COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY

FOR GOLEMAN LIBRARY

General Introduction

The overall purpose of the Goleman Library collection is to provide print, non-print and electronic resources in sufficient breadth, depth, diversity, and quantity to serve the instructional program as well as the general and cultural interests of our students, faculty and staff. The Library mission is reflected both in Board Policy and in the Mission Statement of the College.

Library Materials
Board Policy #6320

The Board of Trustees of San Joaquin Delta College subscribes to the Library Bill of Rights by the Council of the American Library Association. Those who select library materials for a community college assume a particular responsibility to provide reading matter for a wide variety of scholastic ability comprehension levels. Material will be selected to meet a variety of religious, ethnic and cultural groups which make up our society. Freedom to select needed materials is essential. Conflicting viewpoints on political and social matters are expected to be adequately reflected in the collection. That collection should be composed of books and other resources that widen the boundaries of the individual's thought, enrich the individual's life, and fulfills the educational and recreational needs of the individuals.

Instruction and learning at the college level involves a wide variety of materials other than the textbook. The provision of such materials is organized for the benefit of the student body in general, and is the function of the library of San Joaquin Delta College. The objectives of the College are similar to the objectives of the library. These objectives determine primarily what books and other materials are selected and added to the collection.

Library Services for Students
Board Policy #6321

The Board of Trustees of San Joaquin Delta College supports comprehensive library services for students to include: instructional services, an organized, accessible, appropriate collection of materials and equipment, and a qualified staff concerned and involved in meeting the needs of students.

A. Objectives of Book Selection

Specifically, the library assumes the responsibility for the provision and servicing of carefully selected books and other materials which assist the individual in the pursuit of education, information and the creative use of leisure time.

Materials will be selected for the following purposes:

1. To increase skills and abilities,

2. To develop a background of knowledge,

3. To develop the capacity for critical thinking,

4. To broaden social and political understanding and concern,

5. To develop the sense of moral responsibility,

6. To encourage the reading of books for information, pleasure and entertainment.

The following kinds of materials are sought for in addition:

1. Non-textual and collateral reading material for the entire curriculum,

2. Material for vocational guidance and choice,

3. Material which enables the library to serve as the place where problem or question oriented searches for information can be successfully pursued,

4. Material for teaching the use of books and libraries,

5. General and recreational books, pamphlets and periodicals,

6. Professional reading material for the faculty.

Materials are purchased for the carrying on of original research in the solution of problems relating to instruction or administration. They are not purchased for the promotion of personal research.

B. Polices of Selection

The selection of materials to be added is based upon the belief that good college instruction cannot be carried on without an adequate library collection. The collection should be composed of books and other resources that widen the boundaries of the student's thinking, that enrich life, and help fulfill educational and recreational needs. All types of readers must be considered in creating the library's collection.

The freedom to select needed materials is essential. Selection must be based upon the large view of the world, an understanding of the common nature of man, and a belief in the stability of our society, institutions and government. Neither the defense of that which is thought to be good, nor the protection of students from that which is thought to be bad, shall be considered primary objectives of the library. Conflicting viewpoints on political and social matters are expected to be adequately reflected in the collection; but it will be impossible to represent every point of view, or any point of view completely. Generally speaking, specialization in a community college library collection is not a practical objective.

Those who select library materials for a community college assume a particular responsibility to provide reading matter for a wide variety of scholastic ability and comprehension levels. Both simple and the complex are included in the collection. Materials will be selected to meet the needs of the wide variety of religious, ethnic and cultural groups which make up our society.

The library of San Joaquin Delta College subscribes to the Library Bill of Rights as adopted June 18, 1948, and amended February 1, 1961; June 27, 1976 and January 23, 1980, by the Council of the American Library Association, where the document applies to the work of the community college library.

All gifts to the College Library will be accepted or rejected in accordance with the selection policies embodied herein. The library reserves the right to evaluate each gift and determine the need for the title in the collection. Acceptance of a gift does not mean the library will add it to the collection or keep it. The decision to add a title is made by the Technical Services Librarian [current practice, the Coordinator of Collection Development makes these decisions] or the Director of Library Services.

Requests from staff members and from students are given full consideration. Faculty and Administration are invited to share in the selection of materials for the entire collection, and particularly for the collection within their competency areas and fields of special interest. The librarians will select materials in all areas as required.

The Administration of the College delegates to the faculty and library staff the responsibility of book selection within the framework of the policies of the Board of Trustees. The Director of Library Services is responsible for the quality and content of the collection under his/her jurisdiction.

The Library Bill of Rights

The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services:

1. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

2. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.

3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment.

4. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas.

5. A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views.

6. Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

Book Collection

Books are selected by the library faculty, with input from instructional faculty, staff and students. The collection development coordinator oversees the selection of materials and the overall development of the collection. The library faculty use the standard review media on a regular basis. In addition, published notable and outstanding lists are regularly reviewed.

In addition to the criteria stated in Board Policies #6320 and 6321, criteria for the selection and evaluation of book materials include a combination of any of the following:

1. supports the instructional program
2. provides up-to-date information

3. is appropriate to the community college level

4. is well reviewed

5. appears on recommended lists

6. is recommended by faculty, students, or staff

7. balances current holdings

8. is reasonably priced

9. is of general and/or avocational interest to readers

10. is of local, regional or statewide interest

11. previous use patterns indicate a need

12. author or publisher has an authoritative reputation

13. is of an acceptable format

14. is of lasting value

Fiction is generally selected for its usefulness in terms of the formal study of literature. Hardcover popular and paperback popular fiction is selectively added and placed on the popular reading shelves located throughout the library.

As a general rule, the following items are not included in the purchase of materials:

1. textbooks, except those received as gifts or those reviewed as appropriate to a core collection in a two year college. Note one additional exception under the section dealing with reserve materials.

2. upper division research materials

3. rare books or manuscripts

4. dissertations

5. sheet music

6. foreign language materials (except for literary work requested by an instructor or special collections, such as the Vietnamese books)

7. lab manuals and "fill-in the blank" study guides

8. religious tracts

9. vanity press material

10. duplicates

11. out-of-print books

12. condensed books

Serials Collection

Selection of serials and newspapers is done by the library faculty, with input from the instructional faculty, staff and students. Direct orders to journal/newspaper publishers are kept to a minimum. The consideration for additions to the collection are based on:

1. whether the serial is needed for a specific instructional program

2. whether the serial should be added for general interest appropriate to the academic level

3. relative importance of the title within its field

4. whether the serial is indexed by one of our indexing sources

5. whether the serial is listed in Magazines for Libraries

6. price

7. whether the serial title already exists in 49/99 Union Serials List

8. availability of microfilm or microfiche

9. availability of online access

Deletion of titles from the collection is done using a combination of the same criteria used for selection. However, circulation history is also considered in the evaluation process.

Audiovisual Materials Collection

The selection and purchase of audiovisual materials in done by the Collection Development Coordinator, with input from the instructional faculty, staff and students. Material selected is based on the following criteria:

1. supports the instructional program

2. of general interest

3. well reviewed

4. good technical quality

5. appropriate format

6. currency

7. adds subject balance to the collection

8 balance in terms of expenditures for division requests

9. positive faculty evaluations

10. price

Faculty must preview audiovisual items in advance of purchase if previews are available. An evaluation form is completed for each item previewed.

Reference Collection

The reference collection is made up of both print and electronic resources. Reference materials include, but are not limited to, indexes, almanacs, both general and specialized encyclopedias, bibliographies, handbooks, directories, atlases, dictionaries, and statistical resources. Reference materials are selected on the basis of currency, scope, relevance to the collection, ease of use, cost and general usefulness. Continuation orders for reference materials are placed with a variety of suppliers in order to maintain ease of continuity and currency to the collection.

Online Sources

The library subscribes to a number of fee-based, commercial online resources. Selection of online databases is based on a combination of the following criteria:

1. offers broad-based educational use to a wide variety of students, faculty, and staff

2. offers a user-friendly interface

3. multiple user access

4. remote access availability

5. sufficient and reliable technical support available

6. useful help screens

7. trial access provided by vendor

8. usage statistics available online

9. reasonable price

Reserve Collection

The Reserve Collection is made up primarily of gifts from publishers. The library does not generally purchase copies of textbooks from its regular materials budget. However, if the Campus Bookstore is nearly out of supply of a given textbook and it is believed there will be a delay in receiving the order, the Library will purchase one copy to place on reserve. Additionally, the Library will order "supplementary reading" for individual courses upon request by the instructor. The guideline for purchase is one copy per ten students in the class.

New Readers Collection

The library has a small collection of fiction and nonfiction book materials addressed towards the needs of English-as-a-second-language students.

Juvenile Collection

The Library purchases and maintains a collection of picture books appropriate to the 4 - 8 years old category.

Archival Collection

The Archival Collection consists of materials that relate to the current or historical aspects of Delta College. The collection is made up of such items as past Board of Trustee agendas, past college catalogs and digests of classes, accreditation self-studies and reports, and publications and reports published by the Administration or one of the Divisions on campus.

In addition to campus documents, there is a small collection of books and materials relating to the history of Stockton and San Joaquin County.

Popular Reading Collection

The Library maintains a collection of a popular paperback and hardbound reading material located on various display racks around the library.

Replacements

The decision to replace stolen or damaged library materials is based on the following considerations:

1. whether or not the material is still in print

2. the timeliness of the material

3. whether or not the material is considered a standard in the field

4. whether the material has been superceded by a new edition

5. the need for the material relative to other items in the collection

6. whether the material is a duplicate copy

7. price

Weeding

Weeding is done primarily by the library faculty, with occasional input from the instructional faculty. Among items which should be removed from the shelves are:

1. Titles superseded by newer editions

2. Unneeded duplicate titles

3. Worn out volumes (dirty, mutilated, badly marked pages, brittle or yellow with age, frayed bindings, broken hinges, or dingy covers). If a book is still useful to the collection, it should be repaired, replaced or rebound, if possible.

4. Textbooks over 15 years old

5. Highly specialized books when the library holds more extensive or up-to-date volumes on the same subject

6. Books with low circulation

7. Books with out-of-date information

8. Reference books: Superceded reference books should be removed after the new editions are processed except in cases in which their ongoing retention is deemed useful.

Gifts

The acceptance of gifts to the library is covered in Board Policy #6321. The library accepts gifts of library materials with the understanding that material will be added at the discretion of the Collection Development Coordinator. Material that is not added is generally placed in the library book sale. Letters acknowledging the receipt, the quantity and appreciation for the gift material(s) are sent out by the Library Director. Monetary value is not assigned by the library for gifts donated. Memorial gifts will have a bookplate added upon request by the donor.

Interlibrary Loan

The Library borrows materials for staff and students via the OCLC network.

Resource Sharing

Delta College is a member of the 49/99 Central Association of Libraries Cooperative Library System which incorporates public, academic and special libraries in the surrounding seven county area. Interlibrary loan requests are sent to member libraries.

In addition, the University of the Pacific offers Delta College students library privileges for six month blocks at a cost of $20.00 per period. Forms are supplied at the Reference Desk in Goleman Library.

Goleman Library is a member of OCLC and the Sierra Valley Library Network and participates in the Community College League consortial purchase of electronic databases.

Revised Sept 2002