2001/2002 - University College Cork Library

TECHNICAL SERVICES DIVISION
Head of Division: Vacant
REPORT OF THE LIBRARY POLICY COMMITTEE 2001/2002
Technical Services is the division responsible for the selection and acquisition of
library material, for materials budget administration and for the organisation and
preparation of material for library users.
Book Acquisitions
Head of Section: Ms. Olive Rooney
As has been the pattern in recent years there were severe cutbacks in the 2001/2002
bookfund as a result of spiralling periodicals costs. A number of academic
departments, mainly in the areas of Science & Technology and Medicine reveived
small amounts for book purchases as has been the case in recent years. Some academic
departments transferred amounts from their departmental funding to the Library
bookfund to enable the Library to fund their book purchases. The largest transfer was
of €101,600 (in two stages) from the Dept. of Nursing Studies.
Under the programme PRTLI Cycle 3, the Library was allocated €461,940 in August,
2002 for the acquisition of Library Materials in the area of the Humanities.
The 30th September, 2002, marked the end of another two year period after which any
unspent credit balances in bookfunds, excluding Supplementary and Special Funds and
Library General Funds, were due to revert to the Library. The overall credit balance in
the bookfund at August 1 st , 2002, was €240,050. This figure represented approx. 80%
of the total expenditure for the year 2000/01.
During the year a total of 2,097 books, dating back to 1999, was requested under the
terms of the Copyright Act, 1963, Section 56 which will continue to govern the legal
deposit scheme pending the implementation of Section 198 of the Copyright and
Related Act, 2000. Out of a total of 1,577 books received, approx. 8% was sent
unsolicited, with approx. 620 requested items still outstanding. Many small or
independent publishers seem to be unaware or only vaguely aware of their obligations
under the terms of the above Copyright Act and the Library regularly sends them
explanatory letters.
Activity 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02
Requests received and processed 14,285 8,464 10,669
Volumes purchased 12,040 7,514 6,128
Volumes acquired through copyright (books and journals) 12,502 9,347 8,067
Donations (External) 2,842 2,227 2,680
Donations (EU) 2,231 2,477 397
Donations (UCC) 2,604 1,192 1,746
Figure 3- Acquisitions (Monographs) breakdown of categories of material acquired
8