Technical Services
MIssion Statement
The Technical Services staff acquires and makes available relevant print and non-print materials to fulfill C. G. O'Kelly Library's mission of supporting the instructional, research, and lifelong learning goal of the university as well as fostering the cultural enrichment of the university community. The staff shall actively seek input from librarians and faculty members in the book selection process. The staff shall ensure the quality of the collection by selecting titles from lists of recommended books, current book reviews and standard bibliographies in various subject fields. The Technical Services staff has the responsibility of processing new acquisitions for use and the maintenance of the online catalog by ensuring that each item in the online catalog is described accurately and can be accessed through numerous means, such as author, title, subject, keyword.
Selection Responsibility
- The Director of Library Services has the final responsibility, as delegated by the University Chancellor through the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, for the maintenance and development of library collections, facilities, and services.
- The collection development group, appointed by the Director of Library Services, bears the main responsibility for selecting materials for the library. The Director sets the general direction of collection development. The Technical Services Librarian supervises the activities of the group.
- Faculty members shall bear primary responsibility for recommending materials to support the courses that they teach.
- Student and staff recommendations for materials shall be encouraged.
Definition of Library Materials
Library materials are defined as print and non-print materials that support the mission statement as described above.
Selection Criteria
The following are factors considered in selecting materials for purchase:
- Relevance to the university programs of study
- Lasting value of content
- Authority of the author and reputation of the publisher
- Currency, accuracy, and comprehensiveness of the work
- Positive reviews in standard sources
- Appropriateness of level of treatment
- Availability of the work
- Strength of holdings in similar or actual subject area
- Cost
- Interdisciplinary content
- Support for courses that may reasonably be expected to be taught in the future
Selection Tools
Professional library book review journals, bibliographies, and publishers' catalogs are consulted to find recommended and appropriate materials.
Serials
See serials policy.
Non-Print Materials
Non-print materials such as computer software and videotapes shall be purchased only on the recommendation of faculty members. They shall be evaluated by the same selection criteria as monographs with special emphasis on ease of use, quality, and use across disciplines. Musical works shall be purchased in Compact Disc format only.
Paperbacks Popular Reading Collection
Paperbacks, because of their relatively low cost, will be purchased on a continuous basis in order to maintain a popular reading collection.
Timing of Selection
Orders for titles shall be sent to vendors at a rate consistent to expend the appropriated funds within the University budget calendar and to ensure a continual flow of new materials during the academic year.
Gifts
C. G. O'Kelly Library welcomes the donation of materials that will enhance the libraries holding and further the mission of the library and the University. Materials donated to the Library become the property of the Library and may be handled and disposed of in any manner that the library sees fit. Materials that require special consideration may be rejected. Because of federal tax laws, the library cannot place a monetary value on any gift.
Collection Maintenance
Weeding is an important part of collection development. The purpose is to maintain a balanced, current, and quality library collection in the best possible condition to fulfill the library's goal of supporting the university's mission. The number of titles, balanced distribution of viewpoint, authority, appropriateness, and currency are factors considered in evaluating the adequacy of the book collection.
Weeding Process
Members of the library staff, assisted by the teaching faculty, shall make an appraisal of certain subject areas during scheduled periods to determine those titles that are considered outdated. The teaching faculty also provides subject area expertise in maintaining a quality collection. A positive result of the weeding process is to identify areas of the collection that need more up-to-date materials.
