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College and Research Libraries
May 2005, Vol. 66, No. 3

Book Review

Burgett, James, John Haar, and Linda L. Phillips. Collaborative Collection Development: A Practical Guide for Your Library. Chicago: ALA, 2004. 216p. alk. paper, $42 (ISBN 0838908810). LC 2004-4817.

The rising cost of library materials over the past few decades has increased the need for libraries to explore collection-building partnerships. Burgett, Haar, and Phillips have drawn from a large body of literature regarding the numerous collaborative collection projects in existence to present a broad overview of collaborative collection development (CCD). They define CCD as "multiple libraries coordinating the development and management of their collections with the goal of building broader, more useful combined collections than any library in the group could build individually."

The problem is threefold. Libraries are dealing with static or decreasing budgets, higher material prices, and more material available for purchase. Although CCD programs have been in existence for many years, current realities have created a greater need for more collaboration; thus, many libraries are currently participating in a CCD program or are seeking to establish new collaborations.

Drawing on their experiences as collection development leaders in academic libraries and on successful collaborations such as the Triangle Research Libraries Network (TRLN) and the Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK), the authors set out to provide a practical guide for starting a CCD program. The book begins with an overview of the past, present, and future of CCD, which is followed by a chapter on the many barriers to and benefits of collaboration. Subsequent chapters cover the fundamentals of CCD; the numerous varieties of CCD; prerequisites to initiating and sustaining a CCD program; strategies, governance, economics, promotion, publicity, assessment, and evaluation of CCD; and the local creation of sustainable CCD programs. Several sidebars are included that cover a wide variety of information ranging from bibliographies for further reading to a list of tools librarians can use to publicize their collaborative programs.

Brugett, Haar, and Phillips are particularly effective in providing the reader with an overview of the history and the major players and initiatives that have resulted in the current state of CCD. Major landmarks in CCD, for example, establishment of national scholarly and bibliographic support groups such as the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), Center for Research Libraries (CRL), Research Libraries Group (RLG), and many international collecting programs such as the Farmington Plan, and the Global Resources Program, are discussed to provide a foundation for future collaborative programs.

The purpose of the book is to provide a practical approach to starting a successful CCD program. One drawback is the lack of examples of unsuccessful programs. The text would be more comprehensive if it had covered some of the consequences librarians faced when they did not consider some of the issues discussed throughout the book.

Due to the extensive amount of historical information included, this book might give the impression of being more theoretical or scholarly than practical. The book is not a how-to-do-it, step-by-step outline for starting a CCD program, but it does provide a valuable framework with examples and a discussion of issues that must be considered when starting a CCD program. The authors accomplish their goal of "bringing together in one place the essential components for starting and sustaining a collaborative CCD program."

As libraries continually try to balance the reality of less buying power against increases in the quantity and price of materials while simultaneously trying to fulfill their obligations to meet users’ needs, more institutions will find it necessary to engage in collaborative collecting programs. The authors have made a valuable contribution to the profession by sharing their experiences and condensing the complex issues surrounding collaborative collection programs into a guide that addresses problems that librarians face daily.—Terry B. Hill, North Carolina State University.