Collection Strategy & Development
This department coordinates the strategic development and management of the collections at Duke University Libraries. Its primary goal is to devise collection strategies that support the teaching and research mission of Duke University while contributing to a robust scholarly information ecosystem. Collaborating with subject specialists, acquisitions experts, and others, the department: budgets for and selects materials in all formats; assesses collection strengths and gaps; collects and analyzes relevant data for collections intelligence; creates and enhances partnerships with libraries beyond Duke; reviews and processes gift collections; forecasts and plans to ensure future availability of scholarly materials.
Conservation Services
This department ensures that library materials can be used by patrons both now and in the future. The staff of the Verne and Tanya Roberts Conservation Lab focus on the physical protection and treatment of materials from the circulating and special collections across the Duke University Libraries. This work includes condition surveys, rehousing projects, basic stabilization, full treatments, conservation research, and participation in the management of collections storage, collection emergencies, exhibitions, loans, and digitization.
Electronic Resources & Serials Acquisitions
This department is responsible for the acquisition, evaluation, and management of print and electronic continuing resources for the Duke University Libraries, including the acquisition, licensing, description, access maintenance, and renewal of electronic databases, ejournals, and ebooks, along with oversight of print serial ordering, receiving, and binding. This department also enables day-to-day budget management and engages with the TRLN Electronic Resources Management Working Group and other consortial collections activities. It also participates in collections assessment which allow for data-informed collection development and management.
Metadata & Discovery Strategy
This department’s work focuses on ways for the Collections Services division to conceptualize and implement metadata management to assure value, versatility, and interoperability with national and international discovery systems to support library patrons’ research needs. Additionally, MADS will focus on exploring and implementing new technology solutions which will aid in transitioning Collections Services into newly developing areas of discovery metadata.
Monograph Acquisitions
This department manages the firm orders and receipts for monographs and participates in day-to-day budget management. This group also manages 30+ approval plans which includes a major English-language plan with GOBI Solutions as well as a variety of plans focusing on vernacular language International and Area Studies materials. In addition, this group copy catalogs English and foreign language monographic materials.
Resource Description
This department creates, maintains, and stewards metadata that enables users to discover and access library resources. We do this by providing inclusive description of library materials across a variety of formats and languages and oversight of related cataloging policies, practices, and training. This includes entity management that enables standardized and authoritative discovery of people, places, works, and subjects in the library catalog. In addition, this department stewards bindery processes to ensure long-term preservation of and access to library resources.