No More Liaisons: Collection Management Strategies in Hard Times

Collection development in medium to large academic libraries typically involves multiple subject librarians or “liaisons.” The University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) Libraries have lost significant numbers of personnel in the last four years due to attrition and retirements, including most of the professional liaison librarians whose positions will not be replaced in the foreseeable future. In addition to this challenge, collection budgets have been severely reduced due to the State of Alaska's ongoing budget crisis, necessitating large cancellation projects. This article examines UAF Libraries’ collection strategies used to sustain a research-intensive collection without liaisons and with a drastically reduced budget

Tree collections of Auckland : biodiversity and management : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Landscape Management at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

Appendix 1: Personal Communications Contact List. Page 182 has been removed. Please consult the print copy held in the Library.Recent developments in New Zealand environmental legislation and government policies are based on an economic world-view where landscape is portrayed as a 'natural' resource. This paradigm largely ignores the human-made urban landscape where the highest proportion of population live. Our national legislation pays little attention to urban vegetation in general and exotic tree collections in particular. Research therefore has a vital role in highlighting the character and values of urban vegetation, and in analysing the current models used to manage its continued existence. This study examines the importance of charting and managing biodiversity and focuses on managed amenity and scientific tree collections in the Auckland region. This regional study seeks to characterise the biodiversity of tree collections in Auckland, and describe how landscape management can best contribute to their biological and human-use values. The literature review establishes the importance and values of trees and urban vegetation as critical to the fabric of human lifestyles and the ecology of the city. It then reviews the basis for the preservation of biodiversity in managed plant collections. Management principles and systems are reviewed along with the legislative context in Auckland. No mandate is established for exotic plant collection managment under the Resource Management Act, 1991 (RMA1991). Management of this resource is found to lack the focus and funding from which natural and rural biodiversity benefit under the RMA and other national legislation. A biodiversity survey of thirty-eight collections of trees characterises the biodiversity in the collections, and a survey of twelve tree collection managers provides data about the goals, practices and tools used in the management of those collections. Results reveal the diverse and unique flora of Auckland tree collections, and establish a baseline for comparison over time. The regional mix of native and exotic species found in Auckland collections is compared with other national plant surveys, and demonstrates differences consistent with regional climatic character and a differing research focus. The largest collection of trees and the most specialist genera collections were found at the Auckland Regional Botanic Garden, while the university of Auckland provides the most extensive range of scientific plant-collection facilities. There is evidence of sequential open space acquisition for tree collections in the Auckland region. Comparison of best management practices put forward in current literature with current practices of collection managers in Auckland reveals some significant issues. There is little evidence found to suggest strategic plant acquisition goal setting. It is also of concern that only half the collection managers used computerised plant record systems such as inventories and specialised database systems. Only one third of the managers had management plans, and therefore documented collection goals. There was no significant difference in the use of best management practices between the private and publicly owned collections. Well-managed collections are characterised by high or specialist tree species diversity, clear strategic goal setting and management planning, computerised plant record systems, adequate resources, appropriate staffing and the use of monitoring tools. Discussion of these research results leads to three recommendations. Firstly, the management of specific sites is discussed in light of a proposed model for plant collection management. Secondly, management policy for the regional urban Forest is recommended. Lastly, the finding that Auckland's exotic tree collections are a valuable resource worthy of protection, currently having little status under the law, leads to the recommendation for the empowering of a national body (central agency) with a mandate for the national coordination of botanic gardens and plant collections. This research therefore charts aspects of Auckland's urban biodiversity with reference to current legislation and management models. Its findings and recommendations are of importance to reviewers of national environmental legislation, regional policymakers and tree collection managers

Ocean Prosperity Roadmap

The Ocean Prosperity Roadmap: Fisheries and Beyond was a collection of research launched at the Economist's 2015 World Ocean Summit. It was designed to inform decision makers, including governments and investors, on effective ocean and coastal resource management strategies to maximize economic, conservation and societal benefits.This set of infographics was derived from the research collection, which demonstrated how governance and management reform can reduce poverty while achieving economic gains, increasing food production, replenishing fish and conserving ocean health for future generations. This is especially true in the case of wild capture fisheries. Taken together, the collection of seven studies creates a comprehensive overview of what's possible to achieve in the ocean economy and emerging best practices on how to get there

Integrating Circulated Technology into the Library Collection Development Plan

Academic libraries are increasingly focused on the acquisition and expansion of circulating technology collections. These collections are often governed by auxiliary library services such as Access Services or IT departments and not considered as part of the general collection. Technology purchases are typically made with one-time-use funds and replacement is an ad-hoc process depending on budget availability. Users are rarely consulted regarding new purchases and systematic analysis of usage is lacking. As laptops, tablets and other technologies become integral to a library’s circulated resources, they need to be integrated as part of the regular collection and included in the library’s collection management planning. This inclusion would enable the library to apply current and emerging collection development strategies, such as Demand Driven Acquisition, to these collections and center users as the decision makers in technology collection growth by continually assessing users’ needs and evaluating collections based on those needs. This poster chronicles the efforts of San Jose State University Library’s Student Computing Services department to unify technology purchasing with other collection management strategies and policies, which includes demand driven acquisitions, ongoing evaluation and in-depth assessment. It highlights how these methods bring users in from the margins of technology collection development, putting them at the center of technology purchasing decision

“I Treat Everyone with Respect”: Debt Collection Attorneys as Agents of Institutionalized Racism in a Color-blind America

How do debt collection attorneys understand their work in light of increased regulation of the industry and its historic structural racism? Drawing on over sixty hours of observation in two small claims courts, analysis of three months of cases, and semi-structured interviews with eight debt collection attorneys, I argue that attorneys reinforce the instutionalized racism of debt collection through their use of color-blind racism. Attorneys understand the state of the debt collection industry as inevitable, denying inconsistencies in their practice that privilege white defendants. Additionally, attorneys view themselves as helping rather than exploiting debtors, in contrast to frequent aggressive action without regard to its consequences for defendants’ lives. Attorneys who act with greater flexibility demonstrate the potential for lawyers to challenge the institutional racism of debt collection. However, the historic and contemporary stigma associated with debt collection in addition to the lack of professional prestige available to these attorneys gives significance to color-blindness not only as an explanatory device but, also, as a stigma management strategy. The necessity of stigma management in addition to the lack of professional stability and autonomy for many debt collection attorneys complicates the potential for future change

Rightsizing Project Management for Libraries

Project management is a current topic in management, and project management offices are springing up in many organizations. Libraries may not need a project management office, but adoption of project management techniques, rightsized for library needs, can focus scope, define and organize tasks, and manage resources for many kinds of projects. The University of New Hampshire Library has implemented selected aspects of project management and is learning where these principles can be applied most effectively for successful projects. This paper describes UNH’s use of selected project management techniques and tools in a major collection integration and relocation project

Environment, Health and Wealth: Towards an Analysis of Municipal Solid Waste Management in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

The management of municipal solid waste is one of the challenges facing the developing countries because governments, institutions, and private sectors have given solid waste management low priority and ignoring the implication it has on the general public. This is characterized by inefficient collection methods, insufficient coverage of the collection system and improper disposal. This paper presents the current solid waste management method adopted in Ado-Odo Ota local government and its associated challenges. Four locations (Iganmode area, Joju area, Ota market and toll gate area) were selected. These sites are points where the waste bins are located. A field work that involves the characterization and types of the waste generated, and frequency of collection from each site was carried out. A representative sample of 280 kg was used for the waste characterization and the result shows that about 64% of the wastes are recyclable with lots of organic waste that comprises of food and agricultural waste which can be used as compost. The only dump site in Ota was visited in order to obtain useful information concerning the present state of solid waste management. The study revealed that there is presently no investment made to the existing development plan to introduce a modern waste management system. The study suggests new approach that could be used by institutions and government agencies for municipal solid waste management to achieve sustainable and effective sanitation