1. Great Minds Don’t Think Alike
Carol Elsen
Univ. of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Lake Superior Libraries Symposium

2. Building a Browsing Collection that Brings Results
Sharing one library’s journey to create a browsing collection that goes beyond neutral
Building a collection that is a showcase for ideas and ideals

3. Building a Browsing Collection that Brings Results
A collection that supports Essential Learning Outcomes, like critical thinking and civic engagement
A project that energizes your patrons and library staff

4. Andersen Library, UW-Whitewater
Who We Are
Master’s Comprehensive Univ.
11,000 students
26 Library staff
7 Reference & Instruction Librarians
Andersen Library, UW-Whitewater

5. How We Do Collection Development
Academic Depts = 65%
Faculty Library Reps coordinate
Librarian selectors = 35%
Serve as liaisons to academic depts.

6. Our Collection Trends Print collection use Media use Most online use
Equipment use

7. Who Are You? Let’s find out about your libraries Library type?
Print collection trends
Spending?
Usage?

8. Where We Began: The Study Hall Look
27 Reference Stacks
3250 SF; 40,000 items
Long study tables
Rows of computers
Quiet zone

9. Where We Arrived: The Learning Commons
Reference Collection footprint reduced
Smaller study tables
Computer clusters
Double monitors
Soft seating
Talking floor

10. The Browsing Collections
Media collections moved to Commons
Audio books collection
Graphic novels collection
Video game & console collection
Gaming room
New
New
New
New

11. New Neighbors Undergraduate Research Honors Program
Student Success Center satellite

12. Is Something Missing?
Scholarship?
Academics?
Ideals?
Ideas?

13. Adding to the Dilemma Compact Shelving Collection
60,000 books to withdraw
Great Books sets

14. The Inspiration Power and Morality Collection Great Books sets
Beyond neutral

15. Our Vision for Great Minds
Span curriculum
Great books
Great ideas
Great minds
Classics
Contemporary
Good reading

16. Our Methods Ask the experts “Scope” debates Condition of book
Selectors’ choice
Faculty involvement
“Scope” debates
Books only?
Condition of book
Curb appeal
Second copies
Budget?

17. Our Allies Collection Development Advisory Committee
Faculty Reps from each College
Advisory group for collection-related issues

18. Circ Stats 750 Titles Undergrads – 28 day loans
Faculty/staff/grads –semester loans
Collection
May Apr 2017
Great Minds
24%
Main Book 4%

19. Highest Use Titles Fiction and non-fiction Course-related – or not
Circs (May Apr 2017)
Author
Title 40
Bettelheim, Bruno.
The uses of enchantment : the meaning and importance of fairy tales / 8
Carnegie, Dale,
How to win friends and influence people /
Orwell, George,
1984 / 7
Rowling, J. K.
Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone / 6
Gladwell, Malcolm, 1963-
Blink : the power of thinking without thinking /
McCarthy, Cormac, 1933-
The road / 5
Huxley, Aldous,
Brave new world : and, Brave new world revisited /
Marx, Karl,
The communist manifesto /
Nabokov, Vladimir Vladimirovich,
Lolita /
Laozi.
Tao te ching : a book about the way and the power of the way /
Graham, Benjamin,
The intelligent investor : a book of practical counsel /
Skloot, Rebecca, 1972-
The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks /
Fiction and non-fiction
Course-related – or not
Location, location, location

20. Where We Are Headed: Next Steps
Promote collection
Read posters
Warhawk Book Talks
Display board
New round of collection building
Engaging difference
Build-as-you-go
Lower shelving

21. Questions or Suggestions?
Thoughts?
Ideas?
Inspirations?

22. Contact Information
Carol Elsen
Collection Manager
Andersen Library
Univ. of Wisconsin-Whitewater