Acquisition Policy
The Director of the Library and librarians are responsible for selection of electronic and periodical resources to be acquired for the library. The Collections & Resource Management Librarian is responsible for selection of books to be acquired by the Library with the aid and advice of the faculty and librarians, within the limits set by the budget. Selection of materials is reflective of the Library's mission statement. The librarians will examine the recommendations and requests made by the faculty together with items located through standard bibliographies, notices of new publications, out-of-print catalogs, and other professional sources, and will make the selection of those items to be acquired with the view of maintaining a balanced collection in all subject areas as well as meeting the curricular needs of the subjects taught. The Director of the Library is ultimately responsible for the authorization of all acquisitions.

Priority for books and other materials to be purchased for the library will be given to those materials which meet direct curricular needs of the students in the courses offered, including items needed for class assignments, collateral reading, references in the textbooks, supplementary individual study, or for use in preparing term papers and reports, including those reference and bibliographical tools which will facilitate finding and using these materials.

After the primary needs have been met, consideration can be given to other desirable materials which will give balance to the collection or meet vocational, avocational, cultural, or special interests or needs of the student body and the faculty. The following materials will not normally be purchased:

1. Rare books and first editions per se.
2. Extensive collections of materials in a limited subject area.
3. Research materials (except for those that have a definite function).
4. Books in minor languages not taught at the College.
5. Technical reports (except when needed for specific classes).
6. Specialized technical books beyond the curriculum needs of students.
7. Textbooks of courses offered at the College.
8. Out-of-print materials.

There will be a limited amount of duplication of books (i.e., duplicate copies of the same book) except where the needs of the students and the demand for the book makes it apparent to the library staff that additional copies should be secured. For most materials initially only one copy of a title will be purchased.

All money contributed to the library for the purchase of books and materials may be designated to subject areas, but specific suggestions are subject to the approval of the Director of Library and Academic Support.

1. Material which is outdated or obsolete. These items could be replaced by newer editions or in another format. Scientific, medical, and computer books over 3 years old will be considered for withdrawal or replaced.

2. Material in poor condition, beyond the point of repair.

3. Material which is ephemeral such as newspapers, pamphlets, or brochures.

4. Multiple copies of titles will not normally be kept, in accordance with the Acquisitions Policy

5. Material for discontinued programs or courses, unless it supports other subject areas.

6. Materials which have not circulated within the previous 5 years. Circulation of materials will be monitored through the library's automated system.

Candidates for withdrawal may be retained for the following reasons:

1. Material is located in a standard bibliography.

2. Library owns other material by or about the same author, such as literary criticisms.

3. If the library owns no other material on the topic, the items may be retained until such time as it can be replaced.

Periodical Subscriptions
Recommendations for new periodical subscriptions will be considered after evaluating availability in electronic databases with full-text articles. Periodical subscriptions will be acquired after taking into consideration: (1) curricular needs, (2) interests of the students and faculty, (3) type of information contained in the magazine, (4) whether or not they are indexed in available periodical indexes, (5) cost of the subscription in relation to its possible use, (6) inclusion in other standardized lists, and (7) other subscriptions already received by the library in the same general area of interest. Periodical subscriptions will be purchased to start at the beginning of the volume number.

Since most periodical subscriptions will be handled through an agency and since much time is needed before the first issue is received, recommendations for new periodicals should be made by department or program heads at least six months before the subscription is to begin. All periodical subscriptions will be reviewed annually and all unnecessary titles deleted.

Suggestions or Comments
Send suggestions and/or comments concerning collection development.