Group Purchasing by a Regional Academic Medical Library Consortium: How SCAMeL Made It Work

Abstract

Cooperative academic library organizations have existed in the United States at least since 1933. Many of these organizations formed prior to the advent of electronic resources have now added group negotiating, licensing, and purchasing to their activities. One of those consortia is the South Central Academic Medical Libraries (SCAMeL). The steps this organization took to succeed in collaborative electronic resource collection development and the possibilities for its future are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• collection development
• consortia
• electronic resources
• library
• SCAMeL
• South Central Academic Medical Libraries

Acknowledgments

This article is dedicated to Judy Wilkerson (1942–2005). Thanks to Marty Thompson and Mary Ryan for their recollections about the early years of SCAMeL.

Notes

Comments and suggestions should be sent to the Column Editors: Mary Moore, PhD ([email protected]), and Suzetta Burrows, MLS ([email protected]).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

JoAnn Van Schaik

JoAnn Van Schaik, MLS ([email protected]) is Director of Library Operations, Louis Calder Memorial Library, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, P.O. Box 016950 (R-950), Miami, FL 33101.

Millie Moore

Millie Moore ([email protected]) is Coordinator, Collection Management, R. Matas Library of the Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL-86, New Orleans, LA 70112.