Collections Development

Report on the 2016 Survey Regarding Library Resources - June 21, 2016

A survey was conducted by UNB Libraries between March 14 and April 1, 2016, seeking information from faculty and graduate students on their use of library resources for research and teaching. This is a brief report of the findings from that survey.

• Report on the 2016 Survey Regarding Library Resources
• Appendix A - Survey Instrument
• Appendix B - Library Tools
• Appendix C - Journals
• Appendix D - Other Resources
• Appendix E - Comments

Cancellation List 2016-17

UNB Libraries’ 2016-17 acquisition’s budget proposal committed the Library to finding $200,000 in standing order cancellations to reduce its projected shortfall. The budget proposal, including these cuts, was fully supported by University Administration who approved one-time additional funding of $1.33M to cover inflation as well as foreign exchange pressures.

UNB Libraries’ Collection Development Committee spent the better part of a year reviewing standing orders for potential cancellations and used the feedback from the library resources survey conducted in the spring to draw up a final list. Assessment criteria included duplication of content, low usage, or changes to course offerings that render the content less relevant.

• Cancellations 2016-17

Paying for Library Resources: FAQ Update - April 11, 2016

Since our FAQ release of December 9, 2015, new developments have given rise to new questions which deserve a response. This update does not replace but rather expands upon the earlier FAQ which can be viewed below.

Paying for Library Resources: FAQ - December 9, 2015

As many of you are aware, we are facing a critical situation with respect to the increasing costs of access to information resources. There are a number of factors that have led to this current situation, and we have met with a number of groups over the past several weeks in order to share with you in more detail what the challenges are and why, and to ask for your input in this extraordinary situation. In order to further share information about this situation, we have created an FAQ.

UNB’s access to Web of Science expired December 31, 2015

UNB’s access to Web of Science expired at the end of December 2015. The current circumstances of our budget for information resources (exacerbated by a weak Canadian dollar) has forced the decision to forego a renewal of the Web of Science (WoS) license. Cancelling WoS will save the Library tens of thousands of dollars which are needed to reduce a looming deficit.

UNB will retain access to the WoS back files covering 1900-2015, and will rely on Scopus for current information going forward. Although this will be a significant loss, comparisons of Web of Science and Scopus generally conclude that they are both solid databases which complement each other well, and overlap significantly.

Although the loss of Web of Science is regrettable, it is not irrevocable should our circumstances change, in the near or more distant future.

Further details about the December 31st license expiry.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information, or to provide comment on this decision. We will be happy to receive any feedback you may have.

• Lesley Balcom, Dean of Libraries
  lbalcom@unb.ca | (506)458-7056
• Jocelyne Thompson, Associate Director of Libraries, Collection Services
  jlt@unb.ca | (506)458-7053

Plan for Disposal of Redundant Library Materials - March 2014

Details and documentation about UNB Libraries plan to dispose of print journals and other materials now available digitally.