@Wally: These are some fascinating points about hidden reasons that libraries are reluctant to group book purchases. Thanks!

Mills, I agree with you, while I’m not familiar with your book, it’s a symptom of something that 4 libraries in the WRLC group own a copy. I can see why there might be 2 copies in the group: Mason would have one since you’re a faculty author and we have to think at least one other site would have found it a compelling purchase. But four?

One part of the problem can be traced directly to libraries themselves: as long as they’re “ranked” by collection size (e.g., “volumes held” is a primary criteria for ARL membership), the question of who owns (and counts) volumes quickly gets contentious. Accrediting agencies have rules on ownership of materials and public institutions (like Mason) work under state laws that prohibit things like our letting George Washington University assert ownership of a volume that Virginia taxpayers helped purchase.

Would you be surprised if I told you that “cooperative collection development” has been on one WRLC meeting agendas or another for the past 10-12 years?