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UK and Ireland (English) Change

Interdisciplinary Studies enhancement now available in WorldCat Collection Analysis

One of the most requested enhancements, the ability to assess interdisciplinary studies across a collection, is now available in WorldCat Collection Analysis.

Libraries are faced with the challenges of creating collections that cut across several subject areas and fields of study. Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of these collections is difficult. Classification systems do not treat these disciplines as a single subject, and interdisciplinary studies areas cross multiple subjects and call number areas. Now WorldCat Collection Analysis gives librarians the ability to assess their collections across areas of study, and compare their collection with their peers.

Some examples of interdisciplinary studies include:

  • African American Studies combining literature, history, politics, religion, sociology, and so on
  • Area studies Middle Eastern studies, East Asian studies
  • Biomedical Informatics combining computer science, information science, informatics, cognitive science, human-computer interaction, biomedical science, medicine, healthcare
  • Childhood studies anthropology, economics, history, sociology, literature, religion, fine arts and psychology
  • Religious studies anthropology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, history of religion and theology

And there are many other areas where new fields of study encompass multiple subject areas throughout the collection.

The interdisciplinary studies enhancement helps libraries:

  • Define their own unique interdisciplinary studies areas, since one library area of study may not match another library area of study
  • Easily navigate through the OCLC Conspectus and traditional classification schemes to identify titles in multiple subject areas
  • Compare their interdisciplinary studies collection with peer libraries offering similar curriculum to identify overlaps and gaps

Now librarians can limit an analysis by Category and/or Subject in addition to Division. Library staff can also name and save their Subject Profiles and have them available for use in the future.

See more information, including steps to create an interdisciplinary studies assessment.

View a recorded presentation introducing the interdisciplinary studies enhancement to WorldCat Collection Analysis.

(2009 08 16)


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