This academic year will be unlike previous years in many respects. While we would normally offer tours of physical library spaces and emphasize wayfinding in the stacks and the like, at least in the more print-heavy disciplines, we have had to shift our emphasis on physical spaces and resources and pivot to an online teaching, learning, and research environment. While we are fortunate to be able to rely on the very deep and comprehensive resources we have available at the PUL, and this cannot be overstated while many of our peers are experiencing severe collections budget cuts, we are relying on outside institutions only as a last resort since many are not yet lending physical items.
As many faculty find themselves having to utilize or consider electronic alternatives for teaching and research, it might be helpful to provide an overview of the current state of how the library collects and provides scholarly resources to support the University’s mission. The publishing world is evolving and changing as we speak, as are normal collection development practices and methods for acquisition.
