Following up on an earlier post via Kevin Yezbick on collection development, John Klima writes:
Well, I can't speak for everyone, but I know that the Princeton Public Library uses an Amazon wish list to maintain a list of books that the library would like to add to its collection. It wouldn't be difficult to also have these books put on hold for the person who buys them.
It looks like the Fairfax County Public Library has a similar effort going, which has been running since 2003. (They're currently on the hunt for horse books, among others). I also see in a short search the Melrose Public Library (Melrose, MA), the Champaign Public Library, and the Scandinavia (Wisconsin) Public Library who says
We are a rural Wisconsin library open 20 hours a week. As you can imagine, each book received is a treasure! Thank you!
and who currently is on the lookout for a skateboarding book and the kids book Trout, Trout, Trout.
I suggested to Amazon that there is some applicability for libraries that have experienced some sort of disaster.
Perhaps the libraries in Louisiana and Mississippi rebuilding after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita?
The libraries might indicate which holdings they are looking to replace in their ILS, then perhaps upload those records to Amazon to sync with their databases.
This would target exactly which items the library is replacing, reduce donations of items the library really can't use, and allow for cash to be transmitted for book purchases as well if the donee doesn't want to purchase an entire book.
Just random thoughts...
Posted by: N F | 24 May 2006 at 07:44 AM
We use a similar service, specifically tailored to libraries, through ALibris. There's the added feel-good factor of supporting small booksellsers.
Posted by: Beth Harper | 24 May 2006 at 01:32 PM