Core CD Collections from eJazzLines.com

Well, I've finally finished going through the four core collection levels for CDs, plus the core collection for CD boxed sets. Its amazing how long it takes to check the library catalog for recordings. Its not a matter of matching ISBN or any other identification number. Many of these CDs are re-releases of LPs or 78s, have been remastered, and often with previously-unreleased tracks. Many of the companies that originally published these songs are no longer in business, so the re-releases are distributed by other companies. Hence, each CD on the list must be checked at the track level for a match in the catalog. This makes for long, sometimes-tedious work.

The lists contained 893 items, 597 of which I have selected for purchase. This means that the library (which includes the Archives of Traditional Music) did not own 66.85% of the titles on the lists. Looking at the first core collection level, however, shows that the library only lacks 33% of the titles; at the second level, the library lacks about 60% of the titles. This shows that the library has done better collecting what may be considered the "most important" Jazz recordings, although much can and should still be added to the collection.

I've kept each core collection list separate from the others to help Michael Fling and the future collection manager at the music library prioritize purchases. The total cost for all the items on the lists comes to $13,152.64, or $22.03 per title. This includes the expensive boxed set titles, which have anywhere between 4 and 20 CDs each. Taking them out, the total cost for the 4 core collection levels would be $9,364.11, or $16.69 per title. Not bad, but looking around online I found that many of these titles can be bought for less from Amazon or CD Universe if one would just do the work of searching for them. If the library is interested in saving $600-$1,000, this could be an option, but then one would have to make the ethical decision about whether the work eJazzLines did to compile the core lists is worth anything to the library.

Also, I guess it remains to be seen whether or not these core collection lists represent good indicators of quality recordings every library should own. That's why I'm sending the list to one of the Jazz faculty here at IU to have a look at. Thomas Walsh is interested in having a look at the work I've done thus far so he can help make some recommendations for materials I haven't yet been exposed to. It will be good to get his suggestions so as to collect materials that could have definite research impact at the university.

I'm now at about 90 hours into the internship. At this rate (about 15 hours a week) I should be done by the end of the semester. Next, I hope to take a look into reviews and lists found in current Jazz periodicals to find recent releases that would be appropriate for the collection at IU. I'll definitely have a smaller list to show for it, but I think it will be a good exercise.