Transforming monograph collections with a model of collections as a service

Financial pressures, changes in scholarly communications, the rise of online content, and the ability to easily share materials have provided libraries the opportunity to rethink their collections practices. This article provides an overview of these changes and outlines a framework for viewing collections as a service. It describes how libraries have begun to use this framework to move from traditional stand-alone print monograph collections toward a user-centric, just-intime model that leverages technology and today’s networked environment to efficiently connect users with resources. It also includes a discussion of what steps libraries should take to continue this evolution.