Topic: Acquisitions / “In Scope Enemy”

Explanation: The importance of having an acquisition policy. Indie/barefoot libraries often coming around to acquisition policy need post-library/collection start—how to decide and put one in a visible place? Additionally, what do you do when you get the kind of in scope material that you never thought you’d receive?

Facilitator: Lisa

Note taker: Celina

Discussion Notes:

-          QZAP’s policy addresses what is zines in addition to what’s a queer zine based on content, creator’s self-identification/expression gender/identity. They also have some queer flyers. (Milo)

-          IPRC … would like info on “hierarchical acquisition policies as contrary to the nature the community that may be” – Lillian

-          Acquisition policies are a great tool for saying no politely

-          Collection decisions typically motivated by community building and preservation. Questions: What are the expectations? Is there a possible theoretical issue here? (Jan)

-          The line between acquisition policies and library/project missions are often murky

-          Personal value judgments related to not only the mission behind the collection but also the needs/wants/priorities of the space. “I want local zines that are not off the charts obscene or hateful.” – Jude

-          IPRC, for example, makes sure to place no value judgments even in record creation on “obscene” materials (Lillian)

-          Papercut rarely gets hate materials but they do have a category called “bullshit,” stored in a box in the basement for people doing anti-fascist work (Kimberly)

-          Usefulness in documenting and preserving the historical trajectory of a movement or a publication (this can often mean embarrassingly bad writings, art, etc.)

-          Important to consider the value of resources, “effort into access” (Kelly M.) and often limited shelf space; Sometimes it’s just enough to know that it exists/available if you ask the right person

-          Work that is a “pain in the ass” to catalog or make accessible but then prove to be worthwhile because of one thing (radical newspapers from Germany / Berlin wall). “I wake up thinking about our backlog” – Lillian, IPRC

-          Possibility of prioritizing acquisitions based on user stats, if available. (Jennifer)

-          In the decision to give away collections, “these things need to be kept but do they need to be kept here.” (Katie)

-          Flipside of accession policies = the deaccession policy, and it’s just as important. Priorities shift when there’s a clear availability elsewhere (Jeremy)

-          “That’s why we need the union catalog!” – Lillian

-          The listserv is helpful in the meantime (Jennifer)

-          IPRC has very specific stats that show when and what people are reading. “One-handed cataloging.” 😉

-          Helpful for polices to address why we say no, but explaining why things take long. Your resources have a place in your collection development policy. Managing expecations. (Lisa)

-          Zine “scope”—the difficulty of explaining (continuously) to authorities who don’t get it, or think they do and then don’t anymore (Celina)

-          Tying the scope into existing areas of a larger archive/collection

-          Writing an FAQ

-          Comparing zines as another format, e.g. letters, to administrators (Kelly W.)

-          “Hit by a bus” scenario is another reason why policy creation is vital (Milo)

-          IPRC maker space / donation station. “If you make a zine, catalog it” and gaming approach to backlog management. (Lillian)

-          Are there creative ways to use numbers without sounding like an asshole? Make it visible? “zine purgatory” pictures (Lillian)

-          Note the mistake of seeing “DIY” as “do it BY yourself” (Lisa)

-          Ask for lists prior to donation. You can say ‘no’ before it comes in the mail, but some people may still ignore the website language and drop off things.

-          Keep a listing of removed zines and reasons why they were not kept–duplicate, out-of scope, etc. (Kimberly)

-          Indie/barefoot libraries have the added benefit of using out-of-scope/deaccessioned materials for funding, grab bags, etc. (Cue the bidding war for smutty UK comics.)

-          Useful document: SAA Guidelines for Reappraisal + Deaccessioning

 

Action Items:

1)      Everyone: If you have an accession and deaccession policy, please share it for a future page on zf.info about how to and why create an acquisition policy.

2)      Milo and Lisa will be working together on the above mentioned page.

3)      Lillian WILL remove the give-us-all-the-things language from the IPRC website.