Shared Collections

History of Shared Collections

The University of California has a long history of coordinating its library acquisitions.

Shared Collections and Access Program (SCAP): SCAP was established in 1976 to provide joint funding for research materials too costly for a single campus to buy. Since the early 1990s, this program has supported the licensing of shared bibliographic databases that provide enhanced Universitywide access to journal literature.

Coordinated Acquisitions: For nearly 20 years, Universitywide groups of bibliographers in specific subject areas have met to coordinate their collecting activities and sponsor shared purchases. Currently, there are about 12 of these groups operating with the oversight of the UC libraries' Collection Development Committee (CDC).

Shared collections benefit students and scholars by:

• Enhancing the collections and services that each UC campus library makes available to its faculty and students.
• Expanding the breadth and depth of collections available systemwide to support the University's distinguished teaching and research programs.
• Reducing the unnecessary duplication of campus holdings and making more efficient use of scarce campus library space.

Development and Management of Shared Collections

Expanding upon the coordination of campus acquisitions, the University began to look towards the creation of collections that are explicitly developed for, managed on behalf of, and equally accessible to the entire University system.

The development and management of explicitly shared collections started with the establishment of the California Digital Library and focused on digital content. Through the CDL, UC scholars at all campuses have gained access to all shared electronic information licensed by the University.

With assistance from a variety of groups, the University Librarians have begun exploring the advantages and practicalities of extending the CDL's successes in developing and managing shared digital collections to selected print materials.

To learn more about shared collections, go to the collections and services page on the CDL web site.