SHEFFIELD, UK, 20 February 2017—Cardiff University, one of Britain's leading research universities, will use OCLC Sustainable Collection Services (SCS) to analyze and inform decisions about consolidating print collections in preparation for a move to a new purpose-built library in a few years.
Collectively, Cardiff University Libraries hold approximately 1.3 million catalogued items. A collection of 595,000 print monographs will form the basis of this analysis. SCS GreenGlass, a web-based analysis application, will support Cardiff University in assessing how best to use the space of the new library building, informing decisions around storage and retention.
"Cardiff University decided to use SCS GreenGlass because we felt it was the best way to ensure that we can continue to make our collections accessible in the current libraries, and to ensure that we are well prepared to move into new library accommodation in a few years' time," said Janet Peters, Director of University Libraries and University Librarian. "By reviewing our print materials at this stage, we shall have time to explore the best solutions for their long-term storage in a national and international context. Only SCS offers the range of comparisons that we are looking for as a major research library."
The work will include identification of books that are scarcely held in other libraries and those that are surplus to requirements in the University, such as duplicates. This will require the development and modelling of complex criteria related to use, age of material, recency of circulation and other factors.
"We are extremely happy to be working with Cardiff University on this project," said Eric van Lubeek Vice President, Managing Director OCLC EMEA and APAC. "Cardiff University is not only a leading institution of higher education in Wales, it is a world-class research organization. It is key for the university to offer an outstanding library experience for students and faculty. Cardiff University joins a growing number of institutions worldwide that are using SCS GreenGlass to redefine their learning spaces."
About Cardiff University
Cardiff University is recognised in independent government assessments as one of Britain's leading teaching and research universities and is a member of the Russell Group of the UK's most research intensive universities. The 2014 Research Excellence Framework ranked the University 5th in the UK for research excellence. Among its academic staff are two Nobel Laureates, including the winner of the 2007 Nobel Prize for Medicine, University Chancellor Professor Sir Martin Evans. Founded by Royal Charter in 1883, today the University combines impressive modern facilities and a dynamic approach to teaching and research. The University's breadth of expertise encompasses: the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; the College of Biomedical and Life Sciences; and the College of Physical Sciences and Engineering, along with a longstanding commitment to lifelong learning. Cardiff's flagship Research Institutes are offering radical new approaches to pressing global problems. www.cardiff.ac.uk
About OCLC
OCLC is a nonprofit global library cooperative providing shared technology services, original research and community programs so that libraries can better fuel learning, research and innovation. Through OCLC, member libraries cooperatively produce and maintain WorldCat, the most comprehensive global network of data about library collections and services. Libraries gain efficiencies through OCLC's WorldShare, a complete set of library management applications and services built on an open, cloud-based platform. It is through collaboration and sharing of the world's collected knowledge that libraries can help people find answers they need to solve problems. Together as OCLC, member libraries, staff and partners make breakthroughs possible.
