WorldCat WorldCat Collection AnalysisCollection Analysis

Lugene Schemper, Theological Librarian

Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary (Grand Rapids, MI)

Terry Robertson, Seminary Librarian

Andrews University (Berrien Springs, MI)

ATLA Collection Evaluation and Development Interest Group

Ottawa 27 June 2008

OverviewOverviewWCat Collection Analysis allows you to…

Analyze collection strengths and weaknessesCompare collection to peer collectionsMeasure collection against bibliographies

(e.g., Outstanding Academic Titles)Measure collection against predefined

groups ( e.g.,10 Best Liberal Arts Colleges)

Analyze ILL usage

Calvin College and Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary– Calvin Theological Seminary– a brief overview . . .a brief overview . . . Calvin College – 4000+ undergraduates Calvin Theological Seminary – 300 students

Mostly M.Div. or M.T. S; also Th.M. in various areas of theology; Ph.D. in theology (historical, systematic, philosophical, moral)

Seminary faculty and college religion faculty - 45 Hekman Library serves both institutions Library has 500,000+ bound book volumes

(Religion and Theology – 125,000) Collection budget for Religion and Theology (books) is

$90,000+/yr

Hope CollegeSt. Olaf CollegeWheaton CollegeAndrews Univ.Valparaiso Univ.

Western Th. Seminary (MI)Trinity Int’l University (IL)Fuller Th. Seminary (CA)Westminster Th. Seminary (CA)Westminster Th. Seminary (PA)

How we’ve used WorldCat How we’ve used WorldCat Collection Analysis at Hekman Collection Analysis at Hekman LibraryLibraryAssessing Trends in Biblical Studies

Acquisitions

Asian Religions – Collection Assessment for new programs

Ongoing Collection Development in Various Areas of Religious Studies

Assessing Trends in Assessing Trends in Biblical Studies AcquisitionsBiblical Studies Acquisitions

Acquisitions budget drop in 2001 (30%), mostly affecting biblical studies acquisitions.

Present data to Biblical Studies division to advise them of collecting trends.

Biblical Studies Acquisitions 2001-2008Biblical Studies Acquisitions 2001-2008

Biblical Studies Acquisitions 2001-2008 – Biblical Studies Acquisitions 2001-2008 – Comparative Comparative

Asian Religions – Collection Asian Religions – Collection AssessmentAssessment

New college faculty member in comparative history of religions who requests collection development

Increase in college student enrollment in world religions classes

New seminary requirements in world religions

Action – Asian ReligionsAction – Asian Religions

1. Compare collection with that of pre-defined “Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges”

by subject matter, e.g. “Buddhism,” “Confucianism,” “Japan-Religions”

2. Download unique materials in predefined group to Excel.

3. Student workers cull out records of works we already own.

4. Submit list for review to knowledgeable subject specialist(s).

Action – Asian ReligionsAction – Asian Religions

1. Compare collection with that of pre-defined “Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges”

by subject matter, e.g. “Buddhism,” “Confucianism,” “Japan-Religions”

2. Download unique materials in predefined group to Excel.

3. Student workers cull out records of works we already own.

4. Submit list for review to knowledgeable subject specialist(s).

Ongoing Collection Development in Ongoing Collection Development in Various Areas of Religious StudiesVarious Areas of Religious Studies

Defined Theology Peer Group: Western Theological Seminary (MI) Westminster Theological Seminary (CA) Westminster Theological Seminary (PA) Trinity International University (IL) Fuller Seminary (CA)

Compared holdings at a subject-specific level to peer group to identify gaps in collection for works published since 1995.

Strengths of WCatCA:Strengths of WCatCA:Ability to limit analysis in a variety of ways

with a lot of flexibilityAbility to limit by LC number ranges and

categoriesProvision of predefined groups, authoritative

lists, and self-defined peer groupsAbility to produce charts and graphsOCLC seems open and responsive to

customer feedback

A Few Observations:A Few Observations:This tool seems to be most useful for

print book materials.Number of unique materials is over-

reported because of duplicate records (but…)

Think hard about choosing “peer institutions”

I’ve not addressed cooperative collecting issues here, possible uses for weeding, the ILL analysis component.