Patron-driven acquisition: Turning theory into practice

CHICAGO - ALA TechSource announces an exciting new workshop, Patron-Driven Acquisition: Turning Theory into Practice with Ben Hunter. This workshop will take place in two 60-minute sessions at 2 p.m. Eastern on Oct. 16 and 23, 2013.

Patron-Driven Acquisition (PDA) is a hot trend in libraries, but if you’re not yet doing it, the prospect of launching a new initiative can seem intimidating. In this new workshop, Ben Hunter, head of cataloging and collections at the University of Idaho Library, will show you how you can get going with PDA.

Hunter will detail several mechanisms delivering PDA for print and electronic resources and basic workflow considerations for each method. He will show you what PDA looks like in practice, from usage rates of books purchased through PDA programs, patron acceptance and use of PDA programs, budget issues and marketing considerations.

Hunter will also look at the various controversies commonly associated with PDA and explain how PDA is different from how libraries have traditionally built collections.

After participating in this event, you will:

• Understand the basic concepts behind patron-driven acquisitions as well as various methods of providing this service (e.g., vendor-supported ebook programs, ILL-based);
• Be able to describe the experiences of other libraries that have implemented patron-driven acquisitions, including how these programs are typically budgeted for and usage rates of materials obtained through patron requests;
• Understand the controversies often associated with discussions of patron-driven acquisitions such as the long-term affect these programs could have on library collections.

Registration for this ALA Editions Workshop is available on the ALA Store at both the individual and group rates.

Ben Hunter is currently the head of cataloging and collections at the University of Idaho Library, a position he has held since July 2009. His work includes overseeing daily operations and providing strategic direction for the library's Cataloging, Acquisitions, E-Resources and Serials and Digital Initiatives units and serving as head of the Northern Idaho Academic Libraries Bibliographic Standards Group. Prior to this position, Ben was the social sciences bibliographer and a reference and instruction librarian at the University of Idaho and an Association of Research Libraries Fellow at the University of Washington.

ALA TechSource Workshops are designed to give you and your staff the opportunity to participate in a hands‐on learning experience that will help you make the best technology decisions for your library.

ALA Store purchases fund advocacy, awareness, and accreditation programs for library professionals worldwide.