The current reality of national book publishing output and its effect on collection assessment

Abstract

The WLN Conspectus determines a library's acquisition commitment (growth rate) by considering what percentage of book publishing output it acquired. In 2000, the Bowker Annual changed its source of book publishing from the American Book Publishing Record to Books in Printwith an attendant increase in recorded output. That increase has serious implications for libraries using the WLN formula to determine collecting levels. The recent Art assessment at Jacksonville State University demonstrates how Bowker's change in book title output affects the library's acquisition commitment level, and what adjustments the library made to maintain consistency and continuity. © 2003, by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.