Report

Chemistry DNC: Progress Report, December 1995

Background Information

Early this year I agreed to coordinate a Chemistry DNC project on behalf of CAUL. I spent some of this year gathering information on the state of chemistry collections in Australian libraries, and at the same time exploring the general level of interest of participation in the project. My informal discussions with colleagues focused on the perceived benefits of a Chemistry DNC to libraries and their clientele, when increasingly, we rely on the provision of access to information and on commercial document delivery services to satisfy clients' requests. Despite the growing emphasis on the just in time approach, there are a number of examples of successful regional cooperation between scientific and technical libraries, pooling their acquisition dollars to develop and maintain research collections on a cost-effective basis and to provide guaranteed timely access to information resources to support research.

I recently visited the University of Chicago and Columbia University libraries, both libraries used commercial document delivery services, yet found it benefitial to participate in regional cooperation for collection development, reciprocal access and document delivery purposes (especially in the expensive STI field). In Australia, the SESTICON (Scientific and Technical Information Consortium) is another example of successful cooperation between academic and research libraries to enhance research collections by reducing unnecessary duplication, through cooperation in collection development and the provision of timely, guaranteed access to resources for the primary clientele of member libraries.

From Conspectus Evaluation to DNC in Chemistry

DNC would require some form of conspectus based evaluation of chemistry collections to provide a measure of the quality of holdings in chemistry and would, through regional agreements, allow for the extension of collection activities. A good quality (Level 4) distributed national collection in chemistry together with suitable bibliographic and document delivery services would keep our document delivery purchases in Australia, and benefit clients of Australian libraries. My line by line analysis of the NLA conspectus database revealed that in each state we have complete or partial level 4 research collections in chemistry. Those libraries with level 4 research collections could become the focus of regional cooperation, and would be financially recompensed for their document delivery services. These libraries could serve as building blocks for a DNC in chemistry that would be able to provide a cost-effective library support.

Client Support for the Project

Our clients support the development of a DNC in chemistry. Professor Graeme George, Head of the School of Chemistry at Queensland University of Technology is currently engaged in a project for the Royal Australian Chemical Institute which aims to determine the present and future status of library holdings in chemistry serials. The purpose of the RACI project is

"To ensure that Australian chemists may continue to pursue research at an international level, and have ready access to current information at a time when the cost of serials has escalated beyond the capacity of individual libraries to maintain a comprehensive research collection. RACI is concerned that the chemistry DNC for Australia should be successful."
(Prof G George correspondence 30.8.1995)

Professor Graeme George's primary concern is the state of holdings in chemistry serials in Australian libraries. RACI has a vested interest in the development of DNC for chemistry in Australia, including regional agreements between libraries for the purpose of maintaining research collections and offering guaranteed timely access to these resources. Professor George sent a questionnaire to academic libraries, requesting information on the size of serials holdings in chemistry, expenditure on journal subscriptions, cancellations, use and expenditure on document delivery services and potential interest in being a node in a Distributed National Collection for Chemical Sciences. Seventeen libraries responded, all were supportive of some type of chemistry DNC project at least for serials. There was uncertainty on how to cooperate and the mode of access.

Quality of Chemistry Collections Reported in the Conspectus Database

I received the data from the DNC Office. Some twenty libraries reported on their chemistry holdings. Only two libraries; the University of NSW and the University of Melbourne reported a general level 4 research collection in chemistry. In addition, CSIRO Ian Wark Library, Monash University and University of Queensland libraries reported level 4 research collections in "chemistry serials" and other level 4 holdings in subfields of chemistry. It should be noted that some major universities were not represented in the NLA conspectus database, and would be expected to hold level 4 research collections.

Suggested Strategies to Ensure a Client Focused Outcome

The following suggested strategy has been developed in consultation with the DNC Office:

1. Broadly based taskforce to develop and oversee implementation

A broad group of organizations and individuals interested in conspectus type evaluation of chemistry collections leading to regional cooperation in collection development and document delivery.

2. Chair of Taskforce

Professor George indicated that after discussions with RACI in February next year, he would be prepared to chair the Taskforce.

3. Taskforce membership

All stakeholders, including libraries with significant research collections in chemistry should be invited to serve on the taskforce as they would have a vital role in regional cooperation for document delivery and the provision of access to libraries with quality research collections in chemistry.

Role of the DNC Office

The DNC Office would serve as a catalyst for change by working with the taskforce that own and manage the process from the ground. The DNC Office would provide the following types of support:

  • Collection management information from Conspectus and other sources that in a overview sense defines national collecting strengths and weaknesses;
  • Any secretarial support and teleconference costs for the taskforce;
  • Through the DNC discussion list and DNC home page make the issues and activities of the taskforce known to others as well as providing the opportunity electronically for the taskforce to receive comments on its activities;
  • Provision of an overarching national collection management context for particular subject activities;
  • Linkage to the other DNC elements of bibliographic access, documentary delivery and preservation that have an impact on the efficiency of collection management activities.

4. Broad agenda for the project

The "vision" for chemistry should encompass both print and electronic media including agreed on responsibilities for collecting and archiving electronic journals and other electronic information. Develop links internationally to sites with quality chemistry research collections.

It should also involve a range of interests and organisations to agree on strategies and activities that are achievable and of measurable benefit to the users of chemistry information.

5. Using the 'net as a ehicle of change

An important mechanism of this project will be the use of the Internet to both share information about activities and to operate in an open way that will allow others to have the opportunity to comment on strategies and activities.

The DNC Office has created a number of subject sites on the DNC section of the National Library Web server, and would be happy to establish a chemistry site to bring together in one site, information on the Taskforce and its activities.

Invitation to Participate in the Taskforce

Invitations to organisations interested in participating in a Chemistry taskforce will be sent out to a wide range of interest groups and organisations by the DNC Office in January 1996, with the first meeting of the group planned for March/April 1996.

Communication

Email, with the occasional meeting arranged at a convenient time and place.

Marta Chiba, CAUL Chemistry DNC Convenor
Monash University, Clayton Campus.
E-mail: Marta.Chiba@lib.monash.edu.au


Last updated 7 February 1996

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