A Skeptic's View of Patron-Driven Acquisitions: Is it Time to ask the Tough Questions?

Abstract

Academic librarians have embraced patron-driven acquisitions (PDA) without asking the tough, critical questions about the literature that champions it, which often stretches the boundaries of logical analysis in its conclusions. Realizing what is at stake, in this article the authors ask the skeptical questions that should be considered before buying into the idea of PDA as the panacea for all circulation and budget ills. The goal of the authors is to foster pause for thought and to cause academic librarians to read more carefully the literature for its logical lapses. Since no true dialogue on PDA seems to exist, this is offered as a starting point.