Collection Development Policy
Huie Library derives its objectives from the goals of the University and fulfills these through its services and collections. The Library's primary function is to develop and maintain a collection of materials which meets instructional and basic research needs of the students and faculty of Henderson State University. In addition to its primary clientele, the Library provides services to the people of southwestern Arkansas.
The purposes of this policy are to provide guidance in developing library collections and to communicate collection development goals and objectives to the University community. This policy will be reviewed at regular intervals in response to changing University needs.
Selection Responsibilities
Faculty members share responsibility with librarians for the selection of materials which directly support their teaching areas, academic fields, and related research needs. The faculty may also recommend materials which they feel will contribute to the overall excellence of the Library's collections. Materials related to personal research are requested through interlibrary loan.
It is the responsibility of the Library faculty to oversee the selection of materials and the final decision rests with the Library faculty. Each Library faculty member coordinates collection development for assigned academic departments and serves as liaison to these departments.
Gifts
Gifts may be accepted for the Library on behalf of the University. Gift materials must be judged useful to the collection before they are added. Unsolicited materials are added or disposed of at the Library's discretion. Donors may submit a list of titles for preview by a Technical Services Coordinator; otherwise, gift materials not added to the collection are sold at a book sale or disposed of by methods approved by the State of Arkansas. Donors will not receive acknowledgement for gifts unless specifically requested. In some cases, book plates with the donor's name will be placed in the item(s) added to the collection.
Please see our Guidelines for Acceptance of Gift Materials page for more information.
Special Considerations
Foreign language materials are acquired for appropriate courses; otherwise, materials are acquired in English. Huie Library does not acquire duplicate copies of materials, although exceptions may be made. Lost or damaged titles are considered for replacement according to the following criteria: value to the collection, existing coverage of the subject in the collection, availability of newer or better materials on the subject. Popular fiction and DVD's are generally not replaced.
Replacements
Replacements are ordered by the Coordinator of Technical Services upon the recommendation of the subject specialist librarian. When appropriate, the replacement should be an exact copy, a new impression, or new printing of the original work. A later or revised edition of the original work may be substituted when it is considered more desirable.
Rebinding
Rebinding considerations are based on the value and use of the title, possibility of replacement, physical condition, and the cost of rebinding vs. cost of a replacement.
Material Format
Books/monographs are normally collected in clothbound editions. The library also purchases eBooks. Textbooks, workbooks, study guides, etc., translations of English titles into foreign languages, or of foreign titles translated into non-English languages are collected only by exception. Books of a popular nature or self-help books are collected only in limited quantities. Kits and other unbound selections are generally not collected. We collect video materials which are expected to be of significant long-term value in support of teaching or research. Academy Award-winning movies are also collected. Popular movies, including Award-winning movies, are generally not replaced when damaged. Huie Library acquires non-print materials in the most appropriate and current format. For examples, VHS tapes will not be purchased if a DVD edition is available.
Evaluation and Weeding of Monographs
The purpose of evaluation is to maintain a current, active, and useful collection which reflects the goals of the Library and Henderson State University. Evaluation of the collection takes place continuously. Archival materials and special works (such as works by local authors) are not considered for withdrawal.
The following guidelines specify evaluation factors. No single factor should be used; rather, a combination of factors, including age, use patterns, content, physical condition, superfluous or duplicate materials, and circulation.
Exceptions to these criteria are: classic or seminal works, titles on standardized lists, expensive art and geographic works, works indexed in reference sources, and biographical and historical works.
Curriculum Collection
The purpose of the Curriculum Collection is to make available textbooks in subject areas for grades K-12, with an emphasis on subjects taught in the Teachers College.
Juvenile and Young Adult Collections
The primary purpose of the Juvenile and Young Adult Collections is to support the Teachers College with an emphasis on the children's literature courses. The collection provides reading material appropriate for preschoolers through young adults. Selection criteria include quality books, Award winners (e.g. Newberry, Caldecott, Charlie Mae Simon, Coretta Scott King, etc.), and honor books.
Serials Collection
Acquisitions of serial materials require a higher degree of selectivity than do monographs due to annual subscription prices and cost of binding and storage. Huie Library prefers an electronic to a print version of a journal whenever possible. Two exceptions are titles for which the online lacks an important component of the print version and titles in the Library's popular magazine collection. The serial should be indexed or abstracted by services available in the Library. For serials not indexed, serious consideration must be given to the timeliness of the subject and whether class assignments require their use. Expensive or little-used serials should be accessed via interlibrary loan. Any serials subject to a significant increase in cost will be re-evaluated. A few area and national newspapers are purchased. With the exception of the Daily Siftings Herald, local papers are donated.
Evaluation and Weeding of Serials
Serials are evaluated more conservatively than are monographs due to their cost and the variety needed to adequately support the curriculum.
The following criteria are used for evaluation and weeding: broken files, un-indexed materials, extremely short runs, titles in curricular areas no longer taught at the University, or serials in print or microfilm format that are available online.
Complaints concerning the collections of Huie Library should be submitted in writing to the Library Director.
Updated: 10/08/2012
Last Reviewed: 10/08/2012