Collection Management at an Educational Law Library: Alicia Houston & Erich Kessler | LI855XR Collection Management & Development| Emporia State University Overview Educational Law Libraries have the unique task of providing information resources to students, professors, practicing attorneys, and community members. As a result, we investigated procedures for the selection and management of collection materials including books, serials, electronic and other non-book formats at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law’s Leon E. Bloch Law Library (Library). We also reviewed how the Library distinguishes between selection and censorship along with possible ethical dilemmas tied with selection of information resources. Establishment of Selection Procedure To ensure proper procedures for the selection and management for the collection, the Library has completed the following actions (University of Missouri-School of Law Leon E. Bloch Law Library [Library], 2013): Overview of Standings within MOBIUS Selection of Information Resources Use of Electronic Formats The Library is gravitating toward electronic resources. When making a decision between print and electronic, the Library considers the perspective of the user: Would a user be more likely to use the item on their desktop, laptop or notebook? Would the user want or need to actually hold and peruse the item in hard copy? Generally, most Library users embrace and prefer the electronic format. As a result, it’s “a non-question” (L. MacLachlan, personal communication, October 11, 2013). Ethical Issues in Selection The Library’s mission is to stimulate “intellectual curiosity and scholarship”. As a result, the acquisition of books and information resources reflect this mission as it pertains to legal studies and legal systems (Library, 2013). Resources available at the Library may seem ethically questionable in other settings, such as “The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Buy One” (L. MacLachlan, personal communication, October 11, 2013). Conclusion Collection development procedures allows to strengthen portions of collection and better serve UMKC law students and law libraries that are part of MOBIUS. Focusing on areas of law assists with budgeting. Process upholds the Library’s mission to stimulate scholarly discussion and ideas. Works Cited Black, W. (2005). The best way to rob a bank is to own one: How corporate executives and politicians looted the savings and loan industry. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. CEJISS (2008). Meeting. {Online image]. Retrieved from Lindenmuth, J. (2012). Standard Federal Tax Reporter. [Online image]. Retrieved from Luxomedia (2008). Paperwork. {Online Image}. Retrieved from MOBIUS (2013). MOBIUS logo. [Online image]. Retrieved from University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law-Leon E. Bloch Law Library (2013). Collection development policy. University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law-Leon E. Bloch Law Library (2006). Collection development policy. Retrieved from University of Missouri-Kansas City Strategic Marketing & Communications (2013). University logos. Retrieved from How the Leon E. Bloch Law Library at UMKC Selects Resources and Manages its Collection Survey and analysis of current collection Step 1 Cross checked collection analysis with Missouri Bibliographic Information User System Step 2 Established a vision for the collection Step 3 Created a seven year program for collection development Step 4 Desired Impact of Selection Procedure Improve Library’s collection in comparison to other law libraries tied into MOBIUS. Increase the number of titles at the Library offered per student to be on par with other law libraries in MOBIUS. Improved the collection’s tax law information resources and addressed deficiencies in foreign, comparative and international law (Library, 2013). The following chart provides a comparison of the Library with other law libraries within MOBIUS. Ensuring Selection without Censorship While not directly addressed in the Library’s policy, “the incompatibility of censorship and collection development permeates the document” (L. MacLachlan, personal communication, October 11, 2013). With budget issues, the Library strives to keep in mind: Specific areas of emphasis. Selection of information resources supporting serious scholarship (sources with academic citation). Titles that support active study and scholarship. To create areas of strengths within the Library’s collection and also meet the needs of most UMKC law students, the Library focuses on information resources in the following areas of law (Library, 2013): Tax International Foreign Comparative Litigation/Advocacy Entrepreneurism Urban/Land Use Family Law Figure 1. Library, 2013 Images 1 & 2. UMKC Academic Level Logos, Image 3. Luxomedia, Image 4. SearchMOBIUS.org, Image 5. CEJSSS, Image 6. J. Lindenmuth, Image 7. Black, 2013