Collection development policies

Serials
Books

Serials/periodicals collection development policy.

The following represent general guidelines for periodical selection in MCC's Leroy V. Good Library. They can be thought of as a series of markers defining the local area of magazine and newspaper selection. These considerations are mostly situational and descriptive rather than categorical and prescriptive. They are meant to be flexible; they are developmental and subject to ongoing reevaluation.

A periodical is generally understood to be a publication which appears with a regular frequency and has contents by more than one author. 'Periodical,' as it is here used, includes newspapers. The terms 'periodical,' 'journal,' and 'magazine' are used here interchangeably.

Institutional Philosophy

- The library maintains a periodical collection in the belief that such material is indispensible by reason of its educational, referential and recreational value. The many varieties of periodical literature can directly foster the achievement of individual potential as it is expressed in the State University motto, "Let Each Become All He is Capable of Being." The library also believes that periodicals can contribute to the formation of a life-long reading habit.

Educational Purpose

- MCC is a comprehensive community college. Magazines are selected to support the curriculum, both liberal and vocational. Specifically, journals are chosen in the areas of transfer or 'university parallel' programs, career education and general studies. The library strives to represent all of the academic disciplines, subject fields, and educational programs on the campus.

College Community

- The college community is mainly composed of faculty and administration, students, and staff. These groups comprise the 'audience' for a periodical collection.

• Faculty and Administration.
  The library chooses magazines in the areas of education in general and community college education in particular. It subscribes to journals on the teaching of various subjects and to periodicals of interest to faculty experts. Research needs are met through the preservation of backfiles, both bound and in microform. The library attempts to respond as much as possible to magazine suggestions of faculty and administration.

• Students.
  The collection aims to support all of the various classroom pursuits of the student. His reference needs are given consideration; reasoned efforts are made to acquire titles analyzed in abstracting and indexing services, and periodical backfiles are maintained. The library provides general and recreational magazines. Ongoing attention is given to the question: Who is the community college student? Journal choices are made as aspects of the answer emerge. Examples of profile categories are educational background, reading level, age, sex, cultural and ethnic milieu, etc. The library attempts to respond as much as possible to magazine suggestions of students.

• Staff.
  The collection attempts to meet staff needs and interests.

Quality of Materials

- The library selects magazines for their intrinsic worth. This is an overall criterion applicable to all of the various guidelines. The library tries to include both basic journals in the fields and good new magazines.

Balance

- Selection pursues this often elusive standard in a number of ways: balance within individual and among different subject fields; balance between popular and technical levels; balance between English and foreign language materials. Particular attention is given to balancing points of view - political, social and cultural. The collection includes liberal, conservative and underground reviews. Magazines by and for blacks and other ethnic groups, women and youth are represented. The collection embraces material of appeal to people of different sexual orientations.

Promotion

- The library seeks to promote a wide and active use of the periodical collection.

Policy authored by Vincent Prestianni, Serials Librarian from 1967 to 1999.

Collection development policy for books and other materials.

General.

The basic philosophy of the Leroy V. Good Library is to acquire materials needed to meet the instructional and cultural aims of the institution. Supporting the curriculum is the primary goal of the collection.

Responsibility.

• Primary responsibility for selection and acquisition of all library materials lies with the Collection Development Librarian (CDL). The CDL is also primarily responsible for ongoing maintenance of the collection.
• Exceptions to the CDL's authority include materials acquired for the AIDS Resource Library, the pamphlet file collection, and government documents. These areas of exception are the responsibility of those with whom current practice lies.

Range of Materials.

• The CDL will consider acquisition of any and all materials that will ultimitely support the mission and goals of the Leroy V. Good Library. These materials shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

  A. Books/monographs.
  B. Maps and charts.
  C. CD-ROM resources.
  D. On-Line resources.
  E. Recorded media (CD's and cassettes).
  F. Videos (when appropriate).
  G. Other, as dictated by current circumstances.

• Acquisition responsibility for serial publications (magazines, journals, etc.) lies with the Serials Librarian, who operates under separate policies).

Language/Geographic Considerations.

• As the primary language of those served by the Leroy V. Good Library is English, most materials acquired for the collection shall be in that language. This is not to say, however, that materials of an appropriate nature which are in languages other than English shall not be considered. Such materials might include those in support of ESL programs, foreign language courses, recreational reading for the foreign-speaking student, and essential works that are otherwise unavailable in English.
• Materials will likewise be acquired from any and all appropriate sources, regardless of nationality.

Dates of Publication.

Currency of information shall be considered in selecting materials for the collection. Some materials containing historical background in appropriate areas will be maintained, although the needs for current information will be of highest priority.

Level of Coverage.

• Emphasis in selection shall be at the undergraduate level, as that is the population served by Monroe Community College. As the scope of the curriculum is so broad, buying must be selective in proportion to the number of materials published and available. Acquisition shall rely heavily on reviews published in appropriate selection guides.
• Attempts will be made to present a 'balanced' collection, that is: representation of all sides of political or controversial issues; representation of minority groups, special interest groups, or alternative lifestyles; and publications of private or government agencies and appropriate professional or trade associations.

Textbooks.

Books used as texts in courses offered at MCC will not be purchased except as needed for course reserve or to represent a discipline in which no courses are currently taught. Texts considered as 'classics,' however may be acquired if their inclusion in the collection will enhance student understanding.

Multiple Copies.

Two or three copies of materials expected to be in high demand will be acquired. Titles lost in circulation will be replaced if on a core collection list or if still current and in direct support of the curriculum.

Collection Evaluation and Maintenance.

'Weeding' and ongoing assessment of the library collection is a vital part of ensuring relevancy of the collection. Evaluation shall be performed in the following ways:

• Qualitative (local needs and resources).
  - Relevance to the mission for local collections.
  - Relevance to the curriculum in general, particular courses, faculty curriculum-based requests, or common research needs.
  - Age of material. Availability of more current or better-presented items on the same topic in the collection.

• Quantitative (use of existing collection).
  - Number of circulations (when possible)
  - Number of copies of the title in the collection.
  - Physical condition.