Evaluation of Corporate Reference Collections |
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| Abstract: | Results of several research studies indicate that corporate reference collections may differ in kind and in definition from reference collections of other types of libraries. It was found that a corporate reference collection may not embody a "core"; it might not imply ownership of items; it might rely heavily on referral sources; and it might be redefined functionally as a wlndow or gate to rentable information. The corporate librarian may make little distinction between a reference book and any other item in the library collection. Further, evaluation of such a corporate reference collection entails the evaluation of other parts of the library. This includes the ability of librarians to use any source to answer reference questions or provide information for the decision makers in the corporation; such a mode implies that the presence of a reference collection may be counterproductive to the provision of information services. Methods of evaluation were also considered as indicators of performance distinct from output measures. |
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