Network Bulletin No. 06-26
Date: June 30, 2006
Subject: Collection Development
Index Term: Collection Development Advisory Group 2006 recommendations
and NLS responses
Enclosed is a copy of NLS's responses to the recommendations made by the Collection
Development Advisory Group at the meeting held May 17 19, 2006.
Enclosure
For further information contact:
James Herndon
Head, Collection Development Section
(202) 707-0507
[log in to unmask]
____________________________________________________________________
Collection Development Advisory Group
May 17-19, 2006
__Recommendations__
1. The committee recommends that, for efficient and effective use of the NLS
collection by both librarians and patrons, NLS make a concerted effort to resolve
cataloging inconsistencies such as author authority problems and to standardize
simple database entry procedures across applications.
Response: The NLS Voyager database is a union catalog and contains records from
several agencies. Fewer than half of the records in the union catalog are created by
NLS. The remainder have been submitted by Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic,
several libraries in Canada, and other agencies. While NLS updates and completes the
cataloging for titles submitted by network libraries, it cannot review the several
thousand records it receives each year from all other external sources. Canadian
libraries in particular do not necessarily follow Library of Congress name authority
practice- the basis for most NLS name authority control.
Another group of records that falls outside of authority control includes titles that have
been tentatively selected for the NLS program but which have not entered production.
Some of these titles have not been or produced for one reason or another, and we have
been reluctant to expend effort until their status is more definite. However, given the
importance that the committee attaches to the issue, NLS will begin putting this body
of records under name authority control.
In the past there has also been concern that the name headings on records that NLS
distributes to network libraries for use in their systems are not consistent. This issue
has already been addressed with the upgrade of the MARC download program that was
announced in April 2006 and implemented at the beginning of May. Name headings
on records that are distributed through the upgraded service will be much more
consistent.
2. The committee recommends that NLS produce more children's and young adult
nonfiction titles focused on science; history; cultural studies; sociology; world,
national and state leaders; and health and fitness.
Response: This will continue.
3. The committee commends NLS for replacing outdated medical books with new
titles and recommends that NLS take a more proactive approach, such as contacting
recognized medical authorities, to assist in identifying medical titles that are outdated
and need to be supplemented with newer works. Some areas of special emphasis
include diabetes, heart disease, AIDS, and cancer.
Response: This will be done.
4. The committee commends NLS for producing books by authors of American
classic literature and recommends that NLS produce or reissue more books by such
authors as Pearl Buck, Willa Cather, William Faulkner, Sinclair Lewis, Herman
Melville, Flannery O'Connor, Edgar Allen Poe, John Steinbeck, Mark Twain, Edith
Wharton, and Thomas Wolfe, among others.
Response: This will continue.
5. The committee commends NLS for producing books on world history, literature,
and international issues and recommends that NLS continue its commitment to these
subjects.
Response: This will continue.
6. The committee commends NLS for producing up-to-date books on macular
degeneration and other eye diseases and recommends that this emphasis continue so as
to reflect new developments in the field.
Response: This will continue.
7. The committee recommends that the NLS magazine committee convene within the
next year to review and evaluate the current titles with respect to currency and
relevance, with the possibility of adding pertinent titles such as the New Yorker and
Audiofile in audio format. The committee further recommends that the New Yorker
and Audiofile be considered for inclusion in the Magazine of the Month program.
Response: NLS will convene its magazine committee to discuss and review the
magazines currently produced by NLS. Note that the New Yorker is currently available
from Newsline and will not be included in the Magazine of the Month program. NLS
will review the possibility of including an issue of Audiofile in the 2007 Magazine of
the Month program.
8. The committee commends NLS for producing books by African American authors
and recommends that NLS produce additional titles of biographies and autobiographies
by African American authors.
Response: This will continue.
9. The committee recommends that NLS produce more books on food preparation
and special diets, specifically a recently published pressure-cooker cookbook in braille
and gluten-free and raw-food diets in both media.
Response: This will be done.
10. The committee recommends that NLS produce more books on women in sports.
Response: This will continue.
11. The committee recommends that NLS produce more books in braille on
needlework, specifically crochet.
Response: This will be done.
12. The committee recommends that NLS produce more books on archaeology.
Response: This will be done.
__Commendations__
1. The committee commends NLS for producing children's and young adult
biographies and autobiographies focused on minorities, blindness, and disabilities.
Response: Thank you.
2. The committee commends NLS for producing bestselling and award-winning
literature, such Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winners.
Response: Thank you.
3. The committee commends NLS for completing classic western series in audio
format, such as those by Louis L'Amour, William Johnstone, Donald Clayton Porter,
and Zane Grey.
Response: Thank you.
4. The committee commends NLS in its ongoing progress with the digitization
initiative and its effectiveness in communicating information about this project to its
constituents.
Response: Thank you.
5. The committee commends the director and entire staff of NLS for their efforts in
providing library service to the blind and physically handicapped and for their
hospitality during the course of this meeting.
Response: Thank you.
6. The committee commends the staff of the Collection Development Section for its
outstanding work in book selection. The committee extends its appreciation to Jim
Herndon and his staff for their receptiveness to new ideas for improving the collection
and for their effectiveness in facilitating this meeting.
Response: Thank you.
7. The committee commends Jim Herndon and Gloria Zittrauer on their dedicate
years of service to NLS.
Response: Thank you.
8. The committee commends Otis Stephens, chairperson, and gratefully thanks
Julie Harris for her patience and good humor in acting as secretary and
wordsmith for the Collection Development Advisory Group.
Response: NLS also thanks the members of the Collection Development Advisory
Group for an interesting and stimulating meeting.
2006 Collection Development Advisory Group
May 17-19, 2006
Consumer Organization Representatives:
American Council of the Blind (ACB):
Otis Stephens
Knoxville, TN 37996
Blinded Veterans Association (BVA)
Clyde A. Compton
Richland, VA 24641
National Federation of the Blind (NFB):
Ever Lee Hairston
Cherry Hill, NJ 08002-4710
Readers-at-Large:
Midlands:
Gail Walter
Halstead, KS 67056
Northern:
David Stewart
Washington, DC 20009
Southern:
Chet Avery
Alexandria, VA 22301
2006 Collection Development Advisory Group
May 17-19, 2006
Western:
Fred Riggers
Nexperce, ID 83543
or
Sue Walker
Idaho State Library
Librarians:
Midlands:
Sharon Ruda
Illinois State Library Talking Book and Braille Service
401 East Washington
Springfield, IL 62701-1207
Northern:
Catherine Rubin
Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
415 Park Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21201-3603
Southern:
Julie C. Harris
State of North Carolina Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
1811 Capital Blvd.
Raleigh, NC 27604
Western:
Christie Briggs
Montana Talking Book Library
1515 East Sixth Avenue
P.O. Box 201800
Helena, MT 59620-1800
2006 Collection Development Advisory Group
May 17-19, 2006
Children's/Young Adult Librarian:
Cindy Nugent
Blind and Physically Handicapped Services
Mississippi Library Commission
3881 Eastwood Drive
Jackson, MS 39211-6473
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