Tools and Vendors for Collection Analysis

The page contains links to tools and reviews that may be useful to Shared Print Programs. Also of interest may be the Infrastructure Working Group Annual Report – 2020/2021 which includes explorations of what tools for shared print are available in various systems. Note that the tools listed below are externals to an ILS/LSP. Some service providers may have union catalogs that perform much of the same functionality. 

• Agua - Provides key collection data to the Western Regional Storage Trust (WEST) and UC Libraries Shared Print Initiative. Currently not available to other programs.

• CDL, CRL, & HathiTrust Shared Print Collaboration - provides a free Collection Comparison Tool – compares lists of  OCN/ISSNs to titles in CRL's Print Archives Preservation Registry (PAPR)  

• Center for Research Libraries - Offers custom collection analysis for serials and journals. 

• Choreo Insights (OCLC) - geared towards individual library collection analysis, and can be used to compare against shared print commitments which are registered in WorldCat

• GreenGlass (OCLC) - Offers individual and group analysis tools. Many shared print projects have used this tool for their initial collection comparisons.

• Gold Rush Library Content Comparison System (Colorado Alliance) - Offers individual and group analysis.  The Big Ten Academic Alliance,  EAST,  and Keep@Downsview have made extensive use of this system.  See also the Partnership webinar on "Analyzing Collections Using Gold Rush", held October 6, 2021.

• Gold Rush, Choreo Insights and GreenGlass comparison chart (provided by EAST)

• Ithaka S&R What to Withdraw tool – for use in withdrawing JSTOR titles

• JRNL - The "Journal Retention and Needs Listing" (JRNL) database was formally used by members of the Rosemont Shared Print Alliance - University of Florida, FLARE, ASERL, EAST, BTAA, and WEST. As of late 2025 the data has been transferred to the Center for Research Libraries (CRL) who will be relaunching the tool at some point in the future. 

• Mackin Collection Management – Collection analysis tool geared toward school libraries

• stackR – “a tool built to assist libraries in analyzing their collections data”

While not strictly a collection analysis tool, the Alma Inventory code, developed by Georgetown University Libraries, facilitates inventory of items cataloged in the Alma integrated library system, which may be of use to shared print programs seeking to validate their holdings. Some libraries alternatively use the Alma Inventory Date Updater.

Also of interest may be the Washington Research Library Consortium's Usage Calculator, which provides estimates of shelf space requirements and UNVL's Rebel Archives Calculator: for cubic and linear feet for archival material space estimates.