Jean and Alexander Heard Central Library Collection Development Mission and Goals

In the Central Library the collection development program is implemented by subject bibliographers in Collection Development and administered by the Associate Director of the Central Library. This program's goals are:

A.  Selecting materials in all formats which contribute to the university's programs of instruction and research;

B.   Selecting materials which contribute to cooperative regional programs of collection development and other long-standing local collection strengths, and anticipating the emergence of new programs and areas of research.

Bibliographers achieve these goals in the following ways:

1. Continuing the development and refinement of the collections policy, which delineates strengths and parameters of the various collections of the Central Library;
   
   
2. Working with collection development librarians in other VUL divisions to define collection scopes cooperatively;
   
   
3. Seeking adequate funding to increase current acquisition levels;
   
   
4. Seeking additional funding to support retrospective collection building, including extra-university support for collection development;
   
   
5. Building and maintaining active faculty liaison with the library;
   
   
6. Working cooperatively with Resource Services to monitor and refine procedures relating to the acquisition and cataloging of library materials (orders, blanket orders, vendors, exchange arrangements, gifts, binding, book fund reporting, etc.);
   
   
7. Contributing information to the process of allocation of book funds by representing collection needs accurately;
   
   
8. Promoting improved use of the collection by optimal bibliographic instruction at all levels;
   
   
9. Managing the collection by means of careful replacement, weeding, preservation, and security procedures;
   
   
10. Assessing the collections regularly to ensure that they continue to offer optimal support for research and instructional programs;
    
    
11. Working to assure adequate subject coverage by the appointment of qualified bibliographers, and provisions of standards for recruitment, orientation, and evaluation, and encouraging professional development and continuing education for bibliographers;
    
    
12. Fostering communication among bibliographers and library administrators, as well as colleagues on the periphery of the collection process;
    
    
13. Implementing cooperative programs with other libraries.

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Revised 10/15/04    Comments about this webpage? Email Peter Brush