Collection Development Policy
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Document Number: LIBRARY--100
Revision #: 2.0
Document Owner: VP of Academic Affairs
Date Last Updated: 06/12/2018
Primary Author: Director of Vise Library
Status: Approved
Date Originally Created: 08/01/2012
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General Description
Description:
Information about the collection development policy relative to Vise Library operating policy.
Purpose:
The Collection Development Policy is intended to serve as a statement establishing written guidelines for the acquisition and maintenance of Cumberland University's library collections. The increase in demand for information in a wide variety of formats, coupled with an increase in the amount of information produced, necessitate a consistent collection policy with which to select materials within financial constraints. The policy is flexible and subject to review and will change as the information needs of the university change.
Scope:
All faculty, staff, students, and administrators
Responsibility:
Library
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Policy Provisions
1. Goal
The primary goal of the library's Collection Development Policy is to ensure that the library builds and maintains a collection attuned to Cumberland University's undergraduate and graduate curricula.
2. Collection Development Responsibility
Under the direction of the Library Director, both librarians and faculty members share responsibility for building and maintaining the collection. Librarians who participate in collection development serve as subject specialists and are assigned to appropriate academic disciplines. Librarians also serve as liaisons to faculty members participating in the program. As subject specialists, each librarian will be responsible for selecting material in his or her particular discipline, assessing and maintaining the collection, and keeping abreast of new information. Tools used in the selection of new material include book reviews (primarily from the magazine, Choice), publisher catalogs, and bibliographies, such as Resources for College Libraries. The Library Director supervises the collection development process, including budgeting, selecting, and weeding.
Although librarians and faculty involved directly in the collection development process have ultimate responsibility, all faculty members, students, and staff may request the library purchase new materials. The same standards apply to these requests. More information about item requests can be found on the library's website.
3. Allocation of Funds
The materials budget is divided according to academic discipline based on the following considerations: number of faculty within a division, average cost of books in a discipline, course content within a division, and analysis of program resource needs.
4. Selection Philosophy
The library collects a wide variety of materials in a number of formats, including electronic and print books and serials, online databases, and DVDs. The library collection, with some exceptions, is based on quality, not quantity. As a small library, space and budget considerations preclude buying materials that do not meet the current needs of the school's curriculum. Also, duplicates will not be added to the collection unless heavy demand is expected.
5. Selection Guidelines
In addition to the general guidelines above, materials are judged according to the following standards:
•Currency: The focus of collection development is on current materials. Exceptions include selecting materials that form part of a core collection in a subject taught at the university. The library also endeavors to replace lost or stolen items.
•Language: The library favors material published primarily in English.
•Reputation of Author and Publisher: How authoritative are the author(s) and publisher of the material in question?
•Strength of Present Holdings: Is the library already sufficient in the area?
•Suitability: Does the library possess the proper equipment to view or listen to the material?
•Cost: Does demand for an item justify the acquisition of a high-cost item?
•Lasting Value: Does the item have lasting value?
6. Books
•Hardbacks/Paperbacks: When a choice exists between hardback and paperback books of the same item, paperbacks are purchased. The library places plastic covers over books to ensure a longer lasting value and preservation.
•Textbooks: Textbooks are not purchased as a rule. Exceptions would include items deemed "classics" in a particular field or otherwise relevant to the collection.
•E-Books: The library subscribes to Ebrary and other online resources which provide the full text of over 113,000 electronic books on a variety of subjects.
•Juvenile Material: The library collects both the annual Newbery & Caldecott winning books and other juvenile and curriculum lab materials to support the needs of the School of Education.
7. Serials
Unlike books, serial subscriptions require ongoing financial commitments. Thus, serials tend to be scrutinized carefully. Librarians and faculty conduct periodic reviews of individual periodical titles. The criteria used in deciding to drop or add a particular title are as follows:
1. Does the periodical support the curriculum?
2. Is the periodical available in full text in one of the library's online databases?
3. Is the cost of the periodical becoming prohibitively expensive?
4. Does usage warrant continuing the subscription?
8. Newspapers
The library subscribes to a select number of local and national newspapers. Newspapers are retained for four weeks and then discarded. Three newspapers, the Lebanon Democrat, the Wilson Post, and the Mt. Juliet News are retained for permanent use on microfilm.
9. Back Runs
Back issues of most print serial titles are kept for ten years. The library will rely on interlibrary loan to acquire articles from serials it does not hold.
10. Online Databases
The library subscribes to a variety of online databases. Most contain the full text of a magazine or journal article. The databases also serve as indices for serials available from the library.
11. Standing Order Books
The library has a number of standing order reference materials that are updated annually.
12. Government Publications
The library is not a depository for either state or federal documents. However, the library does purchase materials published by governmental agencies. These consist mainly of statistical books and other reference material.
13. Microforms
The library does not select microforms except for the newspapers listed above.
14. Maps and Atlases
The library will repair or replace atlases already existing in the collection and acquire updated editions. Maps are not selected.
15. Special Collections -- The Stockton Archives
The library contains an archive of materials associated with Cumberland University. Cumberland staff, students and alumni donate most of this material. However, the library may purchase documents relevant to the university's history.
16. Tennessee Collection - Dissertations and Theses
The library does not collect dissertations or theses. However, materials written by Cumberland University faculty are accepted on donation and placed in the Stockton Archives.
17. Telephone Books
Due to the availability of free telephone books and listings on the Internet, the library does not collect these materials.
18. College Catalog
Since a great number of colleges provide copies of their catalogs on the Internet, the library does not collect these materials.
19. Indexes
The library's paper indexes have been replaced for the most part by online databases. Exceptions include the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature, which is a standing order.
20. Audio/Visual Materials
DVDs are actively selected. The criteria for selection are identical to that of books. Audiocassettes and vide cassettes are not selected.
21. Weeding Policy
Librarians assess the relevance and physical condition of materials in the collection on a continuing basis. Materials deemed outdated or otherwise irrelevant for the university are removed. Materials judged to be in poor condition, but still useful, will be repaired or replaced if possible. Also, materials superseded by newer editions will be replaced. Particular attention is paid to the areas of health sciences and computer information. Material that is older than five years or two editions is removed from the collection.
22. Gifts
Gifts are accepted if the items meet the library's collection development criteria. No conditions as to their disposition will be honored. The library reserves the right to dispose of the materials for any reason.
23. Preservation
The library endeavors to preserve materials as best as possible. Items are evaluated on a continuing basis. The main priority is that the materials remain in good condition for regular library use. However, with the exception of items in Special Collections, the library makes no effort to preserve material for perpetuity.
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Subject Experts
The following may be consulted for additional information.
Director of Vise Library
VP of Academic Affairs