Acquisitions: Core Concepts and Practices

by Jesse Holden

As a discipline, acquisitions encompasses everything from purchasing and budgeting to enabling access to materials; and every format from books, monographs, and serials to e-books, subscription-based electronic resources, and beyond. In this guide, Holden boils it to down to its essentials while providing a strategic framework that introduces and integrates all aspects of acquisitions. Using a holistic, hands-on approach that's as useful for working librarians as for those studying the profession, this book

* provides an overview of acquisitions as a library profession, with a discussion of basic competencies, notions of ethics, and the organizing principle of "assemblage";
* lays out a robust conceptual framework that unifies disparate aspects of acquisitions work and synthesizes its practical aspects;
* thoroughly examines content acquisitions in all formats, with an in-depth look at digital materials;
* covers such important trends as the rise of e-books, the ramifications of mobile devices as a mode of content access and interaction, demand-driven acquisition, and shifting expectations regarding paid-for content;
* tracks advancements in technology, including the widespread implementation of discovery services for content searching;
* underscores the responsive service component of acquisitions as informed by user expectations, community feedback, and usage standards such as COUNTER and SUSHI;
* addresses budgetary issues such as changes in services offered by vendors and subscription agents, and the emergence of a "new normal" for budget constraints and expectations resulting from the recession; and
* looks ahead to what anticipated changes to acquisitions means for the future

Presenting a model that's both comprehensive and flexible, Holden demonstrates how technical competencies and ethical imperatives can inform the day-to-day workflow of acquisition librarians.

Genres: Nonfiction

152 pages, Paperback

Published September 16, 2016

Reviews

[Ashley F · Rating 2 out of 5]

In theory, an okay book. Unfortunately there was little practical ad ice and it mostly talked about the wonders of e-materials...

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a useful resource for when you're learning about acquisitions from scratch.

[Catie Carlson]

It would probably make a very excellent book for an acquisitions book, but not recommended for anyone looking for practical advice.