- What is the annual budget for the reference collection?
It varies from year to year, with a large cut expected for this year (unsurprisingly, given the times) but last year's was 10,000 euro. Due to being small library and specific, there is not much cross-department appeal and thus the average budget is small. Emphasis on small.
The budget for each library department is decided centrally so we should have the advantage of cutting out the middle man!
- What was the initial set-up budget for the reference collection?
No idea, as it was set up a while back, in 1970.
- What is the definition of reference material rather than material for the general collection that the institution uses?
The music library is divided into three separate sections: music literature, music scores and reference selection. Some books are debatable as to which section they should be in, so it is more a matter of judgement than any rule of thumb but generally, a reference book is one to be consulted rather than read from cover to cover.
Music has always maintained its own reference section due to being so specific. There was a separate general collection but that has been broken up and the books dispersed to their subject areas except for the core reference books.
At the risk of sounding obvious, anything that refers specifically to music comes onto the music shelves. Traditional Irish music would not be a large enough sub-section to get its own department.
- Is there a policy on donations?
Donations are offered frequently. As for whether they are accepted, it depends on the particular donation and questions like whether the library already has it, if it is needed or not, and whether it will enhance the collection.
Not everything is accepted. Vinyl records are turned down due to lack of space and lack of equipment for them. Journal series tend to get turned down as they are usually out of date by the time the donor gets round to getting rid of them.
- How much material do they get from government donation?
Some legal deposit material but in the area of music, virtually nothing.
- How do you find/review resources for the reference collection?
The library receives regular letters or emails from publishers. Otherwise, potential new material is checked for in reviews in music library journals and at music library conferences.
- How much do faculty/staff input into recommendations for reference materials?
Choosing reference materials is the responsibility of Roy, so the choices are mostly his. Suggestions from others are more to do with textbooks or music scores from courses. It is sometimes hard getting funding for new subscriptions due to the space and budget needed for current, ongoing commitments.
-Is there a policy on government publications and are they included in the reference collections?
No. There used to be a collection group for government publications but the librarian responsible retired last year.
- What is the weeding policy of the library?
Weeding is done in the summer depending on Roy's time and any prior commitments. When done, it is mostly to make more space on the shelves. Books in poor condition are also taken off the shelves, maybe to be repaired if worthwhile but since since older materials do not make the best sources, they are most likely discarded and replaced with newer editions, assuming they have not already been replaced by new editions as they came out.
Online materials are increasingly superseding other materials, due to space and users' demands.
When it comes to binding the previous year's journal editions, series that are already online are sent to stacks instead of bound. They are bound and stay on the shelves only if they are not already an online source.
Daniel Murray
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