ERIE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Library Resources Center

Collection Development Policy

November 1991

 

            Librarianship requires a dedication to an objective attitude toward the selection of library materials.  Librarians seek to maintain a non-discriminatory policy in the selection of library materials in order to provide a choice of information – and opinions about that information – to further the pursuit of learning.  To this end, the library faculty at ECC fully endorses the “Freedom to  Read” statement and the “Library Bill of Rights” both created by the American Library Association.

            The selection policy following pertains to all library materials, both print and non-print.  Although academic libraries are in a constant state of flux due to curricular changes and changes in the interests and needs of our patrons, there are basic tenets of selection that can be followed.

  1. Clientele:
    The primary clientele served by the ECC libraries is the students, faculty, and staff, therefore collection development is curricular driven.
     

  2. Responsibility:
    Because of their special expertise in their disciplines, faculty recommendations are essential to help maintain the currency of the collection.  Staff and student suggestions for new materials are also encouraged and welcomed.  The ultimate responsibility for selection rests with librarians.

Factors in Selection

            Selection of library materials is dependent upon the following:

  1. Mission and Goals of Erie Community College

  2. Educational and recreational needs of the college’s clientele

  3. Regulations of the N.Y.S. Education Department (Regulation 52.2(a)(4) of the N.Y.S. Education Department states, “the institution shall provide libraries that possess and maintain collections sufficient in depth and breadth to support the mission of the institution and each registered curriculum.”)

  4. Code level set by the American Library Association pertaining to undergraduate educational institutions.  ECC falls into the Basic and Initial Study Levels (1.8.1.2 Sections C(2) and D in Guidelines for Collection Development).

  5. Financial and physical limitations of the library.

  6. Conformance to the requirements and limitations of the copyright laws.

    Generally outside the scope of the collection are course textbooks and materials for exclusive personal use of students, faculty or staff.

    If materials cannot be purchased, every effort will be made to provide the same or similar materials through inter-library loan, lease or rental.

Criteria for Selection

    Judgments of experts, of professionally trained staff members, and of qualified reviewers in the media provide a balance of opinion as the basis for selection.  Though a variety of criteria is used for each subject, final decision is based on the value of the material to the library and its patrons, regardless of the personal taste of the selectors. 

Some of these criteria may include:

    Accuracy

    Authority and competence in presentation

    Availability of information elsewhere in the community

    Contemporary significance

    Ease of use

    Factors of publishing industry

    Format

    Language

    Permanent value

    Popular demand

    Price

    Publishing output

    Quality in content and format

    Recommendations or requirements of accrediting agencies

    Relation of work to existing collection (duplication balance)

    Scarcity of information in subject area

    Subject currency

 

These factors and criteria apply equally to materials purchased and those accepted as gifts.

    Continuous periodic evaluation of library holdings is an essential part of collection development.  The same criteria are used in discarding materials from the collection as are used in their acquisition.


Special Aspects of Resource Selection

  1. When possible, efforts will be made to cooperatively acquire materials to be used across    the three ECC campuses.  All three campuses will also participate in mutually beneficial cooperative collection development with other area libraries.
     

  2. The collection may include: works of an authentic genius, within the realm of their specific contribution, regardless of their moral or political reputation; works of potential historical significance, regardless of political or social variance; key materials in fields that represent an aspect of belief or opinion which has not been completely authenticated.  Variety of opinion is represented whenever feasible.

Challenged Materials 

    Censorship of materials shall be contested in order to maintain the college’s responsibility to provide information and the means for enlightenment.   Challenges of library materials must be registered in writing before any action can take place.   Forms for this purpose will be available in each library.  Any challenges will be reviewed by a committee with representation from the community, college administration, faculty, students and library faculty.