Daniel Webster College – Anne Bridge Baddour Library
Collection Development Policy

Introduction

The purpose of the Collection Development Policy is to guide librarians and inform the DWC Community about the principles upon which the selection of materials is made.

The planned development of a library collection requires the consistent application of a stated selection policy. It enables the librarian to work with greater consistency toward defined goals, thus shaping stronger collections and using funds more wisely. Such policies reflect the reality that all libraries are constrained from collecting all materials in all subject areas by limitations of funds, space and staffing. In the face of these constraints, libraries maximize their effectiveness by establishing collection goals and priorities and the concomitant policies and procedures to implement them.

The Library reflects and supports the Mission and goals of Daniel Webster College through its services and collections.

The College’s Mission Statement:

Daniel Webster College educates purposeful men and women for professional entry, advancement, and advanced studies in the fields of aviation, computer science, management, social science and engineering. Our students prepare through residential and continuing studies programs, which emphasize the integration of theory and practice through interactive teaching and learning in the professional and liberal studies.


Philosophy

The philosophy of the Library is to acquire, organize, and circulate materials needed to meet the instructional and cultural aims of Daniel Webster College.

The primary function of the DWC Library is to meet the resource and service needs of the College community as they relate to the curriculum. A secondary function is to provide resources and service relevant to general research and information needs, intellectual and professional growth, cultural development, and recreational activities.

The Library’s collections are dedicated to the use, rather than to the preservation, of recorded knowledge and emphasizes current rather than archival needs for information.


Statement of Intellectual Rights

Because Daniel Webster College encourages the free exploration of ideas in the pursuit of knowledge and truth, the Library will make available study materials that represent a broad range of thought. It shall be the right and the obligation of the librarian to select such materials.

Censorship of materials held in the Library or under consideration for inclusion by individuals or organizations seeking to control the dissemination of public information will be vigorously challenged by the librarians.

No attempt will be made to censor controversial materials by placing them under special controls. All sides of a disputed issue will be represented openly in the book and audio-visual collections to provide students, faculty, and staff with free access to representative thought so that they may form their own opinions.

This policy is in accordance with the “Freedom to Read” statement of the American Library Association.


Collection Development Goals Statement

Library materials will be acquired in accordance with the following priorities, ranked in descending order of importance:

1. To support and enhance the curriculum

2. To furnish materials for general information in subject areas not included in the curriculum of the College in order to achieve a balanced collection.


3. To collect and preserve all-important materials related to the history and development of Daniel Webster College.

4. To extend the availability of Library resources and thereby avoid unnecessary duplication, through cooperation with other institutions and colleges.



Guidelines

A. Definitions

1. Library materials may be books, periodicals, electronic databases and collections, pamphlets, reports, microforms, slides, video or audio recordings, etc.

2. Selection is the process of deciding which materials to acquire for a library collection. It is a matter of systematically comparing quality and value of items that provide information about the same subject.

B. Levels of Collection

“Building collection to satisfy current demands is building them too late, and librarians must anticipate research interests of twenty years hence.” (Oscar Handlin, “Research Library Collection”)

The following collection level codes are based on the RLG/NCIP Conspectus and the American Library Association’s Guidelines for Collection Development. This framework for collection development and the collection assessment is based on the Library of Congress classification system and a set of standard codes that include: (1) existing collection strength (ECS) (2) current collection intensity (CCI) of each Library of Congress classification, and (3) desired collection intensity (DCI). The Daniel Webster Library does not aspire to have collections of each of more than 5,000 Library of Congress at every level, especially at the research and exhaustive levels. The Library does, however, aspire to have collections of the Library of Congress classifications at the instructional level for subjects that support the curriculum. The Library recognizes that some subjects support the inter-disciplinary nature of research and will develop the collection accordingly. Although the Library’s immediate goal is to build the collection so it supports the existing programs, ultimately the Library’s collection needs to support faculty research. The Library is also cognizant of the shortsightedness of only building a collection to meet current collection demands.

The collection levels that follow are cumulative.

Collection Level Codes

Level 0: Out-of-scope Level

Level 1: Minimal Level
1a Basic
1b Intermediate
1c Advanced

Level 2: Core Collection Level
1a Basic
2b Intermediate
2c Advanced

Level 3: Instructional Level
3a Basic
3b Intermediate
3c Advanced

Level 4: Research Level
4a Basic
4b Intermediate
4c Advanced

Level 5: Comprehensive Level
5a Basic
5b Intermediate
5c Advanced

RLG Conspectus (C)
Language Codes

E Predominantly English language material
F Selected foreign language material in addition to predominantly English language
W Wide selection of applicable foreign language material
Y Foreign language material predominates

Level 0: Out-of-Scope Level
The Library does not have an interest or mission in a specific Library of Congress Classification range and does not support acquisitions in that subject. This level does not include subjects necessary for the support of interdisciplinary research but it does not necessarily mean an absence of any monographs, periodicals or other source materials.

Level 1: Minimal Level
The Library will acquire basic works that support the needs of its users. Source materials at this level will orient the user to a given subject but will not provide depth. This level will enable the user to recognize basic issues and ideas. It will consist of materials in English. This level of the collection includes:

1. Monographs which give broad or survey treatment to the subject,

2. A careful but limited choice of titles from Books for College Libraries and Books for Junior College Libraries.

3. Basic encyclopedias and handbooks,

4. Few but carefully selected titles from Magazines for Libraries,

5. Complete works of transcendent figures such as Darwin, Freud, Plato and Shakespeare.

Level 2: Core Collection Level
The Library will acquire very selective choices at the introductory subject level, including monographs, reference works, periodicals, and other materials. This level, although more rounded, is not sufficiently intensive to support the curriculum. Users who wish to pursue a more in-depth exploration of the subject will need to rely on interlibrary loan.

This level of the collection includes:

1. Specialized encyclopedias, handbooks, dictionaries and bibliographies,

2. Current introductory material including new developments or better treatment of a subject,

3. Historical surveys,

4. A few major periodicals in the field,

5. Basic indexes and abstracts needed to access information through interlibrary loan.

Level 3: Instructional Level
The Library will acquire major source materials required to support the curriculum. This level will support and in-depth understanding of a subject. Additionally, it will prepare a user to conduct research at the undergraduate level, including upper-level undergraduate and preliminary graduate course work. This level will consist of materials in English, unless there are special circumstances, such as the study of foreign languages. The Library will support both interdisciplinary and cross-cultural research in its acquisition of materials.

This level of the collection includes:

1. Government documents,

2. Complete sets of monographic serials,

3. At least 75% of retrospective titles from Books for College Libraries, Choice’s Opening Day Collection,

4. 75% to 100% of retrospective titles from Books for Junior College Libraries,

5. selective choices of retrospective monographs from specialized bibliographies, dealer catalogs, bibliographies that are a part of a scholarly monograph, etc.

6. electronic access to local and remote databases,

7. pertinent computer software,

8. selections from currently published monographs as represented, but not limited to, Choice and Library Journal selections,

9. current editions of the most significant reference tools and bibliographies pertaining to the subject.

10. Selection of major review journals

11. A comprehensive selection of the works of more important writers,

12. A selection of the most significant works of secondary writers.

Level 4: Research Level
The Library will acquire the majority of source materials required for dissertations and independent research. This level will provide the informational sources that will enable users to explore and articulate new or previously unexamined ideas or aspects of a subject.

This level of the collection includes:

1. Specialized reference tools,

2. Conference proceedings,

3. Professional society publications,

4. Multiple editions,

5. Bibliographies,

6. Important foreign language material,

7. At least 65% of available periodical titles,

8. Older and superseded materials retained for historical research,

9. Large monograph sets,

10. 75% to 100% of the titles from Books for College Libraries,

11. majority of retrospective monographs from specialized bibliographies (for example: International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, Harvard List of Books in Psychology, Core Collection of the Baker Library [Harvard Business School]),

12. major indexing and abstracting services with recognition of the interdisciplinary nature of research.

Level 5: Comprehensive Level
The Library will acquire everything of research value on the subject no matter what the language, age level, or format. This level will be undertaken only in restricted areas.
This level of the collection includes marginal materials such as manuscripts, archives, and ephemera.

C. Selection Responsibility

Selection involves the planned identification and review of items best suited to strengthen the College’s resources for support of instruction. The importance of wise selection has grown proportional to the volume of available material, the cost of those materials, and the cost of acquiring, housing, and maintaining materials.

All faculty members are strongly encouraged to recommend the materials for acquisition in their subject fields for the circulating collection. Any member of the administration, the faculty, staff, or student body may request that material be added to the collection by submitting a request to the Public Services Librarian or Library Director. All recommendations for the acquisitions of library materials will be reviewed by the librarians in the context of the collection development policy. While every effort is made to accommodate requests that are within the scope of the library's collection development policy, the library must exercise care in the purchase of highly specialized research materials solely for individual faculty use. For narrowly specialized and more expensive materials faculty members must expect to resort to interlibrary loan, online literature searches, and the more comprehensive resources of nearby universities.

The librarian charged with collection development has the overall responsibility for the selection of Library materials. This is a major professional activity and the individual will apply to it all of the knowledge, experience, bibliographic tools, and time at his or her command. In addition, this individual is in the best position to observe the quality and balance of all subject areas.

Ultimate responsibility for selection of materials rests with the Library Director.

D. Selection Philosophy

The Library will select material for inclusion in its collections based on the following criteria (which are recommended by Choice): the work’s overall excellence in presentation and scholarship; its importance relative to other literature in the field; its distinction as the first treatment of a given subject; the work is definitive or in some way is unique; the work’s value to undergraduate students; the importance of the title in building an academic library’s collection; a work that has been found flawed in some respect but merits inclusion because it fills a void in the literature.

E. Criteria for Selection

1. The material is curriculum related.

2. The material provides support for one or more courses in the curriculum.

3. Timeliness or permanence of the material—those items of lasting literary or social value.

4. Positive review evaluation in one or more of the accepted reviewing media and/or citations of the material in specialized bibliographies or index. (See section F).

5. Date of publication (In general, works with recent publication dates will be given a higher priority over older works. Exceptions are made if the document is a standard in its subject or id the older material is of current value to the collection.)

6. The work does not duplicate material in titles already in the collection.

7. Availability of materials on the subject.

8. The author’s reputation and credibility in subject field, or assessment of the translator if the book is a foreign language work.

9. Price.

10. The technical excellence, durability, ease of use, and readability of the format.

F. Selection Aids

Although not a substitute for taste and judgment on the part of the Librarian, recognized, standard selection aids for the availability and worth of materials for libraries include:

1. Retrospective:
Books for College Libraries
The Reader’s Advisor

2. Current:
Choice
Library Journal
American Libraries
Booklist
Wilson Library Bulletin
New York Times Book Review
Reader’s Quarterly
American Reference Books Annual
Sheehy’s Guide to Reference Books
Walford’s Guide to Reference Material
Books in Print and government document publications

Specialized bibliographies, professional journals, subject lists, catalogs, as well as inspection of the material itself may also be used to meet the needs of individual departments.

G. Non-Print Materials

Audio-visual materials, such as recording, slides, video and audiocassettes, CDs, etc. are considered primary materials. When acquired for the permanent collection, selection criteria are consistent with the criteria used in selecting books.

In addition to the general criteria used as guides in selection, attention will also be paid to the technical quality, technique, authenticity, and effectiveness of presentation, usefulness, durability, artistic merit and artistic reputation of the artist.

H. Gifts

The Library solicits and encourages gifts and donations of useful materials, or money to purchase them, provided there are no restrictions attached. The monetary appraisal of gift materials is not the responsibility of the Library. Materials received as gifts will be evaluated by the same criteria as materials purchased. Everything donated to the Library becomes Library property, to be used as it deems appropriate. Unneeded items will be disposed of by sale, exchange, donation, or discard.

I. Pamphlet File

The purpose of the Pamphlet File is to augment other Library collections by providing quick and easy access to pamphlets, clippings, fliers, and other ephemera. The emphasis in this collection is on materials covering topics of current interest. However, other materials for which there may be occasional or sporadic demand are also housed there.

Most pamphlets of 49 pages or less, regardless of the collection for which they were originally intended, are considered for inclusion in the vertical file. The librarians have complete discretion as to which materials will be housed there.

J. Government Documents

Government publications of all types are considered for purchase using the same selection criteria as for other publications. Documents are selected for their importance as reference materials and with emphasis placed on the Aviation program, on popular demand, and on anticipated needs of the DWC community.

The DWC Library is not a depository for US government documents. Access to all government documents, however, is available in the area at Depository Libraries and through the inter-library loan system.

General Policies

A. Limitations

1. Only English language materials will be acquired for levels 3-5 unless others are needed to support the programs offered by the College.

2. Publications of lasting and scholarly value will be given priority. The use of retrospective literature varies by subject and thus will be added to the collection on the basis of its importance and need in that discipline.

3. Textbooks are not usually added to the collection unless they are considered to be the best source of information on a particular subject or unless they are acquired as part of curricula collections.

4. The Library does not purchase Works of propaganda or of a polemical nature, nor are they accepted as gifts.

5. Only one copy of a title will be ordered unless heavy and continued use can be demonstrated.

B. Out of Print Materials

The acquisition of out-of-print materials is considered on a case-by-case basis. If a title is a standard in the field, an attempt will be made to acquire it from an out-of-print jobber at a reasonable price for a limited amount of time—not to exceed one year.

C. Replacement

Resources that are missing, lost, or withdrawn because of wear will not automatically be replaced. The merit of the book, serial, or audio-visual must be considered by the librarian before replacement copies are authorized. Demand for the resource, its value to the collection, and whether or not a new edition has superseded it or newer material will be considered as criteria in requesting replacements.

D. Procedure for Faculty Requests

Requests for materials should be made through the department chair.

The Library encourages assignments of the following priorities to requests in order to use its budget more effectively:

1. ESSENTIAL for instruction or course work.
2. IMPORTANT for the discipline though less closely related to existing instruction or course work.
3. USEFUL, but not basic or central to instruction or research. May fill individual need, but these are likely to be highly specialized.
4. WISH LIST would like to have if funds permit.
 

Updated 02/08/2007