I. INTRODUCTION

In participating in the educational programs of Dalton State College, the Derrell C. Roberts Library has four major functions:

1. to select and acquire print and non-print resources to support the DSC curriculum;

2. to maintain a collection aimed at developing liberally educated persons;

3. to supplement course materials for extended campus classes taught by DSC faculty;

4. to facilitate faculty research.

The Library's priority will be to purchase material that directly supports the needs of DSC students and faculty at the appropriate degree levels, with a wide variety of materials embracing many fields of knowledge. The Library also recognizes the importance of providing current interest materials, meeting the needs of DSC staff, and promoting lifelong learning. While the Library's collection cannot meet extensive graduate level research demands from faculty or community library users, librarians can guide such users in accessing electronic databases and indexes, or in requesting interlibrary loans from other libraries.

The purpose of this collection development policy is to state clearly the guidelines along which the Library will select and acquire materials. Such a policy encourages consistency among those responsible for developing the collection and communicates the Library's policy to faculty, students, staff, and community patrons.

Ultimate responsibility for the development and maintenance of the Library's collection rests with the Library Director, who will seek the participation and advice of the Assistant Librarians and DSC teaching faculty. The quality of materials selected depends largely upon the interest and involvement of all faculty members, and full participation in selection and in weeding should be encouraged by all Division Chairs. No one person can know enough about all subjects, nor the reading needs and desires of all people, to assume responsibility for all selection. Therefore, each faculty member should make regular recommendations for purchases.

II. GUIDELINES FOR SELECTION AND EVALUATION OF MATERIALS

The quality of content and fulfillment of academic curricular needs are the first criteria against which any item is evaluated. Further considerations include some or all of the following for all areas of the collection:

a. Lasting value of the content.

b. Potential use by DSC students and faculty.

c. Appropriateness of treatment for college use.

d. Strength of holdings in the same or similar subject area.

e. Cost.

f. Publication date (current or recent is preferred).

g. Suitability of format to content.

h. Balance in presenting all sides of a controversial issue.

i. Published reviews or appearance of the title in standard bibliographies or indexes.

j. Authoritative or outstanding items in fields outside the curriculum, of permanent or timely value to the DSC community.

Other guidelines to consider:

1. Textbooks adopted for class use will not be purchased for the Library unless there is need for a Reserve copy. Instead, the Library will add books that amplify this material.

2. Duplicates will be purchased only under unusual circumstances, or to meet the needs of the extended campus classes.

3. In instances where the cost of an item is high and demand is low, the holdings of other University System of Georgia libraries will be considered in determining whether to order the item.

4. When there is a choice between paper or hard cover, hard will be preferred.

5. Lost or stolen materials will be replaced after one year (or immediately if needed), if they are still available and meet selection criteria.

6. Except for foreign language dictionaries, the Library will acquire primarily English language reference and research sources. Literature and language materials used heavily in the teaching or learning of foreign languages, especially Spanish, will be collected.

7. Librarians will use the following as primary selection tools, with additional sources as needed:

Booklist, Choice, College and Research Libraries, Library Journal, New York Review of Books, New York Times Book Review, publishers' catalogs and prepublication literature, previews, American Reference Books Annual, and Books for College Libraries.

III. FUND ALLOCATION

The Library Director will allocate the materials budget in such a way as to fulfill the Library's collection development goals of adding a minimum of 3,000 volumes to the collection annually. The Library will encourage and honor all reasonable faculty requests that meet selection criteria, as funds allow. Allocations will reflect the number of students and faculty involved, the number of courses taught in a given subject area, and the average cost of materials in that field. New courses and degree programs may also require supplemental purchases.

Because of the rising cost of books and other library materials, every effort will be made to purchase titles through a national jobber, such as Baker and Taylor or Midwest, or at prepublication discount. Discounts to libraries will be factored into the vendor choice for each purchase.

Requests for purchases from students and staff are welcomed and will be given due reflection within the established guidelines. Requests from faculty or others may be made on order request cards furnished by the Library, or copies of relevant order information from flyers or reviews may be sent to the Director.

IV. FICTION

Because of the stated priorities, fiction is a small part of the permanent collection. To facilitate pleasure reading, the Library leases best sellers from Baker & Taylor. These books circulate for 6 – 8 months, and then may be bought or returned by the Library. Popular fiction and non-fiction bestsellers from the New York Times list will be considered for purchase. For permanent acquisitions in this area, consideration will be given to the author's reputation and the book's readability and literary style. Georgia authors will be especially collected, as the budget allows.

V. GIFTS

See separate policy.

VI. NONPRINT MATERIAL

Selection and weeding criteria for books will apply to nonprint materials. Special emphasis will be placed on quality of production and suitability of format to content.

VII. NURSING MATERIALS

See separate policy.

VIII. PERIODICALS AND JOURNALS

Because serials represent an ongoing commitment, budgeting and selection of these differ somewhat from procedures for monographs. Each spring, librarians will review the renewal list from EBSCO, the jobber through which most of the Library's standing orders are placed. Faculty involvement will be sought through the discipline coordinators. Back runs of journals are purchased only when demand or new programs dictate. Faculty advice will be sought before any major changes are made.

Some or all of these criteria are used in evaluating periodical titles for acquisition or cancellation:

a. support of academic curriculum;

b. strength of existing collection;

c. present use of this or other periodicals in this subject area;

d. indexing and full-text availability online on GALILEO;

e. projected future use;

f. cost and projected availability of funds;

g. reputation of journal and/or inclusion in prominent abstracting or indexing sources;

h. if not owned, number of recent interlibrary loan requests for this title.

VIII. REQUESTS FOR RECONSIDERATION/INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM STATEMENT

The Derrell C. Roberts Library supports the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, its Intellectual Freedom Statement, and its Statement on Challenged Materials (all available in the Library). The Library attempts to purchase materials that represent differing opinions on controversial matters. Selection is made without partisanship regarding matters of race, sex, religion, or moral philosophy. However, in a free society opinions vary. These differences will be recognized by the Library Director in an impartial and factual manner. A librarian may ask a person who challenges or questions the inclusion of an item in the collection to complete a "Request of Reconsideration" form. Such a form must be signed by the person completing the form and by the librarian on duty. This completed form will be referred to the Director for appropriate action.

WEEDING

See separate policy.