Charge
ACQUIRING NETWORKED RESOURCES:
RUL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Networked Resources Evaluation/Selection Teams
October 16, 2008
The evaluation and selection of networked electronic resources has become a significant task in collection development for
the Rutgers University Libraries as a system. The Teams' actions have an immediate impact on the resources available on all
campuses and to all members of the Rutgers community, and they generally require the expansion of central funds to
facilitate the purchase of these resources that benefit the entire system.
In order to carry out the evaluation of networked electronic resources, two categories of teams will be established:
Subject Teams and a General/Reference Team and will report to the Library Resources Council. These evaluation and selection
teams are vital to expanding our online resources. The team approach is intended to encourage collection discussions and
decisions that are based on system-wide disciplinary needs rather than on local priorities. The evaluation of networked
resources is an on-going part of the responsibilities of every librarian. Furthermore, the acquisition of some resources
may be undertaken using funds assigned to individual selectors.
The following guidelines apply to all Teams:
- All Teams are expected to interact and collaborate with each other, as needed, to facilitate the evaluation and selection process for networked resources.
- Membership may overlap among Teams.
- Teams may determine what resources they will evaluate, or they may review resources requested by other librarians or by administrators.
- For purposes of communication, a Networked Resource Evaluation/Selection web page will be maintained by the Team leaders. This page will provide information on the status of requested resources.
- Recommendations by Teams will be vetted through the Library Resources Council and subsequently forwarded to the AUL/CDM, who will make final decisions on purchases of networked resources requiring central funds
1. Subject Teams: Arts and Humanities; Sciences; and Social Sciences
Charge
- shall provide continuous review and evaluation of current and newly available networked resources in assigned area(s)
- will quickly respond to opportunities that may become available to Rutgers because of consortial arrangements
- use Central Funds Request Forms and follow established procedures for recommending purchase of networked resources
- help identify and negotiate opportunities for pooling selector funds for purchases of networked resources
- identify and create list of desired e-journals and other networked resources in assigned area(s)
- assume responsibility for publicizing known content changes in existing and newly purchased networked resources in assigned area(s)
Membership:
- chairs of the three Subject Teams will be the elected faculty representatives to the Library Resources Council in the areas of: (1) Arts and Humanities; (2) Science; (3) Social Sciences
- for each team, a small (2-4) system-wide core group of selectors, willing to carry out evaluations on an on-going, regular basis
- in addition, ad hoc groups will be formed as needed to effectively evaluate the resources under review
2. General/Reference Team
Charge:
- following the established evaluation criteria and process, will provide continuous review and evaluation of current and newly available networked resources of a general, multi-disciplinary nature, (i.e., Proquest, Wilson)
- will quickly respond to content, usability, and technical requirements of networked resources that may become available to Rutgers because of consortial and other immediate opportunities
- will respond to appropriateness of content, usability and technical requirements of each on-going and new resource
- will use Networked Resources Recommendation Forms and follow established procedures for recommending purchase of networked resource
- will identify opportunities for pooling selector funds, as needed, for purchases of networked resources
- will identify and create list of desired e-journals and other networked resources of a general or multi-disciplinary nature
- will assume responsibility for publicizing known content changes in existing and newly purchased networked resources in general/multi-disciplinary areas
Membership:
- composed primarily of public services librarians
- chaired by Discipline Area Representative for General/Reference
- a system-wide core group interested in multi-disciplinary/reference resources
- in addition, ad hoc groups will be formed as needed to effectively evaluate the resources under review