Library Services Material Selection

Value Statement

Austin Community College District Library Services develops a materials collection to provide the educational resources necessary to support the mission of the Austin Community College District.

Administrative Rule

1. Philosophy of Selection
   Library Services seeks to provide a materials collection that reflects the purpose of the College, courses offered, varied teaching methods, and needs of the students, faculty, and staff. Library Services seeks to develop a collection of sufficient size and type to meet the needs of its users, but does not seek to build a comprehensive or research collection in any one subject area.
2. Responsibilities of Selection
   The Dean of Library Services is responsible for final purchase decisions based on the criteria outlined in this Administrative Rule and in the Library Services Collection Development Policy.  Guidelines and Procedures for materials selection are developed by the Library Services Collection Development Team for the Library Leadership Team, with final approval by the Dean of Library Services and, as needed, the Associate Vice Chancellor of the Teaching and Learning Excellence Division. Library subject specialists are responsible for collection development in specific subject areas, as well as coordination and balance of the collection as a whole. Subject specialists will work closely with instructional faculty in coordinating the selection of materials to build a collection that reflects the curriculum and resources needed by the College.  Recommendations from instructional faculty in areas of expertise are given priority consideration.
3. Materials Considered for Acquisition
   Materials that are college-level and directly curriculum-related are prioritized for acquisition. These include items needed for class assignments, supplemental materials, reference materials, and discovery tools that will facilitate finding and using such materials.

   After primary needs have been met, consideration will be given to materials that meet special needs or interests of students, faculty, and staff.  Recommendations from instructional faculty in areas of expertise are given priority consideration.

4. Materials Not Considered for Acquisition
   The following types of materials are generally not considered for acquisition:
   • Required textbooks and lab manuals
   • Specialized technical books or research materials beyond the needs of the students
   • Rare/Archival materials or limited editions
   • Resources that are cost-prohibitive to purchase
   • World language materials other than those that support curricular needs
   • Out-of-print materials are purchased under special circumstances only
5. Gifts
   The same selection standards apply to gifts as to the rest of the collection; as such, Library Services reserves the right to refuse materials and/or to dispose of any materials after acceptance that do not meet the needs or requirements of the College.  All disposals are conducted according to stated College Policy for disposition of materials.  Library Services does not independently verify the value of donated items, nor is it able to provide a list of titles donated, but will respond to the donor with a letter verifying the number of items donated.
6. Maintenance of the Collection
   Collection Maintenance and Evaluation

   An essential element of collection maintenance is the systematic and periodic deselection of all formats of materials from the collection. Deselection is conducted with the same degree of attention as initial selection.

   Lost Items and Replacement

   Resources that are missing, lost, or withdrawn because of wear are replaced with the same degree of attention as initial selection.

7. Intellectual Freedom Statement
   The Library Services staff supports the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights and its concept of intellectual freedom.  Library Services attempts to purchase materials that represent multiple points of view on controversial matters. Subjects will be considered without prejudice or censorship when determining the balance of the collection as long as they fit into the general collection criteria of Library Services.
8. Challenges to Library Services Materials
   Materials that have been added to the collection are not withdrawn based on the request of any individual or group. Similarly, materials are not added to the collection outside the guidelines of this Administrative Rule and the Library Services materials selection guidelines.

   The Library Services “Challenges to Library Materials” procedure allows an individual to object to materials in the Library Services collections. The procedure provides for a review of the materials in question in light of Library Services selection criteria as delineated in this Administrative Rule and in the Library Services Collection Development Policy.