The Kovac's Guide to Electronic Library Collection Development: Essential Core Subject Collections, Selection Criteria,and Guidelines

Based on Kovacs' groundbreaking "Building Electronic Library Collections (2000), the book "Library Journal called "an essential purchase for all libraries,"this new guide not only covers how to build an electronic library, but also how to update and expand it. Each chapter addresses selecting and evaluating Web-based resources in subject areas such as: business, employment, social science, health, medicine, bioscience, law, physical science, technology, education, current awareness, reader's advisory, plus Web-based resources for print and other collection activities. Each chapter offers guidelines for an electronic library collection development plan in the subject area, reliable reviews for Web-based resources, case studies of e-library collection development projects, and a suggested core collection. Kovacs and Robinson cover: issues and new trends in electronic collection development-developments in document delivery and cataloging Web-accessible resources; and the routine creation of MARC records for Web resources in the OCLC Connexion service and other forms of Web resource cataloging, including the Dublin Core metadata project and how it affects library cataloging and searchability of Web resources. They also recommend new electronic resources and electronic reference services. A password-protected companion Web site--accessible only to purchasers of the book--features ready-made, annotated, constantly maintained links to all the sites in the recommended core collections that readers can import into their library's Web site or OPAC.

Based on Kovacs' Building Electronic Library Collections (2000), this well-organized guide goes into detail about selecting Web resources for major subject areas. Each chapter talks about identifying and collecting suitable materials in the subject area and provides a suggested core collection. The book also discusses the basics of electronic collection development, covering e-library vocabulary, relevant literature, planning, evaluation guidelines, general selection, e-library collection maintenance and management, e-library licensing basics, recent trends in cataloging and document delivery, and more. Case studies of successful e-library collection development projects add value to the text. There is also a companion Web site, for which the log-on name and password are listed on the first pages. RBB
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