Thanks for the comments received on my post in December.  Following various discussions and feedback received, people were keen for a less complex set of recommendation forms.  Victoria University’s single form (covering non-continuing and continuing resources) was considered to be  good model.  We were also keen for the form to better reflect our preference for providing access to resources rather than “just in case” collection development.  So we’ve reduced our three recommendation forms down to just one: http://library.canterbury.ac.nz/forms/recommend.shtml

This form replaces the Recommend an item for the Library, Recommend a subscription for the Library and Recommend a resource for cataloguing forms.

The submitted form goes to acquisitions@libr.canterbury.ac.nz.  We will forward any new subscription recommendations to the relevant liaison librarian for follow up.  In most cases new subscription recommendations are considered during the continuing resources review period however Datasets does consider new recommendations for subscription at other times during the year on a case-by-case basis.

Recommenders need to choose an area that the recommendation will support and are asked to comment on the relevance to UC teaching and research.  Recommendations that support “Research at UC – individual use” are directed to requesting an Interloan.  “Important for the collection” and “Desirable” recommendations are no longer available as options to select from (reflecting the realities of our budget and move to “just in time” purchasing).  Format required is the other mandatory field (eBook, print book, eJournal, print journal, other) being the available options to select from.

Finally, could you check on any links particularly from subject guides.  eServices are also checking for links to the old recommend pages but there may be some links we’re not aware of.

Comments welcome.