Abstract
This field report examines the development and evaluation of a communications strategy for an academic university library’s multi-year Collection Rightsizing Effort. Recognizing that weeding projects often provoke stakeholder concerns around transparency and consultation, the project team adopted best practices from the Weeding Communications in the Collections Lifecycle Project Communications Matrix framework, developed by a subgroup of the joint Rosemont/ Partnership Communications and Advocacy Working Group, to guide and assess communication practices. The report outlines the creation, evaluation and improvements made to a comprehensive communications strategy. Survey results from the first year reveal strong awareness of the project and shared print initiatives, while highlighting areas for improvement in consultation and stakeholder confidence. Findings underscore the importance of early, consistent, transparent communication and shared print messaging for securing buy-in for large-scale collection lifecycle management projects. This report offers practical insights for libraries undertaking similar projects, emphasizing adaptable strategies for fostering trust and engagement.
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Kathmann, Mackenzie
(2026)
"Field report: Communicating the uOttawa Library Collection Rightsizing Effort,"
Collaborative Librarianship: Vol. 16:
Iss.
1, Article 3.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/collaborativelibrarianship/vol16/iss1/3