Assessing the Impact of Floating Collections at the Edmonton Public Library.
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| Title: | Assessing the Impact of Floating Collections at the Edmonton Public Library. |
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| Authors: | Ramsey, Melissa1 melissa.ramsey@epl.ca, Michas, Marta1 |
| Source: | Canadian Journal of Information & Library Sciences. 2026, Vol. 49 Issue 1, p147-150. 4p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Collection development in libraries, *Public libraries, Collection management (Libraries), Library technical services |
| Abstract: | A "floating collection" is a popular approach to public library collection management where materials are shelved where they are returned rather than sent back to a "home" location. While it has been suggested that this approach refreshes local branch collections and reduces transit costs, it is unclear whether these benefits are realized. Concerns about this approach have also emerged as it relies on customer-initiated item movement such as holds, yet item movement resulting from holds fulfilment may exacerbate inequitable access to popular materials. In this analysis of a large and diverse urban library system, we show that floating does not appear to refresh local branch collections nor significantly impact transited materials. Our analysis also suggests that items seem to stay within a geographic area and gravitate towards branches with a higher volume of holds, meaning that items are unlikely to naturally return to branches with a lower volume of holds. Additionally, for items returned from elsewhere, a subsequent checkout at the return branch was more likely at branches with a high volume of holds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Canadian Journal of Information & Library Sciences is the property of Canadian Association for Information Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 192828763 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Assessing the Impact of Floating Collections at the Edmonton Public Library. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ramsey%2C+Melissa%22">Ramsey, Melissa</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> melissa.ramsey@epl.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Michas%2C+Marta%22">Michas, Marta</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Canadian+Journal+of+Information+%26+Library+Sciences%22">Canadian Journal of Information & Library Sciences</searchLink>. 2026, Vol. 49 Issue 1, p147-150. 4p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Collection+development+in+libraries%22">Collection development in libraries</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Public+libraries%22">Public libraries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Collection+management+%28Libraries%29%22">Collection management (Libraries)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Library+technical+services%22">Library technical services</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: A "floating collection" is a popular approach to public library collection management where materials are shelved where they are returned rather than sent back to a "home" location. While it has been suggested that this approach refreshes local branch collections and reduces transit costs, it is unclear whether these benefits are realized. Concerns about this approach have also emerged as it relies on customer-initiated item movement such as holds, yet item movement resulting from holds fulfilment may exacerbate inequitable access to popular materials. In this analysis of a large and diverse urban library system, we show that floating does not appear to refresh local branch collections nor significantly impact transited materials. Our analysis also suggests that items seem to stay within a geographic area and gravitate towards branches with a higher volume of holds, meaning that items are unlikely to naturally return to branches with a lower volume of holds. Additionally, for items returned from elsewhere, a subsequent checkout at the return branch was more likely at branches with a high volume of holds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Canadian Journal of Information & Library Sciences is the property of Canadian Association for Information Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=192828763 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.5206/cjils-rcsib.v49i1.22967 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 4 StartPage: 147 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Collection development in libraries Type: general – SubjectFull: Public libraries Type: general – SubjectFull: Collection management (Libraries) Type: general – SubjectFull: Library technical services Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Assessing the Impact of Floating Collections at the Edmonton Public Library. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Ramsey, Melissa – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Michas, Marta IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Text: 2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 1195096X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 49 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Canadian Journal of Information & Library Sciences Type: main |
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