XI. General Selection Criteria
XI. General Selection Criteria
Materials are selected based on their relevance to the curriculum, the particular needs of the University community, the significance of the subject matter, and the importance and reputation of the author and publisher. However, due to budgetary and space restrictions, it is impossible to purchase all relevant materials within these parameters. Newer technologies, such as electronic resources, require adequate equipment in order to access the information. The cost of the equipment to access information and the impact on staff for maintenance and support of necessary equipment must be considered in any decision.
The Library employs an approval program which provides notification of publication of appropriate materials or automatic shipment of current publications. Bibliographers work with customer representatives from the vendor to specify the appropriate publishers, the appropriate subject level coverage, and the appropriate formats. Bibliographers use their subject expertise to evaluate materials, and check the literature for reviews and evaluations to assess the significance of current publications. A current copy of the approval profile is available from the Collections Program Officer.
First Priority in Selection Process
The following broad areas and formats are given first priority in the materials selection process:
Publications of current scholarship. Because interest in materials usually is greatest immediately upon publication and because the acquisition of new publications provides a solid base for future growth, the Library concentrates on purchasing current materials. The Library makes use of a vendor approval plan to supply notification slips to appraise bibliographers of newly published materials or automatic shipments of the materials.
English language materials. Primarily, the Library collects English language materials. However, it does purchase items in other languages taught at the University in the foreign language program.
Formats in First Priority in Selection Process:
Monographs: Single copies of monographs. In most cases the Library purchases single copies of an item. However, when heavy use is indicated based on available circulation statistics, an additional copy may be justified. When a course assignment requires many students to refer to the same work, faculty are encouraged to take advantage of the Reserve service in the Library Circulation Department.
Monographs: Hard cover format for monographs. Books are purchased in hard cover whenever possible because the bindings are more durable and the paper used is generally of higher quality.
Journals. Journals (periodicals) provide current information on a topic. The Library emphasizes subscriptions to titles which have indexing available to users of this Library in standard sources. Often backfiles of periodicals will be made available on microfilm in order to conserve storage space. The Library will not maintain the same issue of a journal in both print and microform except when bibliographers provide compelling reasons to retain both formats.
Electronic resources. The Library subscribes to online
databases which provide access to statistical, bibliographic,
and full-text resources. These may be fee-based databases delivered
through the Internet from a commercial vender. Whenever possible,
the Library takes advantage or consortial agreements among libraries.
Ongoing evaluation of electronic resources made available by the
Library and monitoring of potential additional resources are necessary
and are discussed in the Collection Development Committee.
When the Library adds an index in electronic format which is already
available in print, the Library generally will maintain the print
version for one additional year, and then cancel any future print
issues. The existing print issues will be retained. When bibliographers
add other electronic titles to the collection if a print version
is held in the Library, bibliographers will consider titles item-by-item
as to whether to withdraw the print version in order to conserve
shelf space.
Depending upon the category of the electronic resource, guidelines
for selection may include: evaluating the information content
and its relevance to the NEIU curriculum, evaluating the authority
of the publisher/author, locating positive reviews, verifying
that a substantial publishing history exists, demonstration of
intent to continue to make the resource available, and the cost
of the resource. The Collection Development Committee has formed
an Ad Hoc Task Force on Electronic Publication to explore issues
related to adding electronic resources to the Library.
Computer Software and Compact-Disc-Read-Only-Memory (CD-ROM). The Library collects software programs or CD-ROM's which accompany publications, and individual software programs or CD-ROM titles when they support the curriculum of the University. The Library may subscribe to titles on CD-ROM which enhance the availability of information or act as a substitute to other formats. The Government Information Center Librarian will select electronic resources for the GIC collection. Subject bibliographers will select software using the same criteria as for other materials in a given subject area.
Maps. As a depository, the Library receives maps produced by the United States government. The scope of the collection is small. The Library collects topographic maps for Illinois only and CIA maps for the world. While earlier maps were cataloged, current acquisitions are housed in an uncataloged map file arranged by country. Additional maps are accepted and housed in the offices of the Department of Geography and Environmental Science.
Audiovisual Materials. The Library collects audiovisual materials which support or enhance the instructional process at NEIU. Access to these collections is generally available through the public access catalog unless otherwise noted. Most formats are housed in the MLRC. The variety of formats and scope of the collection follow:
Music scores. The Library maintains a collection of study scores of the major composers and of the repertoire that is taught at NEIU.
Selective Additions to the Collection.
Other types of materials are selectively added to the collection:
College level textbooks. Selective textbooks may be purchased to provide a basic information level on a subject. Introductory level textbooks and materials used as textbooks in classes taught at the University, instructor's manuals, and student study guides generally are not added to the collection.
Kits. Selective kits may be purchased to introduce alternative materials to the teacher education program. While charts, flashcards, games, models, realia, and transparencies will not be added as a separate area to the Curriculum Materials Collection, the education librarian may add a limited amount of such items to the kits area of the Curriculum Materials Collection.
Master's theses. Master's theses completed for degree requirements at Northeastern Illinois University and supplied by the Graduate College are collected. Masters' theses and doctoral dissertations from other institutions of higher education generally are not collected.
Vertical File Material. The Library may collect vertical file and picture materials to support the teacher education program. These materials are housed in the Curriculum Materials Collection.
Tests. The Library may collect standardized tests, general student achievement tests, personality development tests, or subject aptitude tests to support the curriculum of the College of Education, and the Psychology Department of the University. It will not collect academic tests given for courses taught at the University.
Gifts. The Library may add gifts of new materials to its collection on an item-by-item basis when the subject bibliographer makes the decision to add it. Gifts received by the Library which are not to be added to the collection will be acknowledged by the Northeastern Illinois University Foundation, and sold in the Library's regular book sale. Book sale proceeds are used to supplement the Library's book budget for special purchases. A detailed policy on Gifts is attached (Appendix 6).
Formats and Materials Which Are Not Collected:
The Library will not acquire materials in outmoded audiovisual
technologies. Therefore, it will not add LP phonograph albums,
motion pictures in film format, and filmstrips since these technologies
have been superseded by newer and more available audiovisual technologies.
It will not acquire books on tapes or Braille materials since
a statewide library service provides access to these materials.
At present, the Library will not acquire slides and performing
scores since other repositories of such collections exist on campus.
It will generally not add charts, flashcards, games, models, realia,
and transparencies as a separate area to the Curriculum Materials
Collection since newer interactive technologies are available.
If such items are added, they will be housed in the kits area
of the Curriculum Materials Collection. Rare or infrequently used
items are not added to the collection since demand for such items
can be addressed making use of interlibrary loan services or services
of reciprocal borrowing consortia.
Go to Section XII - Collection Levels
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