Library - Collection Development#748
ID Code
LIB.120
Office
Library
Owner
Kelly Joyce
Create Date
2016-08-18
Effective Date
2016-07-18
Revision Date
2021-05-17
Approved By
Carey Adams
Approved Date
2021-06-14
Editors

The mission statement for the Duggan Library reads, in part, “...providing meaningful contributions to the College’s unique teaching and learning environment through [collection development of materials in print, audiovisual, electronic and other formats as appropriate in support of the curriculum].”  To properly ensure this mission, a collection development policy is necessary and serves as a general guide by establishing criteria for the selection and maintenance of the library’s collection, in all formats.

This policy reaffirms past and current practice that the collections are a responsibility shared by librarians and faculty, while welcoming recommendations from students, staff, alumni, community patrons and friends, subject to criteria in this policy.

One of the primary purposes of the library is acquiring and maintaining materials that directly support the curriculum, both undergraduate and graduate.  Addressing faculty research concerns serves as a secondary aim.  Peripherally, the library also considers materials relating to the recreational needs of the college community and as a general information source for the community at large. 

General Collecting Principles

 - Selection of materials shall be a collaborative effort between faculty and the library.

 - Selection of materials to be added to the Duggan Library collections is based on demonstrated need with an emphasis on the quality of the selection. Materials that support the curriculum receive the highest priority.

 - Acquisition of materials may occur through direct order purchases, vendors, gifts, government document depository, and exchanges with other libraries.

 - Specialized (research level) material will be primarily provided through Interlibrary Loan.

 - All materials purchased with library funds will reside in, or emanate from (in the case of electronic resources), the library.

 - Items purchased for the library's collections will be cataloged with bibliographic information available from the online public access catalog. All newly received library materials must be cataloged and processed before they can be taken out of the library.

 - Where multiple formats (print, microform, audio-visual, electronic, etc.) are available for a given item, the format selected should be the one that provides the greatest benefit in terms of access, ease of use, and perpetuity, to the library's users.  The library also strives to provide current technology devices that facilitate access to materials in non-print format.

 - Materials that are missing or damaged will be considered for replacement.

 - The library will not collect computer software programs (for example, SPSS).

 - The library will not normally purchase multiple copies of materials. Exceptions may be made for duplication of appropriate titles for Special Collections, in Reference where a duplicate to a circulating title is prudent, where multiple sections of a course are being taught simultaneously, or when an additional copy to a circulating title is deemed necessary for the purpose of course reserves. (In any case, due to the nature and intent of course reserves, library allocation funds will not be used for purchase of multiple reserve copies).

- Books on tape are not collected and will not be purchased with library acquisition funds or retained, if gifted to the library.
 - Consideration for acquisition of dissertations will only be at the request of faculty.  Requests for dissertations from students working on senior theses will attempt to be filled through Interlibrary Loan first before evaluating for purchase.

Monographs:

 - The library will not purchase classroom textbooks.

 - To ensure longevity of library materials purchased, hardback will be the preferred format for print monographs, unless prohibitively expensive, in which case paperback will be obtained.

 - Purchase of electronic books in lieu of print for both the general and reference collections, may be considered by preference from the ordering faculty member or as part of a patron-driven acquisition program.

 - When feasible and financially prudent, the library may subscribe to electronic book collections to supplement existing materials.

Periodicals:

 - Requests for new periodical subscriptions, in any format, will be considered in consultation with departmental faculty members.  Departments may request a review of currently received print periodicals at any time.

 - Retrospective periodical issues/collections will be purchased in electronic format and will only be added to fill an existing gap.

 - General interest (non-academic) periodicals will only be retained for a limited time period; change in retention time frame may be recommended by faculty.

 - Print copies of journals duplicated by stable electronic databases, such as JSTOR, will not be retained past the point they become available on said resource.

Electronic Databases:

 - The library will maintain access to a wide variety of electronic databases, including citation and full text (periodical and book) and media that support Hanover's academic programs.

- Database access and use subject to licensing agreements.

Audio/Visual Materials:

 - DVDs will automatically be the format of choice for motion picture materials, however Blu-ray may be purchased if DVD is unavailable.

 - Educational films have higher priority for acquisition than feature films, unless the feature film directly supports a course being taught.

 - Preference for online streaming video will be given to subscription aggregator packages (e.g. Films on Demand, AVON) which provide unlimited access at a fixed annual cost.

 - Limited term streaming video licenses may be acquired for course and curriculum support only through contracted academic market providers, such as Kanopy or Swank.  The library will not pursue obtaining streaming licenses via individual rights holders.

 - Feature films not directly supporting courses may be purchased as discretionary funds allow.

 - For DVDs, the NTSC (North American format) is strongly preferred to PAL (European format).  Given the lack of equipment to play PAL formatted material, these will only be purchases when NTSC is not available.

Reference Materials:

 - New reference titles may be suggested by contacting the library director.

 - Dictionaries, encyclopedias, bibliographies, biographical sources, general subject surveys, handbooks, almanacs, abstracts, etc. will be provided for up to date coverage across disciplines and subject matters.

 - Reference materials in ebook format are made available through both purchase and subscription packages.

Recreational Reading:

 - Leisure reading material will be provided through participation in the New York Times Best Sellers lease program and occasional gifts, and may be retained in either the Fitton Browing Collection or the general stacks.