The Value of Faculty Book Donations: A Case Study of Botany Books at Marx Science and Social Science Library, Yale University
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29173/istl2793Keywords:
Gift books, Use statistics, BotanyAbstract
In 2008, the author was invited to examine the office book collection of a biology professor, Arthur Galston, who had passed away. The author was able to accept any books of interest for addition to the collection of her library (Marx Science and Social Science Library | Yale University). Of the 85 books subsequently added to the library collection, about ¼ of them showed circulation and/or in-library browsing activity by June 2022, with one title circulating 19 times with an additional 30 in-library browses in this time period. This paper reports on the books accepted with this donation and their total circulation and/or in-library uses. Selth (1992) argues for the value of in-library browse activity and not just circulation data when librarians consider location changes or weeding. Rose-Wiles (2016) recommends including in-library use statistics to gain an “accurate picture of total circulation and library value, and to inform collection development.” For the 85 Arthur Galston-donated books, there were 163 circulations/in-house uses found. The author believes the donations formed a worthwhile and valuable addition to the library collection.
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References
Korolev, S. (2002). Gifts to a science academic librarian. The Acquisitions Librarian, 14(27), 87-94. https://doi.org/10.1300/J101v14n27_11
Office of Public Affairs & Communications, Yale University. (2008, July 18). In memoriam: Arthur Galston, plant biologist, fought use of Agent Orange. YaleNews. https://news.yale.edu/2008/07/18/memoriam-arthur-galston-plant-biologist-fought-use-agent-orange
Rose-Wiles, L. M., & Irwin, J. P. (2016). An old horse revived? In-house use of print books at Seton Hall University. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 42(3), 207-214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2016.02.012
Selth, J., Koller, N., & Briscoe, P. (1992). The use of books within the library. College & Research Libraries, 53(3):197-205 https://doi.org/10.5860/crl_53_03_197
Troher, M. (2022, August 10). In retrospect: Arthur Galston and the fight against Agent Orange. The Daily Illini. https://dailyillini.com/news-stories/longform/2022/08/10/agent-orange/
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