. “Introduction.” In Celebrating Research. Washington DC: ARL, 2007. http://www.celebratingresearch.org/intro/intro.html.

Blume, Rachel, and Allyson Roylance. “Decolonization in Collection Development: Developing an Authentic Authorship Workflow.” The Journal of Academic Librarianship 46, no. 5 (September 1, 2020): 102175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2020.102175.

Bowers, Jennifer, Katherine Crowe, and Peggy Keeran. “‘If You Want the History of a White Man, You Go to the Library’ : Critiquing Our Legacy, Addressing Our Library Collections Gaps.” Collection Management 42, no. 3–4 (October 2, 2017): 159–79. https://doi.org/10.1080/01462679.2017.1329104.

Carter, Lisa R., and Beth M. Whittaker. “Area Studies and Special Collections: Shared Challenges, Shared Strength.” Portal: Libraries and the Academy 15, no. 2 (2015): 353–73. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2015.0017.

Caswell, Michelle. “Teaching to Dismantle White Supremacy in Archives.” The Library Quarterly 87, no. 3 (June 8, 2017): 222–35. https://doi.org/10.1086/692299.

Conner-Gaten, Aisha, Kristyn Caragher, and Tracy Drake. “Collections Decoded: Reflections and Strategies for Anti-Racist Collection Development.” In LMU Librarian Publications & Presentations, Vol. 137, 2017. https://digitalcommons.lmu.edu/librarian_pubs/137.

“Creator.” In Dictionary of Archives Terminology. Society of American Archivists. Accessed May 23, 2023. https://dictionary.archivists.org/entry/creator.html.

Cronenwett, Philip N., Kevin Osborn, and Samuel A. Streit. Celebrating Research: Rare and Special Collections from the Membership of the Association of Research Libraries, 2007. https://www.nhbs.com/celebrating-research-book.

Cruz, Alice M. “Intentional Integration of Diversity Ideals in Academic Libraries: A Literature Review.” The Journal of Academic Librarianship 45, no. 3 (May 1, 2019): 220–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2019.02.011.

DiVittorio, Katy, and Lorelle Gianelli. “Ethical Financial Stewardship: One Library’s Examination of Vendors’ Business Practices.” In the Library with the Lead Pipe, March 31, 2021. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2021/ethical-financial-stewardship/.

Dollar, Daniel, Gregory Eow, Julie Linden, and Melissa Grafe. “Distinctive Collections: The Space Between ‘General’ and ‘Special’ Collections and Implications for Collection Development.” In Charleston Conference Proceedings, 139–44. Purdue University Press, 2012. https://doi.org/10.5703/1288284315094.

Education Committee of the Acquisitions Section. “Core Competencies for Acquisitions Professionals.” Report. Association for Library Collections & Technical Services, May 2018. https://alair.ala.org/handle/11213/9058.

Jahnke, Lori M., Kyle Tanaka, and Christopher A. Palazzolo. “Ideology, Policy, and Practice: Structural Barriers to Collections Diversity in Research and College Libraries.” College & Research Libraries 83, no. 2 (March 2022): 166–83. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.83.2.166.

Jones, Sarah R., Emily Lapworth, and Tammi Kim. “Assessing Diversity in Special Collections and Archives.” College & Research Libraries 84, no. 3 (May 5, 2023). https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.84.3.335.

Kauffman, Rhonda Y., and Martina S. Anderson. “Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice in Library Technical Services.” In Library Technical Services: Adapting to a Changing Environment, 213–36. Charleston Insights in Library, Archival, and Information Sciences. Purdue University Press, 2020. https://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/121480.

Lamdan, Sarah. “When Westlaw Fuels Ice Surveillance: Legal Ethics in the Era of Big Data Policing.” SSRN Scholarly Paper. Rochester, NY, August 14, 2018. https://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=3231431.

Philippe, Jessica. “LibGuides: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIJA): Best Practices.” Accessed May 22, 2023. https://scrlc.libguides.com/c.php?g=858806&p=6153184.

Reitz, Joan M. “Acquisitions.” In Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science. ABC-CLIO, 2013. https://products.abc-clio.com/ODLIS/odlis_a.aspx#acquisitions.

Schonfeld, Roger C., and Liam Sweeney. “Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity: Members of the Association of Research Libraries,” August 30, 2017. https://doi.org/10.18665/sr.304524.

“Special Issue on Distinctive Collections.” Research Library Issues. Association of Research Libraries, December 2009. https://doi.org/10.29242/rli.267.

Strand, Karla J. “Disrupting Whiteness in Libraries and Librarianship: A Reading List.” Bibliographies in Gender and Women’s Studies (blog). Accessed May 22, 2023. https://www.library.wisc.edu/gwslibrarian/bibliographies/disrupting-whiteness-in-libraries/.

Szanton, David, ed. The Politics of Knowledge: Area Studies and the Disciplines. First Edition. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004.

Willis, Gordon B. “Introduction to Cognitive Interviewing.” In Cognitive Interviewing. SAGE Publications, Inc., 2005. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781412983655.

Copyright Moon Kim, Angel Diaz, Betsaida M. Reyes, Florence Mugambi, Paolo P. Gujilde


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Article Views (By Year/Month)