RLUK

University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 3 - 4 April 2000

Increasing emphasis is now being placed on collection development andexploitation, an emphasis made all the more necessary by the continuingcomplexity of holdings, the rapid growth of electronic information sources(primary and secondary) and greater demands from universities, funding councilsand government for accountability and value for money. At the same time, usersare becoming more sophisticated; they look for improved delivery mechanisms andfor even more efficient services.

The information professional needs to develop new skills in selection, exploitation and relegation of "stock",whether actual or virtual, whether held or accessed from a remote site. Thereneeds to be greater awareness of the thinking behind strategic decision-makingon collecting policies. The involvement of subject librarians in the selectionand management of all information sources is an essential part of the process.This is particularly true as academics and researchers increasingly discoverthat the riches in our libraries offer excellent opportunities for researchprojects and bids.