Collection Development Policy

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LIS-660 October 23, 2013 Authored by: Gina Shelton Note: This policy was an assignment for a college course. It reflects a real SUNY institution in Westchester County, NY but not written for or in conjunction with said institution. To eliminate confusion, the name of the institution has been replaced. Collection Development Policy Hometown College Library, State University of New York

Transcript of Collection Development Policy

Page 1: Collection Development Policy

LIS-660 October 23, 2013

Authored by: Gina Shelton

Note: This policy was an assignment for a college course. It reflects a real SUNY institution in Westchester County, NY but not written for or in conjunction with said institution. To eliminate

confusion, the name of the institution has been replaced.

Collection Development Policy

Hometown College Library, State University of New York

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Collection Development Policy Hometown College Library, State University of New York

I. INTRODUCTION The Hometown College Library supports the missions of Hometown College, State University of New York (SUNY), and the greater SUNY system by providing comprehensive and diverse collections for the educational and research needs of students and faculty. The purpose of this policy statement is to guide the development and maintenance of the Library’s collection.

In carrying out collection development activities, the Library adheres to the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights”, including:

1. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

2. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

II. BACKGROUND STATEMENT Hometown College is one of 64 institutes of higher learning in the State University of New York system founded in 1967. The college is located in Hometown, NY, situated within Westchester County, a suburban community of New York City.

Hometown College is known for pairing a liberal arts education with conservatory programs in the arts. The College is organized into three programs: Liberal Arts & Sciences, School of the Arts, and Liberal Studies and Continuing Education. Liberal Arts & Sciences includes the Schools of Film & Media Studies, Humanities, and Natural & Social Sciences. The School of the Arts includes conservatories in dance, music, and theatre arts, as well as the School of Art+Design. Within the academic programs there are 47 undergraduate majors, 30 undergraduate minors, and 5 graduate programs. Approximately 1,100 new students from 35 countries are enrolled each year.

III. MISSION AND PURPOSE

A. State University of New York Mission The mission of the state university system shall be to provide to the people of New York educational services of the highest quality, with the broadest possible access, fully representative of all segments of the population in a complete range of academic, professional and vocational postsecondary programs including such additional activities in pursuit of these objectives as are necessary or customary. These services and activities shall

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be offered through a geographically distributed comprehensive system of diverse campuses which shall have differentiated and designated missions designed to provide a comprehensive program of higher education, to meet the needs of both traditional and non-traditional students and to address local, regional and state needs and goals.

B. Hometown College, State University of New York Mission Mission: Hometown College, SUNY, offers a unique education that combines programs in the liberal arts with conservatory programs in the arts in ways that emphasize inquiry, mastery of skills, and creativity. Our graduates contribute to the arts, humanities, sciences, and society. Vision: Hometown College will be recognized nationally and internationally as the leading public institution to pair conservatory programs in the arts with liberal arts programs. We will continue to create opportunities for transformative learning and training in a community where disciplines connect, intersect, and enhance one another. Values: Hometown College celebrates individuality, diversity, and creativity in a community of educational excellence.

C. Hometown College Library Mission To support the teaching, learning, and research of the College's faculty, students and outreach community.

IV. RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION Subject liaisons are primarily responsible for selecting materials for the collection. Liaisons review and select materials, considering the input of faculty, staff, and students. Members of the Hometown College community are encouraged to recommend titles via an online form on the Library’s website or through direct contact with subject liaisons. The majority of electronic resources are shared across the SUNY system and are selected by the SUNYConnect team. Electronic resources selected solely for the Hometown College Library are the responsibility of the Collection Development Team. This team also reviews book purchases over $100, reference materials, and serials subscriptions. The Director of the Library oversees final decisions.

V. SELECTION GUIDELINES In accordance with the missions of the Hometown College Library, Hometown College, and the State University of New York, general guidelines for purchasing include:

Develop a collection that reflects a diversity of viewpoints. Quality resources with permanent and timeless value are preferred.

Select materials that will support all courses taught at Hometown College. Select materials of general interest to the Hometown community. Support faculty research through the collection. Emphasis will be placed on material that

supports both research and course work, and material that will be re-used.

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VI. SELECTION CRITERIA The following criteria will be consulted when selecting materials for the collection (in no particular order):

Content, including currency and timeliness of subject matter Reputation of author, publisher, and/or editor Patron demand/potential use Recommendation by faculty member Curriculum needs Strength of present holdings in same or similar subject area Format Reviews in reputable sources Cost of item Accessibility of item within the region, within consortia, and via interlibrary loan

VII. FORMATS

A. Serials Due to the ongoing nature of periodical subscriptions, requests for new subscriptions will be considered based on cost, potential use, inclusion in indexes, and accessibility at other libraries. Preference will be given to electronic subscriptions unless physicality of material is justified. If current content is included in a current database subscription, justification for print access must be stated.

B. Textbooks Textbooks are purchased on a limited basis. Textbooks with significant reference value may be acquired.

C. Audio The Library collects audio recordings, including CDs and LPs. Current as well and classic recordings will be purchased to support the academic needs of the community.

D. Music scores The Library acquires scores of standard musical works for academic purposes. Music scores are collected with extensive input from faculty.

E. Film DVDs will be purchased for academic and recreational needs. DVDs added to the Academic Collection will be purchased with extensive input from faculty. DVDs added to the Popular Collection will be purchased with input from the Hometown College community. VHS will only be added to collection if item is not available in DVD format or if item is not available through resource sharing.

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F . Electronic Resources Electronic resources include database subscriptions and e-books. Most electronic resources are selected by the SUNYConnect team and made available SUNY-wide. If the Library purchases electronic resources beyond SUNYConnect, selection will be based on the criteria listed in section VI. The Library may purchase or provide access to electronic resources in lieu of other formats.

VIII. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

A. Fine Arts Collection The Fine Arts Collection supports the research and instruction needs of students and faculty, as well as visiting scholars. This collection supports programs within The School of the Arts. Out-of-print monographs, catalogue raisonné, artists’ books, and limited editions of seminal works in the fields of art, design, and photography will be collected. Designated funds from the yearly budget support this collection. Purchasing for the Fine Arts Collection is the responsibility of the Art Librarian. Final decisions are the responsibility of the Director of the Library.

B. Archives The Archives collects, maintains and preserves items related to Hometown College. This includes student publications (e.g., newspapers, magazines, and yearbooks), institutional publications (e.g., alumni directories, course catalogs), and publications by College faculty. In addition, materials related to the Neuberger Museum of Art (e.g., publications and catalogs) are collected.

C. Meserve-Kunhardt Foundation Archives The Hometown College Library maintains the archives of the Meserve-Kunhardt Foundation (http://www.mkfound.org), a “corporation dedicated to the preservation of photography and the use of it to inform, educate and inspire”. The development of this collection is the responsibility of the co-founders, board of directors, and staff at the Meserve-Kunhardt Foundation.

IX. RESOURCE SHARING Hometown College Library pursues cooperative and consortial agreements with other libraries to promote access to materials not owned. The Library considers its many resource sharing networks when making collection development decisions. Through these partnerships, faculty, students, and staff, have access to an extensive collection of materials. Partnerships include:

Regional: Manhattanville College, Westchester Library System, Metropolitan New York Library Council

Consortial: SUNYConnect, IDS Project

Access to materials outside of these agreements is made possible through participation in traditional interlibrary loan.

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X. GIFTS Gifts include donations of print and non-print materials, as well as funds to purchase materials. Physical gifts are accepted on the condition that the Library is permitted to decide if they’re added to the collection. Gifts may be exchanged, sold, or included in the Library’s book sale in order to strengthen the collection.

XI. WITHDRAWAL POLICY Weeding materials is an essential component of collection development to ensure space for new materials and to maintain a relevant collection for the community. The following criteria will be consulted when removing materials from the collection (in no particular order):

Relevancy to the curriculum Currency of content Physical condition Usage Duplicative copies no longer needed Type of material (e.g., format, edition)

Materials removed from the collection may be donated to academic departments or other institutions, or sold in the Library book sale or to Better World Books.

XII. REPLACEMENT Items marked missing, or that have been lost and paid, will be removed from the Library’s OPAC. Withdrawn items will not automatically be replaced. Replacement copies will be purchased based on the criteria listed in section VI.

XIII. POLICY REVISION The Collection Development Policy will be reviewed periodically, but no less than every 5 years. All relevant Library staff will review this policy and proposed changes will be submitted to the Collection Development Committee for approval.