ABSTRACT
Not many years ago, most libraries’ acquisitions were limited to books, serials, microforms, and audiovisual materials. Today library patrons expect access to virtual documents as well as to physical items, and the concept of a library “collection” is being redefined. Leased electronic resources are made available to patrons without being acquired for the library. Intangible resources, such as the full text of articles, are provided through “pay per view” arrangements, and are used or taken away by patrons without ever being added to the library’s permanent collection. It is becoming common for librarians to consider freely available Web resources as components of a collection, whether these resources are cataloged and appear in the OPAC, or are accessible through links on a library Web page. Attention is being paid to digitizing materials and publishing digital collections on the World Wide Web as a strategy to increase user access. A “collection” commonly extends beyond resources the library owns to include all the resources to which it can provide access.
