In 2022, the IFLA Acquisition and Collection Development (ACD) Section continued its work to support acquisitions and collection development processes for libraries across the globe, this year with a focus on incorporating open access content into library collections.

image of ACD session at WLIC 2022
Pictured, L-R: Ahava Cohen, National Library of Israel; Jill Emery, Portland State University Library; Emma Booth, University of Manchester Library; and Beacher Wiggins, Library of Congress at the ACD panel session at WLIC 2022

For WLIC 2022 in Dublin, ACD sponsored a panel discussion, Integrating Open Access Content into the Collection: Challenges and Opportunities, organized by Michael Levine-Clark (University of Denver). Moderated by Beacher Wiggins (Library of Congress), panelists Jill Emery (Portland State University Library), Emma Booth (University of Manchester Library), and Ahava Cohen (National Library of Israel) engaged in an active discussion on the challenges of enabling and managing access to open access content in the library collection. While acknowledging that existing library workflows and technologies are not always developed to support providing access to open content, they shared practices and strategies from their own institutions.

screenshot from ACD OER webinar
ACD Standing Committee members David Tréfás (Universitätsbibliothek Basel), Elma Lammers (Medical University Graz), and Denise LaFitte (University of Alberta), IFLA Division F Chair Helen Chan (The University of Hong Kong), and webinar panelists Mira Buist-Zhuk (University of Groningen Library), Erin Fields (University of British Columbia Library), and Ezra Shiloba Gbaje (Federal University Lokoja) discuss OER and Collection Development. (Pictured, L-R by row: David Tréfás, Mira Buist-Zhuk, Erin Fields, Ezra Shiloba Gbaje, Elma Lammers, Denise LaFitte, Helen Chan)

ACD continued its discussion of incorporating open access content into the library collection with a webinar, Open Educational Resources (OER) and Collection Development. Panelists Ezra Shiloba Gbaje (Federal University Lokoja), Cécile Swiatek Cassafieres (University of Paris Nanterre Library), Erin Fields (University of British Columbia Library), and Mira Buist-Zhuk (University of Groningen Library) presented on the use of OER in universities in Africa, Europe, and North America, and how libraries could contribute to those efforts. Presentations included direct examples from panelists’ institutions as well as reference to existing best practices, such as UNESCO’s OER trainer’s guide.

group photo of ACD standing committee members
ACD Standing Committee members, and the Convenors of LGBTQ and Library Publishing Special Interest Groups at WLIC 2022 (Pictured, L-R: Beacher Wiggins, Library of Congress; Thomas Chaimbault-Petitjean (Convenor), ENSSIB; David Tréfás, Universitätsbibliothek Basel; Elma Lammers, Medical University Graz; Jane Buggle (Convenor), IADT; Nancy Hampton, Xavier University Library; Christina McCawley, West Chester University; Ann Roll (Information Coordinator), California State University; Karin Byström (Secretary), Uppsala University Library; Denise LaFitte, University of Alberta; Lilly Hoi Sze Ho (Chair), Library & Archives NT)

In addition to providing this valuable content on incorporating open access content into library collections, ACD also made progress on its long-term plan and welcomed new standing committee members from Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, India, and China. As ACD prepares for 2023 elections, please contact any of the IFLA officers, Lilly Hoi Sze Ho, Karin Byström, or Ann Roll for further information.