Academic Curriculum Collections in North America: A Comparative Survey

Casual observance of curriculum collections in academic institutions will show many similarities, but also many unique aspects and regional trends. What is the reason for these differences? Where can a new librarian looking to establish best practices for his or her own collection find benchmarks for comparison? In order to answer these and other questions, the author collected survey responses from librarians across North America who have responsibilities for the management of a curriculum collection. This chapter will present the results of the survey and use the data to draw conclusions about the connections that exist between collecting practice and the institutional environment in which the collection is located. Challenges and issues involved in collecting curriculum materials will be explored and future research directions suggested.