Collection Development Policy

Acquisition & Selection Procedures

The Core Collection

  • Priority is given to requests by staff for items specifically related to graduate coursework or the School for Children curriculum. This includes all required and recommended items on syllabi.
  • Selection of current and some retrospective titles in the main field of interest from various recommended educational lists, reviewing of professional and interdisciplinary journals, etc.
  • Requests from students and other staff members.
  • An effort is made to provide multiple copies of heavily used materials.
  • Lost, stolen, or damaged materials will be replaced if it meets current selection criteria.

Language
While the primary language for materials in the collection is English, in support of the Graduate School of Educaton’s bilingual programs and the School for Children’s foreign language program, books in Spanish will be collected.

Exclusions
In general, the Library will not collect any materials that are rare, difficult to acquire, difficult to store or preserve, incompatible with existing technologies, very expensive, or outside the scope of established instructional programs. This includes computer software, dissertations, wall maps, and most realia and manipulative materials.

Budgetary Limitations
The Library is committed to the creation and maintenance of a collection that is balanced in terms of content and format. However, the ability to purchase print, media, and electronic resources varies with the annual budget and funds allocated by the administration for each fiscal year. When budget restrictions are necessary, the Library will use available funds to provide the resources that meet the most immediate instructional needs. Purchase of expensive items or specialized material may be deferred or eliminated at such times.

Gifts
The Library accepts gifts on a very limited basis. In general, the selection criteria must be met, and the donation must be material that the Library would normally seek to acquire on its own initiative. Monetary donations are welcome and can be made using the “Support Us” function on the College website.