Toni Samek, Professor

School of Library and Information Studies

University of Alberta

Dear Toni,

Our community study report is now accomplished. The target of our community study is

Missouri Lutheran Seminary library.

MLS is a fictional seminary located in St. Louis, Missouri in the United States. The context

section of our Seminary is fictional, but we have consulted available online information on

Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Missouri for the possible subjects and items covered by a

Seminary library collection. The research methods and findings in this report are also fictional,

but we did an online survey on students and faculty users of the Concordia Lutheran Seminary

library in Edmonton. This study helped us to identify the user groups a Seminary library

usually intends to serve, the budget situation and source of a Seminary library and the

Lutheran library users’ expectation from a Seminary library. As the Concordia Lutheran

Seminary in Edmonton is a very small seminary, we finally decided to make it a bigger and

more representative seminary, and we increased the number of user groups and enlarged

library collection size in our report.

Anneliese Dalmoro and Fang Liu

Saint Louis, October 19th

2010.

Missouri Lutheran Seminary Library

David Stevenson – Head Librarian

880 Seminary Place

St. Louis, MO 6589

Dear Mr. Stevenson:

Re: Community Study and Library collection analysis.

Please find enclosed the complete report of the 2010 Community Study for the Missouri

Lutheran Seminary’s (MLS) Library.

As a request of the MLS library board, this study was conducted with the purpose to

analyze and examine the MLS library collection in regard to its features such as size, quality,

subject coverage, scope and usefulness.

With in-house examination of the collection and an online survey in the form of a

questionnaire, we were able to identify information needs of the community, as well as

provide recommendations that will help to enhance the library collection.

Our approach in this study addresses whether the current library collection is providing

helpful information resources in any format, and what are the user’s expectations and

suggestions regarding the actual collection available.

We will be happy to discuss this report in the next library board meeting and we

remain at your disposal for any further information you may need.

Sincerely

Anneliese Dalmoro and Fang Liu

Collection Development Librarians Consultants

CDL Library & Associate Consultant

378, Hoover Crescent – Saint Louis, MO 68180

Report on Community Study of

Missouri Lutheran Seminary Library

By Anneliese Dalmoro and Fang Liu

Table of contents

1. Executive summary………………………………………………………………………..1

2. Introduction……………………………………………………………………………….2

3. Context setting……………………………………………………………….……………2

3.1 Library background……………………………………………………………………2

3.2 Library’s Mission Statement…………………………………………………………..2

3.3 Library collection………………………………………………………………………3

3.4 Accreditation Information……………………………………………………………..3

3.5 Reformation Research…………………………………….……………………………3

3.6 Library facilities………………………………………………………………………..3

3.7 Budget and Funding……………………………………………………………………4

3.8 Library community……………………………………………………………………..4

3.8.1 Primary users……………………………………………………………………..4

3.8.2 Secondary and tertiary users……………………………………………...………4

3.8.3 Library non-users………………………………………………………..……….5

3.9 MLS’ library and the Missouri Theological Library Consortium……………………..5

4. Methodology………………………………………………………………………………5

4.1 In-house collection analysis……………………………………………………………5

4.2 Online survey…………………………………………………………………………..6

4.3 Focus group discussion………………………………………………………………...6

5. Findings……………………………………………………………………………………7

5.1 In-house collection……………………………………………………………………..7

5.2 Online survey…………………………………………………………………………..8

5.3 Focus group discussion………………………………………………………………...8

6. Implications and recommendations for the library………………………………....……...9

7. Conclusion………………………………………………………………………….....…..10

Appendix A Questionnaire on Missouri Lutheran Seminary Library…………………….…12

Appendix B Missouri Lutheran Seminary Library User Survey Results……………………15

Appendix C Focus group questions………………………………………………………….17

Appendix D Focus group recruitment poster………………..………………………….……18

Appendix E Letter of Consent – Focus Group Participants …………………………………19

Appendix F Missouri Lutheran Seminary Library Collection Development Policy………….…….20

References consulted…………………………………………………………………………23

1

1. Executive summary

This community study presents the analysis, findings and recommendations of the Missouri

Lutheran Seminary’s Library (MLS) located in the city of Saint Louis, Missouri-USA.

The aim of the study is twofold: 1) to obtain an accurate picture of the library’s collection

and a better understanding of users’ perception of the library collection and 2) to provide

strategic guidance and recommendations for the improvement of the MLS’ library collection.

Firstly, an exhaustive in-house collection analysis was carried out and a description of print

and non-print library materials was included in the report. The results provided us a clear

picture of the present collection of the MLS library and became the foundation for us to

develop the library collection.

Secondly, a survey was carried out in the form of an online questionnaire to find out what is

the library users’ information seeking behavior and their suggestions for the library collection

improvement. The questionnaire was sent out to 250 library users and we got 100 responses,

getting a response rate of 40%. This survey enabled the library consultants to evaluate how

well the collection is meeting the information needs of the library community.

Thirdly, a focus group discussion guided by a list of semi-structured questions was

conducted to get a better sense of how the library is perceived by its users. The user group was

represented by students, faculty, staff and church members.

Findings from the above methods suggest the following recommendations for the MLS’

library:

Draft a library collection development policy (see Appendix F) to guide the collection

development process of the MLS library.

Invest in the acquisition of more updated and in-depth Theological titles in print and

non-print formats.

Use a separate room to put library key resources on reserve, allowing that more users

could access them.

Increase the number of general newspapers and magazines to serve better the non-

academic community

Increase the devotional and prayer collection to meet the needs of church workers such

as pastors, ministers and missionaries.

2

2. Introduction

Effective collection development is possible only when it is based on sound knowledge of the

community the library serves. In this sense, the main purpose of this community study is to

ascertain the extent to which the Missouri Lutheran Seminary Library’s collection is meeting

its goals and objectives. This study will help in the decision making process about developing

the library services and collections, as well as to identify possible gaps in services and library

collection.

By identifying information needs that rose in analysing the library collection, it is hoped

that a better understanding of library user’s needs and an understanding of problems

encountered may help the library serve users more effectively. In addition, this report

describes the community study process, including data gathering methodology, findings and

implications for the library and conclusion. Recommendations based on survey findings will

be given in order to build a cost-effective collection at the MLS library to better serve the

MLS library user community.

3. Context setting

3.1 Library background

MLS’ Library traces its origins to 1839, when the original instructors used their personal

libraries to teach students. Today some of those original volumes remain in the Library’s

collection.

The Library has grown, changed, and moved along with the Seminary itself. Housed in two

different locations on the Stevenson Avenue campus when the Seminary first moved to St.

Louis, and in Bendlaff Hall when the Dayton campus was occupied in 1926, the Library

moved into its current building in 1962–the first time it was housed in a building unto itself.

The library is located at 801 Seminary Place St. Louis, MO 63105.

From 1962 on, the library started to receive numerous book donations from Lutheran

pastors and the need of collection development, selection and acquisition became a matter of

crucial importance.

3

3.2 Library’s Mission Statement

Missouri Lutheran Seminary’s Library serves church and world by providing theological

resources centered in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for the formation of pastors,

missionaries, and leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.

3.3 Library collection

Library collection is committed to its mission and nowadays holds about 100,000 volumes.

Included are the personal libraries of many of the founding fathers of The Lutheran Church–

Missouri Synod and its theologians: C. F. W. Walther, Georg Stoeckhardt, Franz Pieper, E. A.

Krauss, and others. Alumni and interested individuals have given unusual and rare materials to

the library, e.g., the incunabula from C. A. Graebner, the Russian icons and crosses from Paul

Kluender, and the Hemmeter collection of some 1200 dissertations and pamphlets published

before 1800. More details of the collection description are provided in the Finding section.

Nowadays the library has the capacity to seat over 300 people, providing study space for

divinity students and carrels for graduate students and scholars.

3.4 Accreditation Information

Missouri Lutheran Seminary is an accredited member of:

The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and

Schools;

Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada

Both accrediting agencies consider MLS’ library collection and services strength and a

benchmark for other north-American theological libraries.

3.5 Reformation Research

MLS’ Library houses a world-class collection of primary and secondary resources on the

Lutheran Reformation, including thousands of 16th-18th century publications, microforms of

primary sources, and specialized reference works on the era, its major and minor figures, and

their writings. The library also houses the unique book and microform holdings of the Center

for Reformation Research. The collections support the seminary’s graduate programs,

especially in historical theology, and provide resources for scholars worldwide.

4

3.6 Library facilities

There is a computer room available for MLS’ students and their spouses. There are ten

computers with Internet access and a copier. Besides, the Seminary has a wireless hub that

students can use for plugging in their laptops.

There is also a special room called ―The Missionary Study Centre‖, in which students and

pastors can find resources such as books, periodicals and audio visuals with focus on

missionary work in different countries around the world. Part of the collection in the

Missionary Centre is for reference and not available for check out, while the circulating

materials are shelved within the main collection. There are also artefacts from different

countries on display in this room.

3.7 Budget and Funding

The parent organization, Missouri Lutheran Seminary, is the main source for the library

budget. While budget from the Seminary covers the operating and collection maintaining

expenses, outside funding makes it possible to expand the library collections, as there has been

budget cutback in recent years. For the benefit of the development of the library, MLS library

is seeking outside operating funds, endowment support and donations, volunteers and

members of the MLS’ Guild also make much contribution to the library by supporting the

daily operation.

A matching grant of U$50,000.00 was awarded to the library in 2009 from the ―Martin

Luther’s Foundation‖ a German non-governmental organization specifically dedicated to

provide library resources for Lutheran Seminaries around the world.

3.8 Library community

3.8.1 Primary users:

Missouri Lutheran Seminary Library serves a variety of users, both locally and from distance

through inter-library loan and the Consortium service. Its primary users are students, pastors,

scholars and faculty of the Seminary. They are greatly benefited from the comprehensive

library collection and services for study and research.

5

3.8.2 Secondary and tertiary users:

Non-academic staff forms the library’s secondary users. Most of the employees are Lutheran,

although this is not a required condition to be employed by MLS. However, non-Lutheran

staff members are asked to act and behave in accordance to Lutheran values and principles.

Tertiary user groups are from the Seminary’s neighbourhood community and Lutheran

church community such as pastors, congregation members and church workers. Although they

do not use the library on a regular basis, they are part of the user community and should also

be heard during the collection development process.

3.8.3 Library non-users:

We consider library non-users as those who do not use the Seminary library, such as some

non-academic staff and other on campus and off campus students in MLS.

Essentially a Theological library, MLS is also aimed at reaching out to and serving the

whole Seminary community by improving the core library services and collection. We suggest

a further study to identify issues such as library accessibility, ease of use and utility perception,

to properly address those groups of people’s theological information needs.

3.9 MLS’ library and the Missouri Theological Library Consortium

Missouri Lutheran Seminary is currently part of the Missouri Theological Library Consortium

(MTLC), which includes all Christian Theological Seminaries in the State of Missouri.

MTLC’s catalogue provides access to 500,000 books and other paper and electronic items.

The consortium consisting of eight theological libraries in Missouri serves the information and

research needs of more than 2,000 theological seminary students, faculty, staff and their

families.

The organization’s purpose is to share library materials, information, and services among

the theological colleges within Missouri. This virtual collection makes it possible for faculty

and students to request remote library materials on local computer with connection to the

Internet, and enjoy 24 hour unlimited access to MTLC materials. A courier service delivers

library materials to member libraries once per day, five days a week.

6

4. Methodology

4.1 In-house collection analysis

For the purpose of this study, an extensive investigation was given to the in-house collection

of the MLS to provide a real picture of the subject structure of library collection. Some

statistics on the number of titles and coverage of subjects were ready to be used through the

website and previously produced pamphlets. We have also talked with the MLS library

director, who had served his position in the MLS library for more than twenty years, and got

much useful information concerning some policy issues and new trends on collection in recent

years.

4.2 Online survey

The user groups of the MLS library are identified to be the MLS students, student spouses,

academic and non-academic staff, church communities, Lutheran pastors, etc. In order to gain

the perceptions from the users’ perspective, an online survey was conducted and the link for

our Survey Monkey questionnaire (see Appendix A) was disseminated through course

instructors, Seminary administrative staff and church staff by email to reach the library

potential users. Within two weeks after the start of the survey, we got 100 responses.

4.3 Focus group discussion

In addition, in order to include opinions from more general community members into our

study and explore users’ personal experiences in more depth, we also recruited participants for

a focus group discussion. Through some open discussion and free talk, we aimed to investigate

users’ library use patterns and their opinions on the library collection. Accordingly, we used a

list of semi-structured questions (see Appendix C), so that participants could talk freely about

their personal experiences while focusing on the topics we were studying. For the purpose of

recruitment, emails were sent out through the same channels as with online survey, and posters

(see Appendix D) were put outside the library and around the campus. Within two weeks since

we started recruiting, we got many volunteers offering help in the focus group. We did some

selection so that users from different user groups were included, and eventually had three

MLS students, two faculty members, one non-academic staff and one church member.

7

The opinions and ideas solicited from the focus group discussion and online survey helped

us summarize key points in the MLS community study, providing necessary information from

which we form strategic plans and recommendations on the MLS library collection.

Notwithstanding the efforts we put into the community study, there are still limitations

concerning the coverage of the user groups. We got only 40% responses on the online survey,

and the number may not be representative enough for the overall library communities’ library

using habits. Church communities and the seminary neighbourhood members may have not

received the survey and invitation for focus group discussion or not been interested in it.

Further study and outreach will need to be conducted if we want to address this research gap.

5. Findings

5.1 In-house collection

As a result of the in-house collection analysis, the MLS library has an active acquisitions

program of current publications, rare books, and special series. The growing collection has a

much larger percentage of rare books and research materials than most other libraries of the

same size. The collection is supplemented by Reformation era publications and current

journals in microform as well as other non-book materials. The journal collection includes

over 2,000 titles, including over 1,000 current subscriptions.

The resources are more than adequate for in-depth research in many areas of theology

subject and are particularly strong in the fields of New Testament and systematic theology.

Reformation history is particularly well represented. Such basic sets as Migne’s Patrologiae,

Mansi’s 53-volume collection of the minutes of the Church councils, and the Corpus

Reformatorum are also available. A growing collection of Reformation-era pamphlets

(Flugschriften) and other primary resources on microfiche complements one of the best 16th-

century rare book collections in the country.

While the library’s holdings highlight the history and doctrine of the Lutheran church, they

also provide extensive research materials for the study of ecumenism and of individual

denominations and world religions. Special collections in hymnology, liturgics, the Peasants’

War, classical philology, and other areas assure the interested user of the possibility of

studying Christianity against the broader backdrop of general culture and history. A significant

collection of Christian art rounds out the holdings.

8

MLS also provides many electronic resources and online search tools for its users through

portals. The Portal that requires login allows current students, faculty, and staff to remotely

connect to many of the Library’s electronic databases, including MOBIUS,

WorldCat/FirstSearch, ATLA Religion Database with ATLAS full text, New Testament

Abstracts, Old Testament Abstracts, Academic Search Elite (full text), EBSCO E-journals

(full text), Religious & Theological Abstracts, National Periodical Library, INdex Theologicus,

Luthers Werke (Weimar Ausgabe) Online, and Research In Ministry. Restricted by database

using licenses, those online resources are only accessible to students and seminary staff.

5.2 Online survey

The online survey helps us find out that MLS library is heavily used by its potential users,

with 38.5% of them using it almost every day and more than half using it at least once a week

(see Appendix B). More than half of the students use the library collection on a daily or

weekly basis, either checking out books from or consult them in the library.

More than 80% of the users use the library collection for the purposes of theological

research and course study, and there are also a few (27.5%) of them using it for entertainment

purposes. Books for checking out are the most heavily used part of the library collection

(96%), and more than half of the users also refer to the reference tools, periodical and

newspapers as information resources. In addition, electronic resources are frequently used by

the MLS library users, and 92.5% of them strongly agree that the e-resources are important for

the library collection.

Asked about their satisfaction with the MLS library collection, most of the library users

agree that the library collection provides their information needs, but there are still 30% of

them holding neutral attitude towards it. Consulted on the next purchase of the library, a large

number of the users (82.5%) suggest theological titles be added to the library collection, and

there is a small number of them suggesting titles on literature, magazine, journals and

newspapers.

5.3 Focus Group

The focus group discussion also turned out to be very productive. The MLS students gave very

high comment on the library collection. One of them recommended that the library could

9

purchase more recently published theological titles, and the other suggested ―some selective

collection of CDs as examples of Good Lutheran Hymnody historical and contemporary,

World Lutheran music, different liturgical traditions (Taize) etc.‖

The academic staff said they mainly used the MLS library collection for theological

research and course instruction. They said that they felt much appreciated that they could use

some off-campus resources thanks to the Missouri Theological Consortium the MLS library is

one part of, but they suggested the library purchase more in depth theological titles so that the

materials are handier and they do not need to order from other libraries. One of them also

complained that the library did not have enough copies of many books he recommended in his

class, so his students could not get hold of it once someone had checked it out.

The non-academic staff indicated that she is not a regular user of the MLS library because

she could not find many tiles she is interested in it. She recommended that the library purchase

some newspaper and journal titles.

The outside user is a Lutheran church pastor, and he used the library on a monthly basis,

because the library location is not so handy. He said that he usually ―consult devotional books

and other books with Bible related topic in the MLS library for his preaches.‖ In addition, he

used the collection as recommendation resources for his congregation members to read. The

pastor also suggested ―devotional books for the purpose of devotion and prayer.‖

6. Implications and recommendations for the library

Through the online survey and focus group discussion, we found most of our users come to

the MLS library to do theological research or their course study. Because the MLS library is

serving a Lutheran community and especially the faculty and students who are taking graduate

degrees in the Lutheran seminary, its collection has a focus on research materials and rare

books on Christianity’s Reformation era. The library has also purchased many electronic

resources for the convenience of the accessibility by multiple and remote users. Our user study

indicates that students and researchers gave much favourable comments on the library

collection, but they also suggested that they would love to see more research titles included in

the library collection.

In the focus group discussion, faculty participants talked about the lack of enough

circulation copies of certain book recommended for course study. Limited by the budget, the

10

library could not simply purchase everything requested by users. Therefore, instead of buying

more copies of the course materials, the library could use a separate shelf or room to put those

books on reserve. In this way, shorter circulation period is allowed for those books and more

users could get access to them.

Although most of the MLS library users (80%) use the library for research and course

study, there are also others using the library for not so serious purposes. CDs on Lutheran

music, hymns, liturgical and others were suggested by one of the participants in the focus

group study. The library holds a small number of CDs which was purchased a decade ago and

have not been modified since then due to a tight budget. Since the funding is coming, we find

it very satisfying to enlarge our CD collection for circulation. Church community users also

suggested some popular Christian readings for his congregation members, such as devotional

books for the purpose of devotion and prayer.

Although the MLS library is a research oriented library, adding more popular readings might

be appealing to some off-campus users and even attract some nonusers from the MLS

neighbourhoods and church members.

In addition, we also find that the library lacking a formal collection policy. The present

library staff who is responsible for the collection development has been working in the library

for almost twenty years and has very thorough and well-organized theories for collection

development. However, this librarian is on the verge of retiring, and the library could not

afford the loss of this librarian together with her knowledge on MLS library collection. We

thought it would be safer to have a written collection policy for all kinds of challenges on the

library collection.

7. Conclusion:

At the very centre of any library function is the ability to meet users’ information needs and to

organize the collection so that it can be easily accessed and retrieved by users. To effectively

address users’ information needs requires knowledge of library users’ information seeking

behavior and their expectation of the library services and collections.

This community study turned out to be essential not only with respect to doing the MLS’

library collection analysis to identify gaps in the collection, but primarily on getting opinions

and expectations from library users, so that recommendations could be delivered to improve

11

the library services and collections as a whole. One of the most important parts of the

recommendations as a result of this study is that a collection development policy has been

developed, (see Appendix F) based on in-house collection analysis and survey and interview

findings.

Users and collection-centered approaches used in this study are crucial to the understanding

of the nature of the Seminary information needs. All methodologies used together for this

study—in-house collection analysis, online survey and focus group discussion—are crucial to

recommend guidelines for the improvement of the library collection. The study results and

their implications for the Seminary library are helpful in developing a value-added library

system.

12

Appendix A: Questionnaire on Missouri Lutheran Seminary (MLS) Library Collection

1. How often do you use the MLS Library?

Almost everyday

Once a week

Once every two weeks

Once a month

Never

2. How often do you borrow books from or consult books in the MLS library?

Almost everyday

Once a week

Once every two weeks

Once a month

Never

3. How often do you use the computers in MLS library?

Almost everyday

Once a week

Once every two weeks

Once a month

Never

4. To what degree do you think the MLS library should have computer available for you to use?

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

5. What are the purposes for which you use the MLS library's collection? (You could choose

more than one)

Academic research

Course study

Entertainment

13

Other research

6. What are the information resources do you usually refer to in the MLS library? (You could

choose more than one)

Reference tools

Books for checking out

Periodicals, magazines or newspapers

CDs or DVDs

Online resources

7. How often do you use the electronic resources (e.g. databases, online journals, E-books) in

MLS library?

Almost everyday

Once a week

Once every two weeks

Once a month

Never

8. To what degree do you think the electronic resources are important in MLS library

collection?

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

9. To what degree do you think the MLS library’s collection provides your information need?

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

10. If the MLS library is open for your opinion on its next purchase, what would you suggest?

Theological titles

Literature

14

Music/Sports

Magazines/Journals/Newspapers

Done

Survey Powered by:

SurveyMonkey

"Surveys Made Simple."

Javascript is required for this site to function, please enable.

15

Appendix B: Missouri Lutheran Seminary Library User Survey Results

1. How often do you use the MLS Library?

Almost every day 38.5%

Once a Week 51.0%

Once every two weeks 0.0%

Once a month 8.0%

Never 2.5%

2. How often do you borrow books from or consult books in the MLS library?

Almost every day 27.5%

Once a Week 30.5%

Once every two weeks 25.0%

Once a month 14.5%

Never 2.5%

3. How often do you use the computers in MLS library?

Almost every day 0.0%

Once a Week 20.0%

Once every two weeks 18.5%

Once a month 50.5%

Never 11.0%

4. To what degree do you think the MLS library should have computer available for you to use?

Strongly agree 2.5%

Agree 34.0%

Neutral 55.0%

Disagree 8.5%

5. What are the purposes for which you use the MLS library's collection? (You could choose

more than one)

Academic research 82.0%

Course study 86.0%

Entertainment 27.5%

Other research 8.5%

16

6. What are the information resources do you usually refer to in the MLS library? (You could

choose more than one)

Reference tools 64.5%

Books for checking out 96.0%

Periodicals, magazines or newspapers 62.0%

CDs or DVDs 2.5%

Online resources 68.0%

7. How often do you use the electronic resources (e.g. databases, online journals, E-books) in

MLS library?

Almost every day 12.0%

Once a Week 28.5%

Once every two weeks 27.0%

Once a month 32.5%

Never 0.0%

8. To what degree do you think the electronic resources are important in MLS library

collection?

Strongly agree 92.5%

Agree 5.0%

Neutral 2.5%

Disagree 0.0%

9. To what degree do you think the MLS library’s collection provides your information needs?

Strongly agree 28.0%

Agree 42.0%

Neutral 30.0%

Disagree 0.0%

10. If the MLS library is open for your opinion on its next purchase, what would you suggest?

Theological titles 82.5%

Literature 9.0%

Music/Sports 0.0%

Magazines/Journals/Newspapers 8.5%

17

Appendix C: Focus group questions:

1. How often do you use the library? If not very often, why?

2. How often do you use the library collections? If not very often, why?

3. What purposes are you using the library collection for?

4. What do you think about the library collection? How often does it provide your

information need?

5. What would you suggest on improving the library collection?

18

Appendix D: Focus group recruitment poster

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

FOR A

FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION

Topic – Missouri Lutheran Seminary’s (MLS) Library Collection

Would you like to give your opinion about the library collection and how it matches your

information needs?

We are looking for people who had any of the following happen at least once in the last year:

• Using the library for academic research/course outline or study

• Using the library for entertainment purposes

• Using the library for devotional/preaching purposes

In this focus group, you will be asked to talk with a small group of six to twelve other people.

Everyone in the group will talk about how they perceive MLS’ library collection and whether

it provides the information you need. This one-time focus group may last one hour or less, and

snacks will be provided.

Please note:

• Participation is voluntary

• We will tape-record discussions

• Responses will be kept strictly confidential

• No names or other identifying information will be recorded

• You can refuse to answer questions at any time

• There is no penalty for refusing to participate

• There is no reward for choosing to participate

DATE: TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2010

TIME: 2:00pm – 3:00pm

LOCATION: MARTIN LUTHER’S MEETING – MLS’ LIBRARY, SECOND FLOOR.

To register, call Anneliese or Fang at (680) 548-7382

or e-mail dalmoro@ualberta.ca / fliu3@ualberta.ca

CDL Library & Associate Consultants

Department of Collection Development

19

Appendix E: Letter of Consent – Focus Group Participants

Community Study – Missouri Lutheran Seminary’s Library collection evaluation

I am aware that this study will examine the MLS’ library collection as well as identify

information needs based on survey findings.

I have been told that my involvement means being a member of a focus group, which

will include the library consultants and a small group of six to twelve people.

I am aware that I am participating as a library user.

I am participating voluntarily and I have the right to leave or refuse to answer any

questions. I can leave at any time and the information I have given will be taken out of

the records of the focus group.

I understand that my identity will be kept strictly confidential, in that no names,

addresses or any other personal information will be put into any part of this project.

I understand that the library consultants will take notes on paper while the group is

talking, and that they will use an electronic recording machine to record our discussion

I understand that all the things that are written on paper or said out loud and recorded

will be kept secure. The information will be saved on the researcher’s personal

computer or in a locked filing cabinet.

I also understand that the information from the focus group might be published in

articles in academic journals and presentations at scholarly conferences.

If I have any questions, I can contact:

Anneliese Dalmoro or Fang Liu

Librarians - CDL Library & Associate Consultants, Department of Collection Development.

Phone: (680) 548-7382

Emails: dalmoro@ualberta.ca / fliu3@ualberta.ca

Dr. David Stevenson – Head Librarian at the Missouri Lutheran Seminary Library

Phone: (680) 786-8416

Email: stevensondav@mls.org

Name (please print): _______________________________________

Signature: _______________________________________

Date: _______________________________________

I give permission for the researcher to record the focus group discussion using an audio

recording device. ________________________

20

Appendix F: Missouri Lutheran Seminary Library Collection Development Policy

1. Library Mission Statement

Missouri Lutheran Seminary’s Library serves church and world by providing theological

resources centered in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for the formation of pastors,

missionaries, and leaders in the name of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.

The library’s primary role is to meet the academic information needs of staff and students of

the Missouri Lutheran Seminary. It performs a supporting role in the broader community of

the Lutheran Church of Missouri. Its objectives are:

to provide resources to support the teaching programs of the Missouri Lutheran Seminary;

to support the research and information needs of higher degree students in theology and

related fields;

to provide library resources to support the teaching and research needs of the teaching

staff;

to support students in the acquisition of skills for ongoing professional education and

growth;

to support the information needs of pastors, teachers, and lay workers of the Lutheran

Church of Missouri;

to cooperate with related libraries in collection development and resource

2. Community served:

faculty and staff members of Missouri Lutheran Seminary

students of Missouri Lutheran Seminary

staff and students from institutions with whom Missouri Lutheran Seminary has made

reciprocal arrangements

pastors and members of the Lutheran Church of Missouri

other libraries through Inter-Library Loan and Document Delivery Services

3. Description of the collection

The MLS library originated from many personal libraries of many of the founding fathers of

The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and its theologians. The present library consists from

monographs, periodicals, various electronic resources (including E-books and online

databases), a New Testament and systematic theological collection, a rare book collection and

special collections in hymnology, liturgics, the Peasants’ War.

4. Budget

Each year the library will receive allocations for acquisitions from the budget of the Missouri

Lutheran Seminary. The monograph budget and the periodical budget will be allocated to the

major teaching areas:

21

Biblical

Theological

Pastoral

Educational

5. Selection principles and procedures

The acquisition and retention of materials reflect the nature of the library as an institution

preparing people for service in various areas of ministry, primarily for the Lutheran Church

community.

The library will maintain resources in the major areas of the Lutheran studies at some depth

in the following areas:

Biblical studies and biblical languages

Christian spirituality

Church history

Church worship and liturgics

Comparative religion

Education in the Lutheran context

Faith Community Nursing

History and sociology of religion in the US

Lutheran ethics

Lutheran history and thought

Missiology

Parish ministry

Pastoral care and counseling

Philosophy

Spirituality

Systematic Theology

Responsibility for selecting library materials is shared between the library and the teaching

staff. Full time teaching staff act as subject specialists and make recommendations for

purchase in their areas of specialisation. Students and other users of the library may also make

recommendations which will be considered for purchase. The Library Manager has ultimate

responsibility for selection.

Due priority will be given to material that represents the doctrines, standards and values of

the parent institution, as well as the history and tradition of the Lutheran church.

5. Principles of selection

Book format

Hardcover editions will be preferred to paperback for reference works and primary sources,

but paperbacks will be preferred for secondary materials.

22

Electronic format

Electronic format will be preferred of this increases access to the material and if it is cost

effective. Core journals are still being retained in hard copy while the budget allows, but the

library also subscribes to full text services where possible. To provide access to periodical

articles, the library subscribes to key indexes and abstracts, in electronic format and/or hard

copy.

Journals

Journal subscriptions will be reviewed annually, especially in light of frequent price rises.

Holdings by other theological libraries in the Missouri Theological Library Consortium and

access to electronic sources will also be taken in account.

Controversial materials

Materials will not be excluded from the library collection merely because it is considered

controversial. Freedom of access to information and human knowledge is encouraged.

6. Weeding

The library will follow a policy of limited weeding. Items considered useful for a research

collection will be retained and weeding will generally be restricted to items which are

obviously out of date, out of scope of the collection, duplicated, or in an advanced state of

disrepair or deterioration.

7. Donations

Donations of books, periodicals and non-book materials, both new and second-hand, are

gratefully accepted, if they fall within the library’s collection priorities and will add

significantly to the collection. The libraries of deceased or retired pastors will be accepted on

the condition that the library is under no obligation to keep any of the materials (for reasons

such as duplication, currency, condition) and that it is free to disperse them to faculty or

students or to sell them, with profits going to the library or to charity. Special collections will

be accepted, provided there are no conditions which would prove burdensome to the library.

23

References Consulted

Concordia Seminary Missouri. 2010. http://www.csl.edu/ (accessed October 17, 2010)

Evans, G. Edward, and Margaret Zarnosky Saponaro. 2005. Developing Library and

Information Center Collections. 5th

ed. Westport: Libraries Unlimited.

Löhe Memorial Library Collection Development Policy. 2006.

http://www.alc.edu.au/pdffiles/Library_Collection_Development_Policy.pdf (accessed

October 17, 2010)