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Subject Librarians are responsible for:
- Having subject expertise sufficient for making
knowledgeable selection decisions
- Knowing the Libraries
Includes familiarity with the library’s collection in assigned
subject areas; knowledge of library policy for ordering non-
book formats such as software, microforms, computer
tapes and electronic materials; and awareness of
cooperative purchasing agreements with other libraries
and institutions.
- Frequent interaction with academic faculty and
students, book publishers and dealers, and approval plan
representatives
- Handling of requests for materials
Library representatives send requests for materials to the
subject librarian assigned to their subject areas. Subject librarians review
the requests based on the priorities set for the department.
After approval, subject librarians initial, date and stamp the
requests with the appropriate fund code. All requests are
forwarded to the Acquisitions Department. In addition to
faculty requests, subject librarians should encourage requests
from all library users, to be approved at the
subject librarian’s discretion.
- Consultation with faculty when selecting
highly specialized or expensive titles
- Developing a selection strategy
Includes compilation of an annually updated
working list of selection sources that might
include: specialized journals with book reviews,
books, slips or flyers; dealers’ lists and
catalogs; publishers’ catalogs and brochures;
subject and trade bibliographies; non-print
format catalogs; current acquisitions lists from
other libraries or professional organizations;
foreign and antiquarian catalogs; interlibrary
loan reports; national bibliographies and other review
sources; and online publisher databases.
- Knowing approval plan profiles in assigned
areas
Includes providing feedback to the Collection
Development and Acquisition Librarians on
coverage, omissions and necessary changes.
Subject librarians, or their substitutes, review approval
materials biweekly. Thorough review of
approval materials and standing orders can
acquaint subject librarians with research and publishing
trends. Teaching faculty can be notified of
approval books integral to their research and/or
teaching activities.
- Monitoring the allocations and expenditures
for their assigned areas
Subject librarians receive an estimate of annual income from
restricted funds designated for purchasing
items in certain subject areas. Requests over
$1000 are sent to the Collection Development
team leader for approval.
- Handling of gifts-in-kind
Includes selecting gifts-in-kind based on
curriculum and research needs, collection
strength enhancements, and whether the items
will be significant additions to the collection.
Although free, gifts are expensive to process
and require shelf space. The Collection
Development team notifies subject librarians when gift
items are received in their assigned area(s).
Occasionally, subject librarians will be asked to review
large offered collections to assess suitability of
the material. This may require travel to the site
of the collection.
- Handling of retrospective selection
Involves special consideration and careful analysis of collection strengths and weaknesses as well as
perusal of a variety of bibliographies and catalogs.
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