Relentless Accumulation: A Critical History of Collection Growth in American Research University Libraries, 1945-1979

The accumulation of large collections by members of the American Association of Research Libraries is seen by them as fundamental to their research support role, but consumes substantial resources. The study records the way these issues were addressed between 1945 and 1979. A critical history methodology is employed which integrates narrative, analysis and context, using evidence from the professional literature, statistics and archival resources. The narrative account reviews the historical background of the research universities and their libraries from 1876. The growth of collections is documented, and solutions to the problems posed by growing collections are described. These included new buildings, weeding, storage, and microform. Cooperative initiatives, which included specialisation in acquisitions and inter-library loans, are considered within developments in regional and national planning. A case study of New York University Libraries, based on archival records, records the ways one institution coped with collection growth. The analysis examines collection development and management from a perspective which considers the effectiveness and efficiency of collection policies. The conventional view of the collection as a long term asset for the university is critically evaluated. A model of the relationship between university research and the collection demonstrates the inherent difficulty in meeting research needs whatever the size of the collection. Further analysis examines the political economy of collections, national character, the notion of the librarian as bookman, and usage studies. Contextual factors include the history of the universities from the late nineteenth century; the development of the profession of librarianship; and the American economic and political system. The researcher concludes that for most libraries, large collections are an inefficient use of resources.