Magnuson, M. L. (October, 2007). Electronic Women’s Studies Grey Literature at Academic Libraries. Paper presented at the Student Research Roundtable session at the Wisconsin Library Association Annual Convention, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

1. Electronic Grey Literature in Women’s Studies Collections at Academic Libraries Marta L. Magnuson magnuson@uwm.edu WLA Student Research Roundtable October 2007

2. What is Grey Literature? “literature which is not readily available through normal bookselling channels, and therefore difficult to identify and obtain” Would include unpublished conference presentations, theses and dissertations, technical and research reports, trade literature, datasets, government publications, bulletins, newsletters, pamphlets, diaries, and zines. (Auger, 1998)

3. Why is this important? Grey literature is an important outlet for women’s writing. Grey literature is often more difficult to collect and catalog. Electronic resources are becoming more widely used – often times even more than the print collection. Not much is written about grey literature as it relates to women’s writing.

4. Research Question How successfully is electronic grey literature being incorporated into Women’s Studies collections at academic libraries?

5. Sub questions How is grey literature described and dealt with in the collection development plan? How are Women’s Studies materials described and dealt with in the collection development plan? What types of Women’s Studies electronic grey literature are popular at American academic libraries? What specific subjects are popular in electronic Women’s Studies collections at American academic libraries?

6. Sample Four American academic libraries whose university has a graduate Women’s Studies program were randomly selected: Small Private University is a small, private university with theological, liberal arts and professional colleges. Offers Master’s in Women's Studies and also a concentration for Ph.D. Regional Public University is a large regional public university with over 100 bachelor, master, and doctoral programs in liberal arts, science, and professional areas. Offers Master’s in Women's Studies. Large Public University is a large public research university with over 300 bachelor, master, and doctoral programs in liberal arts, science, and professional areas. Offers Ph.D. in Gender Studies. Medium Private University is a medium-sized private university with two liberal arts colleges and professional and graduate schools in arts and sciences, business, law, medicine, and theology. Offers Ph.D. in Women's Studies

7. Methodology Document analysis was done on the collection development plans and electronic grey literature holdings at each library

8. Methodology for Collection Development Plans Three specific areas were analyzed in the collection development plans: how grey literature is described and collected at the library how Women’s Studies materials are described and collected at the library how electronic resources are described and collected at the library

9. Findings for Collection Policy None of the four collection development plans analyzed mentioned specifically the terms “grey literature” or “grey material”. The two universities with theological colleges mentioned historical “primary materials” related to their religious denomination. Three out of the four collection development plans mention the collection of women specific materials either through a separate collection plan or in the collection plan for the whole library. All four collection development plans specifically mention the selection of electronic materials such as periodicals and databases.

10. Methodology For Electronic Resources Two specific areas were analyzed: The types of specific Women’s Studies electronic grey literature materials that are available online from the library The specific Women’s Studies topics that have grey literature available

11. Women’s Studies Database Topics with Grey Literature

12. Women’s Studies Website Topics with Grey Literature

13. Women’s Studies Digital Collections Topics with Grey Literature

14. Total Electronic Women’s Studies Resources

15. Conclusions All of the libraries had various types of electronic grey literature in their Women’s Studies collections. Popular topics for Women’s Studies grey literature varied depending on what type of resource it came from. Databases and websites were the most popular types of electronic grey material available. Grey material in these collections was not separated from the other electronic materials but rather a part of the whole collection; another tool for researchers to use along with other information resources.

16. References Auger, C.P. (1998). Information sources in grey literature (4th ed.). London: Bowker-Saur.