The imperative to manage print collections collaboratively

抄録

Maintaining large local inventories of printed materials that are widely duplicated at other institutions and in digital form is no longer an important library contribution to an academic institution's research or teaching mission. These print collections have very little use, electronic information forms are preferred, and there is evidence that faculty are becoming more comfortable with remote access and electronic provision. Academic libraries should move to a shared collection model relying on supply services from remote storage facilities or other academic libraries that have declared a commitment to preserve print copies. For a reliable new system of print provision to emerge a network of supply repositories and committed consumer institutions must be established along with a business support infrastructure. Such a model would be more cost-effective, make available valuable campus space and allow libraries to concentrate resources on the provision of services that support teaching and research.