A variety of criteria to identify materials appropriate for the Keep@Downsview program are considered. Rare books and items in special collections are not intended for the Keep@Downsview program. Initially, only books that have no record of being checked out for the past 10 years are considered to be low-demand and a candidate for Keep@Downsview. These criteria were developed by experienced librarians, drawing on their understanding of how collections are used. Some materials lend themselves to in-house use and are less likely to circulate; as such, reference materials, large format books such as art books, and multi-volume works may need additional considerations.
Overall, circulation data is the most reliable available indicator to assess the usage of physical volumes. In assessing circulation data, materials are considered only after they have been in the collection for more than 10 years, to be sure they have had sufficient time to be discovered and used. In terms of our book collection, a great deal of historical circulation data is available; borrowing history information extends back to 1996.
Journals, not having circulation data, require a different approach. In identifying print journals appropriate for the Keep@Downsview program a number of factors are considered, such as whether the subscription is active, the availability of stable, owned online back-files, the age and condition of the volumes, and the language of the journal, as well as the subject area covered.
Last Updated: Oct 28, 2021 Views: 2
