Editor’s Introduction to the Second Edition (2024)
It is with great satisfaction that I write the introduction to the second edition of Contemporary Issues in Collection Management (CIiCM). While the second edition follows the original after just more than a year, the second edition greatly enhances the original in two ways. With regard to content, the six new chapters expand the scope of CIiCM making the work much fuller in its treatment of collection management issues. Although the book is still not a substitute for an introductory textbook on the subject – it was never intended to be – the new chapters investigate a range of topics including: consortial collections, diversity challenges in the collections of health sciences libraries, prison library collections, oral histories in archives, collection of video games in academic libraries, and zine collections in both public and academic contexts.
In addition to the expanded content, the book also reflects a full cycle of open pedagogy. Originally developed by students from the Fall 2022 on campus offering of LIS 531 Collection Management at the University of Alberta, CIiCM was used in conjunction with other readings to instruct the Fall 2023 offering of the course. Those who took the class in 2022 as students rejoined the class a year later as authors. Those taking the class in 2023 gained both from having the perspective of earlier students in the form of CIiCM, and also appreciated the demonstrable benefits of open pedagogy in practice.
The six new chapters have been interspersed where appropriate with the original 10 chapters. First among them is Juliana Rupchan’s “Strong Together: Library Consortia and Cooperative Collection Development.” The chapter provides a thorough discussion of conostial collecting, which has become an increasingly prominent approach to collection management.
The second edition of CIiCM unpacks collection management aspects in a variety of more specialized library settings and mediums. “The Health of a Collection: Diversity in Health Sciences Library Collections” by Alex Melton, Connor Stobbe and Joan Wilson explores the challenges in diversifying health sciences collections. Their chapter discusses several challenges in this regard including biases in medical literature and curriculum as well as cataloguing and terminology issues.
Prison libraries are explored in Kylie Day, Mikaela LeBlanc and Gift Nwokoloh’s chapter “Collection Development in Prison Libraries: A Conflict of Systems.” This chapter explores the complicated nature of prison library collection in a Canadian context where traditional library values around access to information are constrained by security considerations.
In addition to discussions centering on different types of libraries, chapters also focus on diverse collection mediums. “Let the People Talk” An Overview of Oral Histories in Archives” by Alyssa De’Ath, Lindsay Cline and Lothian Taylor explores the challenges of integrating oral history into archival collections. Their chapter explores a range of issues from acquisition policies and issues of neutrality to legal, ethical and practical considerations.
Non-traditional formats are explored in two more chapters. Sean Gleason’s “Game on! Challenges Facing Digital Games Collections at Academic Libraries” provides a thorough review of the value and problems associated with academic collections of digital games. Monica Maddaford’s “Notes from the Underground: The Challenges in Developing Zine Collections for Public and Academic Libraries” concludes the new additions to the book by investigating the challenges and benefits associated with collecting Zines.
Again, I want to underscore the effort and time taken by all these authors as well as the authors of the original 10 chapters. While class work provided the basis for the book, everyone has put in considerable effort beyond the classroom to develop the project. I also want to thank my colleagues at University of Alberta Libraries, specifically Sarah Shaughnessy and Michelle Brailey, whose support and patience has been essential to not only the original edition, but allowing a second edition to be realized. I again take full responsibility for whatever errors remain in the text.
Michael B. McNally
November 2024
