COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY

 

                                                                          of the

 

              LIBRARY OF THE SCHOOL OF INFORMATION AND LIBRARY SCIENCE

 

                              UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                   April 24, 1992


 

 

 

 

I.          ADMINISTRATION

 

            A.        Purpose

 

            The collection development policy of the Library of the School of Information and Library Science aims primarily to support present and anticipated teaching and research needs in information and library science  for students and faculty of the School.  Secondarily it aims at providing materials for continuing education and professional development of librarians and information specialists at UNC-CH.

 

            B.         Population (in priority order)

 

                        1.         Those students enrolled in the master's, doctor's, and certificate of advanced studies programs, and faculty members in the School of Information and Library Science

 

                        2.         Those students in the other schools or departments of UNC-CH who take courses in the School

 

                        3.         The students, faculty and staff of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

 

                        4.   Other librarians and information specialists in the

                                    State of North Carolina as resources and staffing permit

                       

            C.        Responsibility for Selection

 

            The responsibility for selection is vested in the librarian.  It is expected that the librarian will  be assisted by the faculty, students, and professional librarians in the UNC-CH library system.

 

     Individual faculty members are encouraged to make suggestions of items for inclusion in the collection.  The librarian is   responsible for the overall coordination of collection growth and for insuring that materials are not overlooked.  Budget constraints determine the quantity of materials to be purchased.

 

 

 

 

 

II.         POLICIES PERTAINING TO ALL SUBJECTS AND ALL TYPES OF MATERIAL

 

            A.        Added Copies

 

            Added copies are acquired as the need is anticipated or experienced, generally after the arrival of the first copy, and when heavy use warrants purchase of another copy.

 

            B.         Titles Already Available in Other Libraries on Campus

 

            The faculty and the librarian are very selective in acquiring materials, copies of which are already located elsewhere in the library system.  A  decision on such matters is made by the librarian.

 

            C.        Reserve Materials

 

            Reserve books for assigned reading are ordered in the ratio of one copy for every ten students in courses.  Assigned texts owned by the Library are placed on reserve.  Reserve photocopies of articles and excerpts from books can be made in accordance with the following guidelines:

            1.  The library may make only one photocopy of requested articles or chapters

            2.         If the faculty member needs more than 1 photocopy, the faculty member may make not more than 1 copy per 15 students up to a maximum of 5 copies on reserve

            3.         Photocopies are the property of the faculty member and will be returned to the faculty member at the end of the semester

            4.         Use of the same photocopied material in succeeding semesters will require the faculty member to sign a statement that he/she has permission from the copyright holder or he/she believes the copying and use of the material complies with the law

 

            D.        Retrospective Collection Development

 

            Retrospective collection development is carried on in specific areas as determined in consultation with interested faculty.  The needs of on-going research in the School will be balanced against attempts to assure comprehensiveness in the collection.

 

            Faculty may make suggestions for retrospective collection development projects.  A proposal with an estimate of the number of titles, the cost to complete the project, and the availability of materials should be developed in cooperation with the librarian, and be brought to the Information Resources Committee for discussion.  The librarian reports yearly on retrospective collection development, including the status of projects in progress, proposed new areas for development, and general availability of funds.

 

            E.         Gifts

 

            The library receives gift materials from many sources.  They are added to the collection according to the same criteria as those applied to purchased materials.   

 

            The library reserves the right to dispose of gift materials in any way it sees fit.

 

            F.         Materials Outside of Information and Library Science

 

            The library does not acquire examples of materials outside the field of information and library science for instructional use, e.g. reference works, issues of periodicals in other fields, popular novels, and vanity press books.

 

            G.        Replacements

 

            Replacement copies are purchased after considering the following factors:

 

                        1.  The expected use of the title in the future

 

                        2.  Past use

 

          3.  Whether the information in the book is superseded  by new material already held in the library

 

          4.  Whether the title is out-of-print

 

          5.  The number of copies held in the library system

       

          6.  Whether a new edition is expected shortly.

 

III.       MONOGRAPHS

 

            A.        Information and Library Science

 

            The library attempts to provide a comprehensive collection of materials about information and library science.  Materials are purchased primarily in English with some attention given to substantive works on library and information science in other languages.  The area studies bibliographers also purchase some materials for the Library and Information Science Library, thereby providing coverage of Slavic, Asian and Latin American languages and countries.  The Library maintains a retrospective collection.

 

            Acquisition emphasis is on current titles.  Retrospective collection development is undertaken where need is identified and budget restraints permit.

 

            B.         Related Fields

 

            Materials in related fields are purchased on a highly selective basis, not aimed at providing a comprehensive collection but at supplementing the information and library science materials.  Preference is given to titles that are:

                        1.         Required reading in an information and library science course    

 

                        2.         Needed to support on-going research of doctoral students and faculty

 

                        3.         Related to the information and library science curriculum and unavailable elsewhere on campus

 

                        4.         Significant books of the subject field in question

 

                        5.         Owned elsewhere on campus, but not readily available to our students and faculty,because heavily used by other patrons

 

                        6.         Of high quality and well reviewed

 

           

            Areas generally considered as related fields are as follows:

 

Artificial Intelligence

Book Arts

Computational linguistics

Computer Science

Communication and Mass Media

Education

Folklore

Higher Education

Historiography

Instructional Technology

Lexicography

Linguistics

Management and Administration

Operations Research

Oral History

Organizational Behavior

Popular Culture

Publishing

Research Methods

Technology and Innovation

Sociology

                        

            Faculty are invited to suggest additions to this list as interests in the field of library and information science change.  Faculty outside the School with expertise in these areas may be consulted.


 

            C.        Children's and Young Adult Materials

           

            This is the  main collection of materials for children and young adults on the UNC-CH campus.  Since the School teaches the materials courses for the School of Education, this Library provides a variety of materials in all formats to students. 

 

            1.   Juvenile Collection

 

            The Library maintains a standing order for:

 

                        Caldecott and Newbery award and honors books

                        American Library Association Notables

                        School Library Journal Best Books (cross-checked with ALA Notables to ensure we do not duplicate books on the ALA list)

                        Mildred L. Batchelder Award and Honors

                        Coretta Scott King Award and Honors

                        Kate Greenaway Medal winners and recommended

                        Carnegie Medal winners and recommended.

 

             The library purchases other award-winning books selectively, and does not duplicate juvenile books held by other libraries on campus.

 

            In addition current review media, evaluation tools, and published lists are reviewed on a continuing basis in order to identify materials for the collection.  Only those books identified by faculty as reading for courses in the school are selected.

                                               

 

            2.         Juvenile Historical Collection

 

            Older juvenile materials, not suitable for a current collection, are maintained as a Juvenile Historical Collection.

 

            D.        Reference Materials, Indexes, Abstracts, and Encyclopedias

 

            A comprehensive collection of library and information science reference books in English is maintained. Those  foreign language reference materials deemed most useful are also collected.  Certain general reference materials needed to facilitate the normal study and research of students and faculty are collected, but because of the proximity of other libraries, the School of Information and Libary Science Library does not maintain an up-to-date reference collection in all subject areas, either as a model or as examples of materials.

 

            The Library  subscribes to the major indexing and abstracting services in the field of library and information science, but does not acquire subject indexes and abstracts in other fields.

 

            The Library buys a new edition of a standard general encyclopedia at least every ten years, funds permitting.  Subject encyclopedias are added only if they are received as gifts.

 

            E.         Publications of Major Professional Societies

 

            The Library receives on standing order all publications of the American Library Association, and the  A.L.A. Association of College and Research Libraries.  The library also receives publications through the SILS membership in the American Society for Information Science, the Special Libraries Association, and the Association of Library and Information Science Educators.

 

 

IV.       SERIALS

           

            A.  Journals

 

            The library subscribes to most periodicals and newsletters indexed in Library Literature and in Library and Information Science Abstracts.  Other significant periodicals related to the work of the school are evaluated on the basis of price, availablity and language, and are also purchased.  Titles that are duplicated elsewhere in the library system must be justified to the Serials Committee of the Administrative Board of the University Library.

 

            B.  Annual Reports and Newsletters

 

            The Library acquires and binds the most important annual reports, newsletters, statistical reports, yearbooks and proceedings from the following sources:

 

                        1.         International Library Associations

 

                        2.         Public Libraries, with special consideration given to publications of public libraries in the Southeast

 

                        3.         State Libraries and State Library Commissions

 

                        4.         American and Foreign National Library Associations

 

                        5.         State Library Associations

 

                        6.         College and University Libraries which are members of the Association of Research Libraries and other college and university libraries, as representative examples of small or medium-sized libraries, public and private.

 

                        7.         Cooperatives--groups such as OCLC and SOLINET

 

                        8.         Library and Information Science Schools, Library and Information Science School Student Associations and Alumni Associations

 

                        9.         Library and Information Science School Catalogs and Self-Studies (an attempt is made to maintain complete files for accredited American and Canadian Library and Information Science schools)

 

                        10.       Newsletters from vendors of library and information  science products

             

 

            D.        Irregulars and Annuals

 

            The selection procedures and decisions for irregulars and annuals are much the same as those for periodicals and newsletters.  Occasionally, titles outside the field are purchased for general reference.  In the event that a title not in the field is too expensive, duplicated heavily elsewhere on campus, or of questionable use, either the routing of superseded issues will be arranged with Davis Library, or a non-standing order purchase will be made every three or four years.

 

V. AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS

 

            A.        Equipment Compatibility

 

            All material purchased must be compatible with existing equipment in the school or on the UNC-CH campus.  However, changing technology may necessitate the purchase of equipment or materials not yet available on campus.

 

            B.         About Information and Library Science

 

            Preference is given to audiovisual materials relating to information and library science based on the following:

 

                        1.         Expected use--materials to be used in connection with a course on a continuing basis are given higher priority

 

                        2.         Currency of information contained in the material

 

                        3.         Quality of production

 

                        4.         Non-availability of the same information in printed format

 

                        5.         Reasonableness of price

 

                        6.         How quickly the material will be outdated

 

                        7.         Availability of preview

 

                        8.         Level of faculty interest

 

                        9.         Availability through interlibrary loan--e.g., NCCU or NCSU

 

                        10.       Published reviews of the materials

 

 

 

VI.       OTHER TYPES OF MATERIALS

 

            A.        Vertical Files

 

            The Information and Library Science Library maintains a wide variety of vertical files for various types of materials in the collection.  Files are created as the need is indicated.  The librarian will consult interested faculty in considering new areas for the collections.

 

                        1.         Vertical File of Ephemera

           

                                    Ephemeral materials are received as  free samples through order with a free request letter, and from donations of librarians, faculty and students.  This vertical file is weeded on occasion to remove outdated materials.

 

                                    Most of these materials are single sheets, pamphlets, flyers, and pictures.  (More substantial  materials with text, reports, and policy statements are cataloged.)

 

                        2.         Vertical file collections of permanent materials, of the following types of materials are held for relatively long periods of time:

                       

                                    a.         Library Guides and Handbooks

 

                                    b.         Minutes of the ALA

 

                                    c.         Reports of the Council on Library Resources Fellowship recipients

 

                                    d.         Library Building Prospectuses, dedication programs, floor plans, photographs and related documents       

 

 

 

            B.         SILS Master's Papers and Doctoral Dissertations

 

            Of the two copies of each Paper, the first is kept for permanent reference, the second is subject to loan.

 

            C.  NTIS and ERIC Documents

 

                The Library selectively buys NTIS and ERIC documents as they are reviewed in the information and library science literature.  Since the Davis Library receives a standing order to all ERIC documents and NC State University receives all NTIS publications, titles obtained for the SILS library are carefully selected, based on predicted general interest or heavy use.

 

            D.        Theses and Dissertations

 

            The Library purchases on standing order copies of all doctoral dissertations completed in ALA-accredited schools and in other departments or programs in American universities if the dissertations are about information or library science.

 

            E.         Publisher's Catalogs

 

            Catalogs from publishers of juvenile materials and of materials in the subject areas collected by the Library are collected and maintained in a file.

 

 

            F.  Certification Requirements

 

            Information on certification requirements for public librarians and for school librarians in all the states of the United States are held and are updated regularly.