Presentation to Council of Atlantic University Libraries, 27 October 2014, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton Canada

1. 1
Right-scaling stewardship:
Atlantic Canadian resources in perspective
Constance Malpas
Research Scientist, OCLC Research
Council of Atlantic University Libraries
Conseil des bibliothèques universitaires de l’Atlantique
27 October 2014 | University of New Brunswick, Fredericton Canada
Alan Moore Mulholland Point Lighthouse. FreeLargePhotos.com, 2008.

2. What’s ahead
2

3. Orientation
http://www.bouletfermat.com/backgrounds/canada_circa_1900/eastern_canada_map_c1900_1280x1024.jpg

4. Atlantic Provinces in the Library Record
Widely-collected subjects
related to Atlantic Provinces
 History … in > 6800 libraries
 Canadian literature … in >1200 libraries
 Fishery policy … in > 1000 libraries
Widely-collected formats
associated with Atlantic Provinces
4
Impactful authors
Harold F. McGee
Cultural anthropology
Avg. 75 holdings per title
Eric Sager
Economic history
Avg. 69 holdings per title
 Guidebooks … in >4500 libraries
 Statistics … in > 1900 libraries
 Maps … in > 1600 libraries
Terrence Punch
Genealogy
Avg. 35 holdings per title
Regional identity institutionalized in global library collection

5. Unbundling library services
5
http://www.proquest.com/blog/2014/Meet-John-D-Teskey-2014-Recipient-CARL-Distinguished-Service-to-Research-Librarianship-Award.html
Collections
traditionally managed as part of institutional ‘service bundle’
increasingly, re-bundled as a group service

6. Shared discovery, stewardship of digital assets
Shared framework for managing print collections
6
http://caul-cbua.ca/sites/default/files/CAULCBUAStrategicPlan2014-2016Final_1.pdfs

7. CAUTON
ONCOMING
CAVEATS
7
Scarcity ≠ Value
Est. .5M CAUL titles with a
single holding* in WorldCat
*not a particularly informative metric, in isolation

8. Core & Distinctive Titles in CAUL Member Libraries
Median 5% of catalogued collection is ‘distinctive’
[<5 holding libraries]
8
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Percent Distinctive Percent Core
Median 49% of catalogued collection is ‘core’
[>99 holding libraries]
0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000
Holdings (titles) in WorldCat
October 2014

9. Core & Distinctive Titles in CAUL Member Libraries
‘distinctive’ language of cataloging
9
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Percent Distinctive Percent Core
CARL/ABRAC institutions
0 500,000 1,000,000 1,500,000 2,000,000 2,500,000
Holdings (titles) in WorldCat
October 2014

10. Strong ‘brand’ association
with university’s
Education department
Institutional value of
collection is independent
of its scarcity in wider
marketplace
10
http://www.msvu.ca/en/home/aboutus/mediacentre/news/ccbcresearchoct2014.aspx

11. Multi-scalar stewardship
11
Institution scale
Driver: alignment with institutional mission & ‘brand’
Features: tacit and informal agreements
Ex.: U of King’s College – Bray Collection
Memorial U – Newfoundlandiana
Group scale
Driver: shared stewardship priorities
Features: trust networks, ‘club’ benefits
Ex.: shared off-site storage?
regional LOCKSS partnership?
coordinated retention agreements?
Network scale
Driver: cross-sector benefits
Characteristics: anonymous collaboration
Ex.: registering CAUL/CBUA stewardship commitments in union catalogues

12. Right-scaling Stewardship
12
the scale of library stewardship will vary with available
infrastructure and incentives

13. 13
~4K works related to
Canadian Literature
in
Geographic distribution of 50
most comprehensive collections

14. 14
Largest collections located where one
might expect: major public libraries,
national library, large university libraries

15. 15
Canadian institutions are by and large the
primary stewards of this cultural record

16. 16
CAUL members are an important part
of larger stewardship network

17. 17
VIAF
5 most comprehensive collections:
LAC ID: 0100H3766
LC-n ID: 50050405
…
VIAF ID: 4975240
440
related works in WorldCat
University of New Brunswick, Fredericton 33% (147)
Mount Allison University 28% (123)
Toronto Public Library 28% (123)
University of New Brunswick 27% (118)
University of Alberta 26% (114)
holds the largest collection with
more than 340 editions

18. Coverage Count of Works
Dalhousie University 25% 27
Mount Saint Vincent University 20% 22
Cape Breton University 20% 22
Saint Francis Xavier University 20% 22
Saint Mary’s University 19% 21
NSCAD 19% 21
Atlantic School of Theology 19% 21
University of King’s College 19% 21
“
“Narwhal” by gradesixlinden (Samantha)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/63971282@N02/5825691918/
Narwhal
Strong regional concentration of
resources in Atlantic Canada
Total related works in WorldCat = 110

19. Total related works in WorldCat = 685
a shared regional interest
common core of gov docs
CAUL members
19
Rare fishes
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20%
INSTITUTE OF TECH CAM LIBR
NSCC WATERFRONT
NOVA SCOTIA COMM COL
NOVA SCOTIA COMM COL
ANNAPOLIS VAL CAM LIBR
ANNAPOLIS VAL CAM LIBR,LAWRENCETOWN SITE
CUMBERLAND CAM LIBR
BURRIDGE CAM LIBR
UNIV OF UTAH
UNIV OF WASHINGTON LIBR
BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIV LIBR
UNIV OF ALBERTA
DALHOUSIE UNIV LAW SCH LIBR
ATLANTIC SCH OF THEOL LIBR
DALHOUSIE UNIV, SEXTON DESIGN
UNIV OF KINGS COLLEGE
DALHOUSIE UNIV, W K KELLOGG HEALTH SCI
NSCAD
MARIE MICHAEL LIBR
SAINT MARYS UNIV
SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER UNIV
CAPE BRETON UNIV
MOUNT SAINT VINCENT UNIV LIBR
DALHOUSIE FACULTY OF AGR MACRAE LIBR
DALHOUSIE UNIV, KILLAM LIBR
Rhinochimaera atlantica
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadnose_chimaera#mediaviewer/File:Rhinochimaera_atl.JPG

20. 20
Total related works in WorldCat = 722
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
CAUL members
Mi’kmaq (People)
Inset: Miawpukek Mi’kmawey (Mikmaq of Conne River, Newfoundland) Prayer Book
in Mi’kmaq Hieroglyphics (1810), p. 50.
http://collections.mun.ca/cdm/ref/collection/prayerbook/id/1

21. 21
Atomic Energy of Canada, Ltd.
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
NUCLEAR ENERGY CORP OF SA
YORK UNIV LIBR
UNIV DU QUEBEC A CHICOUTIMI
WESTERN UNIV
COLORADO MESA UNIV
UNIV OF ALBERTA
SAINT MARYS UNIV
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE BIBLIOTHEQUE
UNIV DU QUEBEC
KANSAS STATE UNIV
LIBRARY & ARCHIVES CANADA
MEMORIAL UNIV
UNIV OF NEW BRUNSWICK
UNIV OF WINDSOR
UNIV OF NEW BRUNSWICK
WILFRID LAURIER UNIV
YALE UNIV LIBR
CISTI
UNIV OF WATERLOO
TRENT UNIV
UNIV OF CALGARY
UNIV OF GUELPH
UNIV OF REGINA
MOUNT ALLISON UNIV
DALHOUSIE UNIV
CAUL members
Dalhousie Trace Analysis Research Center
SLOWPOKE 2 Reactor (1976-2011)
Total related works in WorldCat = 7115
Distinctive collection strengths reflect
institutional research priorities

22. Concentration and diffusion
22
effective diffusion of library value
relies on concentration, aggregation of library capacity

23. Atlantic Canadian Cultural History
Compendium of Scottish Gaelic verse from MSS collection of Am Bàrd MacGhillEathain
(John MacLean), edited by his grandson, Alexander Sinclair, in 1881.
“People in singing this song say ‘s a
choille chruinn, but the poet who
was a good Gaelic scholar has in
his MS ‘s a choille chruim”
23
Sinclair, A M. Clàrsach Na Coille: A Collection of Gaelic Poetry. Glasgow: A. Sinclair, 1881.
http://hdl.handle.net/2027/aeu.ark:/13960/t0ft95g39?urlappend=%3Bseq=147

24. MacLean carries MSS of Gaelic verse
from Western Hebrides to Nova Scotia,
ca. 1819.
Created and collected by John
MacLean, ca. 1815 -1848
24
Cultural baggage
Compiled by Alexander Sinclair
near Springhill, 1880s
Repacked
His grandson, a prominent Gaelic scholar,
edits them for publication in 1881.

25. 25
Distant reading Cultural exports from Nova Scotia
find a readership in Europe.
Presented to Wm. MacKay,
Inverness, 1888
Published in Glasgow, 1881
Sinclair, A M. Clarsach Na Coille: A Collection of Gaelic Poetry. Glasgow: A. Sinclair, 1881.
MacKay portrait source: http://ebooks.library.ualberta.ca/local/urquhartglenmori00mackuoft
MacKay was a solicitor and antiquarian, author of works
on Highlands history whose books are found in many
Canadian libraries.

26. 26
Transmission Sinclair lectured on Gaelic language
and literature at St Francis Xavier and
Dalhousie Universities in the early 20C
MSS acquired by St Francis Xavier University,
which now holds most comprehensive MacLean
collection anywhere.
Sinclair’s family later donates MacLean’s
papers to St Francis Xavier University and
Nova Scotia Provincial Archives.
Sinclair portrait source: http://people.stfx.ca/mlinklet/

27. 27
Diffusion in global library system
First edition (1881) held in dozens of libraries worldwide
MacKay copy acquired by McMaster
Second edition, 1928 Microfilmed, 1981 Digitized, ca. 2008
each successive edition acquired by libraries globally

28. Regional Stewardship
• St Francis Xavier, Cape Breton University, Memorial
Universities have distinctive collection strengths in
Scottish Gaelic language, literature, poetry & music
• Most CAUL institutions collect in these same areas
• Opportunity to leverage collective strengths in
larger library stewardship network, in Canada and
internationally
A similar case could be made for Acadian, Mi'kmaq
resources; Atlantic fisheries; nuclear energy and other
CAUL shared centers.
28

29. Questions to Consider
• What is CAUL’s collective responsibility to stewardship of the
scholarly and cultural record?
– ‘Shared centers’ represent opportunities for strategic redistribution
of preservation responsibilities
• Where do CAUL efforts fit in broader shared print
landscape? What is the right scale for shared stewardship?
– Regional efforts in Maine, Ontario, COPPUL; national scale
• How can cooperative stewardship (shared storage,
coordinated retention etc.) support institutional priorities?
– Redirect library investment toward distinctive service offerings: data
curation, researcher reputation management, etc.
29

30. Tapadh leibh.
Merci de votre attention.
Thanks for your attention.
malpasc@oclc.org
@ConstanceM
©2014 OCLC. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Suggested attribution:
“This work uses content from [presentation title] © OCLC, used under a Creative Commons Attribution license:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/”
30
Tapadh leibh.
Merci de votre attention.
Thanks for you attention.
“Been There!” photo by Adventures of KM&G-Morris
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mzmo/7298976138/
malpasc@oclc.org
@ConstanceM

31. Acknowledgements
31
Much of the thinking reflected here has been shaped by the
work of Lorcan Dempsey, particularly his attention to the ‘scalar ’
dimension of library services, as well as the ‘2 directions’
(concentration and diffusion) of libraries on the Web.
I’m indebted to Lorcan and to my colleague Brian Lavoie for
their application of Ronald Coase’s theory of the firm to
understanding the library ‘service bundle.’
My analysis of CAUL ‘centers of distinctions’ relies on the
ingenuity of Thom Hickey and his work with FAST and VIAF
headings in WorldCat.
Any errors or omissions are my sole responsibility.