One of the DePaul Library’s missions is to build collections in support of DePaul’s curriculum. Specifically, we are focused on helping DePaul achieve its Vision 2012 goal of enriching academic quality and “creating nationally recognized, rigorous programs of study.” To this end we are building collections that speak to the curriculum, but also support faculty research. This means we need to build collections across a variety of formats.
One of biggest collection development challenges the Library faces is developing and maintaining robust collections as the nature and delivery of information changes. Electronic journals, books and databases have become so prevalent that electronic resources are by far the single biggest expense in most academic libraries’ collection budgets. Successive waves of new formats, including streaming audio and video, are serving to hasten the growth of electronic resource collections.
The opportunities are tremendous. The DePaul Library now offers a wider array of resources than we ever have. In fy2010, the Library added 6 new e-book collections, approximately 52 new electronic reference resources, and 17 new databases/electronic journal collections. Our new electronic resource offerings include databases such as Women’s Studies International, Moody’s digital archives, Opera in Video, and Slavery & Anti-Slavery: a Transnational Archive. We are also rapidly building our home-grown digital collections, creating electronic collections of the valuable resources in our Special Collections and working with the Office of Mission and Values to build world-renowned Vincentian collections.
Even as we are building our digital collections, we are continuing to enhance our print collections, adding 12,306 books, scores, DVDs and CDs last year. Our Special Collections continues to acquire rare and exciting items to Special Collections such as a “Map of the World According to Ptolemy” by Heinrich Petri, dating to 1614 and the “Official View Book: A Century of Progress Exposition,” from the Century of Progress International Exposition in Chicago, 1933-1934.
Looking ahead to 2011-2012, we will continue to build our diverse collections. As we do build collections, we will keep you apprised of additions to our collections through communications such as this newsletter.