Collection Development Functions

Collection Development

Introduction:

1. As a guide the collection development librarian assists librarians in providing current, diverse and balanced collections of materials to support the instructional, institutional and individual needs of students, faculty and staff.

2. We provide access to materials in appropriate formats including print and electronic resources consistent with the college’s fiscal resources.

3. We encourage instructional faculty participation in collection development.

4. We provide organized access to electronic resources.

5. We serve distance education students and faculty by providing remote access to materials in the most appropriate and cost-effective manner.



Philosophy of Selection

In general, the resource needs of the college reflects one or more of the following:

1. Curriculum support

2. General reference needs

3. Research needs

4. General or special professional growth

5. Cultural enrichment

6. Extracurricular interests


The Collection Development Librarian is responsible for

1. Considering gifts/donated materials on the individual merit of each item.

2. Deselection of library materials.

3. Ongoing evaluation of the existing collection.

4. Keep abreast of current materials in subject areas relevant to the curriculum.
5. Identification of Collection Weakness and Retrospective Selection

6. Reviewing intercampus and interlibrary loan forms, withdrawal lists, student and faculty requests, the reference log and bibliographies.

7. Reading reviews in selected review media.

8. Review the library’s Collection Development Policy on a regular basis.