Diversity in collection development: Comparing access strategies to alternative press periodicals

Abstract

This study compares methods of providing access to diverse points of view as represented by journals indexed in Alternative Press Index (API). To determine University at Albany patron access to nonmainstream periodicals, local print subscriptions, expedited interlibrary loan through resource-sharing consortia, and electronic full-text packages were compared to periodicals listed in API. Electronic full-text packages provide some added access to nonmainstream journals. However, much greater access was found to be provided by participation in resource-sharing networks.