Appendix G2
Summary: Strengths and Weaknesses of the University Library
In general, the University Library’s collection of monographs, serials, and databases supports the School of Social Work’s programs through the master’s level. Materials include both theoretical and applied areas, including specialized areas such as social work with children, the elderly, substance abusers, and the homeless, with particular emphasis on community partnerships. In FY05, the firm order allocation for Psychology was $6,559, while approximately $3,800 of the library’s allocation for social sciences titles received on the approval plan went toward social work-related titles. The table below reflects the percentage of the approval plan universe in the primary social work call number ranges that our library received in FY05. Also given are percentages for more peripheral subjects, subject abuse and marriage/family. The percentages are appropriate for academic libraries with master’s programs in social sciences disciplines. The titles that were not selected are for the most part textbooks, popular titles, or highly specialized works, as well as material in the area of animal rights, which falls within the HV call number range but is not a specific emphasis of the social work program. The number of monograph titles supporting the program, 8,000, is appropriate to a social work program granting master’s degrees, especially given the fact that material relevant to the program is also scattered throughout the collection, in areas such as sociology, psychology, and public policy.
In order to provide quantitative data on the strength of our monograph collection, our Yankee Book Peddler approval order acquisitions in FY05 were compared with those of two peer institutions, the University of Cincinnati and the University of Central Florida. In particular, titles acquired by these institutions but not by Georgia State were examined. In the call number range HV1-HV4959, the University of Cincinnati received 66 titles that Georgia State did not receive during this period. Many of these titles were textbooks or supplementary materials; others pertained to areas, such as animal rights or disability counseling, that are not an emphasis of the GSU social work program. There were, however, some specific titles pertaining to child welfare and the history of social work that are relevant to the program and will be added to the collection. An analysis of the University of Central Florida’s unique acquisitions presents a similar picture. Of the 63 titles that our library did not select, the majority are textbooks, clinical material, or books pertaining to animal rights. Specific titles, especially pertaining to child and family welfare, are relevant to our program and will be added to the collection if funds permit.
In 2004 and 2005, several major databases of full-text journals were added to our collection. The Elsevier and Wiley collections each contain several titles directly relevant to social work: for example, Children and Youth Services Review (Science Direct/Elsevier) and Children and Society (Wiley. Also of great importane was the addition of the database PsycARTICLES, which contains the full text of APA journals, as well as several other important journals, from 1985 to the present. The acquisition of this costly database was made possible through allocations from the Public Health Area of Focus. The Criminology database of 17 full-text SAGE journals in criminal justice is likewise of great benefit to social work students and faculty, especially those with interest in juvenile justice or family violence.
Although the library collection is generally strong enough to support curricular and research needs of the School of Social Work, identified titles in the areas of child welfare and history of social work should be added to enhance the collection’s strength. In addition, several journal titles in the areas of AIDS/HIV and substance abuse have been identified and will be purchased through Area of Focus funds. Since relatively few social work students seek consultations with the Behavioral Sciences Liaison, attempts will be made to advertise her services through classes and links from Web CT and Web CT Vista.
Relevant Library Statistics MEASUREMENT | STATISTIC | COMMENTS/NOTES |
Resources
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Number of journal titles supporting program
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178
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Number of related journal titles added in last three fiscal years
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Electronic access through online databases:
Science Direct/Elsevier: 20 titles
PsycARTICLES: 52 titles
Wiley: 3 titles
Criminology: 17 titles
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Number of related journal titles cancelled in last three fiscal years
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0
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Number of related databases added in last three years
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4 (See above.)
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Number of related databases cancelled in last three years
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One. Social Sciences Index was cancelled by GALILEO.
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Number or monograph titles supporting program
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HV1-HV4959 (Social/Public Welfare): 8,001
HV4961-HV5840 (Substance Abuse): 1,688
HQ503-1064 (Marriage and Family): 7,832
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Number of monograph titles in key call number ranges added in last two fiscal years (07/01/03-06/30/05)
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HV1-4959: 508
HV4951-5840: 71
HQ503-1064: 329
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Percentage of available universe of related monograph titles purchased through approval plan during past 12 months (10/04-10/05)
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HV1-HV4959: 50%
HQ503-HQ1064: 43%
HV4961-HV5840: 47%
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Services
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Number of library instruction courses taught for department during previous fiscal year
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7
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Number of library consultations held with students from department during previous fiscal year
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20
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