Print Collection: Deselection Process
Revitalized and carefully deselected print collection plays an important role in Trent’s library of the future
The transformation of the Bata Library brings with it a number of benefits and opportunities, including prompting the significant review, analysis and renewal of the current print collections. Following this review, the integration of a carefully deselected collection of the Library’s current print holdings will be a key feature of our newly transformed library of the future. This means that the best of our collection will be retained and students and faculty will have access to all print resources either on-site or through orders from other libraries.
Deselection is the Norm for All Libraries
All university library collections are living collections. They are periodically reviewed to evaluate their relevance to teaching and research, and to take into account new acquisitions -- whether in modern digital formats or in print form -- that will ensure the most up-to-date resources are available for our students and researchers. At Trent, while a regular deselection process has always been followed, a review and deselection of this scale has not been undertaken.
The deselection of print collections is a common practice for libraries. Over the years, Trent’s library has steadily moved to a digital collection model for journals wherever possible, and book acquisitions are evolving toward e-books as technology and publishing models allow. In the face of this shift, however, it is recognized that there is still a need for print-based collections and resources, especially for specific disciplines, like the humanities. These needs will be taken into consideration during the ongoing collection review process at Trent.
Review and Deselection Process
While the deselection of print collections is an ongoing process at all universities, including Trent, the Bata transformation project has created the opportunity and necessity to undertake a review and deselection process on a larger scale to be able to open up additional space in the renewed facility for collaborative learning, research and technology enabled spaces that are central to modern libraries.
Scope of Review
The following materials and collections will be included in the review:
- All print monographs, bound journals, microforms, reference, and audio-visual materials in Bata will be reviewed
- Specialized collections, e.g. maps and government publications, will also be reviewed in accordance with their applicable collections policies and retention requirements
- Archival collections will NOT be part of this review
Retention Criteria
When the building reopens, approximately half of the Bata Library’s current print holdings will return. Priority will be given to materials that meet any of the following criteria:
- Respond to current and identified future needs for teaching, learning and research;
- Historically important and unique collections;
- Materials where dependable alternate formats (e.g. digital or microform) are not available;
- Items which are only available at Trent;
- And material identified by faculty and librarians as valuable to the Trent collection
Timeline for Deselection
The comprehensive review and deselection process will take place throughout the year of the transformation project and beyond, allowing for careful consideration and appropriate consultation. The following is a snapshot of the proposed timeline:
- February – March 2017: pre-selection of reference works and audiovisual items for retention (with hands-on faculty input)
- Late March – early April 2017: Archives, as well as the map collections will relocate to the downtown temporary location
- April 27 – May 12, 2017: Library relocates all circulating materials and staff to offsite locations
- May 2017 – Fall 2018: deselection project continues, with ongoing consultation with faculty
- May – June 2018: Selected materials will transition back into the transformed Bata Library
- December 2018: Completion of the collection review and deselection project
Accessing Collections during the Transformation
Throughout the renovation process, all students, faculty and staff, and alumni will continue to have access to all books and collections, as well as to information technology, and research support services.
The library’s specialized collections, such as the archives, maps, and microforms, along with the equipment and space needed to consult them, will be temporarily moved to an off-campus, downtown location at 225 Charlotte St., accessible to all members of the Trent community.
The circulating print collections will be placed in a second off-campus location (2109 Whittington Drive). Throughout the revitalization, the entire print collection will be available upon request. Students, faculty, researchers and alumni will be able to request books needed through TOPCAT, the online library catalogue, and the requested items will be delivered to an on-campus service point (SC 203 in the summer and in the new Student Centre in the fall) for pick-up. Graduate students and faculty will also have the opportunity to request an appointment to browse the collections temporarily relocated to the off-campus storage location.
Trent’s digital research collections and resources will continue to be available for the duration of the renovations without interruption.
Print Collection in the Library of the Future
The newly deselected book collection and other non-digital collections will occupy key space within the transformed Bata Library. With a more contemporary view of the way libraries are used today, the newly transformed library will provide students, faculty and staff, and the community with access to these print and non-print collections within a library space better configured to emerging needs to work collaboratively and independently in a modern, aesthetically-pleasing, environmentally-friendly facility.
To complement the deselected collection, Library staff are also working on an enhancement to TOPCAT, the online library catalogue, to allow students, faculty and other library users to perform a “digital browse” and have the ability to view information about the other titles sitting on the shelf next to the title searched. Also in the works is a new, next generation library information system, which would allow users to search everything within Trent’s resources and outside of Trent at the same time – ensuring all materials can be accessed anytime, anywhere.