ABSTRACT
This paper will explore the issues surrounding the impacts of holdings on resource sharing, and identify options for providing users with efficient access to materials. A case can be made for using the term “access” to describe any department or service in a library–access to materials, access to bibliographic records, access to location assistance, access to local collections, access to other collections, access to the information highway, and so on. Then again, the information highway provides access to information, electronic publishers provide access to information, information brokers provide access to information, and commercial document suppliers provide access to information. So, what is the difference? What do libraries have that other information access points lack? That is easy: collections. Well, not exactly easy; in fact, collections are becoming increasingly troublesome, beginning with the basic task of defining them. Let’s stop right there–defining them. That is where holdings and access come together. In order for users to experience a seamless circle of access to information, the definition of collections suddenly incorporates a description of both holdings and access.
