Knowledge Base

Table of Contents

I. COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT GOALS
II.  GENERAL POLICIES
     A. Responsibility for Selection
     B. Criteria for Selection
     C. Scope
     D. Depth of Coverage
     E. Material types and formats not purchased
     F. Formats for inclusion
III.  DONATIONS
IV.  COLLECTION MAINTENANCE
V.   CHALLENGED MATERIALS
VI.  LIBRARY SUPPORT FOR NEW CURRICULA

APPENDIX A: ALA Library Bill of Rights
APPENDIX B: ALA Freedom to Read Statement
 

I. COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT GOALS

This collection development policy covers UST collections housed at O'Shaughnessy-Frey and Keffer libraries. Collection policies have been developed for specialized collections: the Music & Media Collection, Curriculum and Children's Literature Collections, Special Collections, Archbishop Ireland Memorial Library, and the Schoenecker Law Library.

This policy exists in order to design and direct the growth, scope, level, size, and location of the Libraries' collections. These collections reflect the nature of the institution as a D/PU: Doctoral/Professional University as described by the Carnegie Foundation. This denotes that the University of St. Thomas is an institution that awards below 20 research/scholarship doctoral degrees and at least 30 professional practice doctoral degrees in at least 2 programs. As such, the collections support undergraduate and graduate instruction, sustained independent study within the context of the established curriculum, and a diversity of viewpoints.

The collections include a wide range of basic resources, both print and electronic, including but not limited to: monographs, a selection of representative journals, reference tools and fundamental bibliographic resources pertaining to a subject. These are materials not only located within the confines of the University but includes materials accessible online.  Our mission and collection development goals emphasize our desire to provide the materials that support the curriculum and the intellectual development of St. Thomas students, faculty and staff.

II. GENERAL POLICIES
II. A. Responsibility for Selection

The responsibility for the coordination and implementation of collection development rests with the library staff. All members of the St. Thomas community are encouraged to recommend materials for purchase or access in their fields of expertise.

II. B.  Criteria for Selection

Within the goals stated above, the following factors will be considered as appropriate when making selection decisions:

• accuracy, organization of information
• intended audience and do we serve them
• authors' credentials: qualified in this area; what else have they written; recognized expert
• availability in other locations or formats
• completeness
• currency of information (as appropriate)
• English is preferred except in specific disciplines like modern languages
• format
• depth of indexing and abstracting 
• licensing restrictions, patency of the connections; method of access; updating schedule, archiving, tutorials and documentation
• price and availability
• publisher's reputation
• quality of binding, reproductions, graphs, readability, paper quality
• relationship to other items in the collections
• reviews
• scholarship - table of contents, indexed; thoroughly referenced, peer-reviewed
• space and ongoing expenses, including maintenance and equipment
• thoroughness of research in preparation of the resource
• potential and apparent use
• ease of use (including quality of the search engine)
   

II. C. Scope refers to the range of subject fields of interest to the University of St. Thomas

The subject areas collected are those that support the curriculum. The majority of materials are organized by the Library of Congress Classification system. In addition the libraries set aside a small portion of the materials budget to supplement the curricular subjects in order to build a well rounded collection and for cultural literacy.

II. D. Coverage refers to the depth or intensity of collecting efforts within a subject field

Collection development intensity levels are assigned to subjects to reflect programmatic and accreditation needs.  Interlibrary loan is utilized to augment the collections. The Schoenecker Law Library will be the primary purchaser of items dealing with law.

Out of scope - The libraries do not collect in this area

Minimal collection - few selections are made beyond classic or very basic works.   

Basic collection -  supports lower-division undergraduate research; includes the core of the discipline or sub-discipline  as it relates to the St. Thomas curriculum. This level describes a highly selective collection that serves to introduce and define the subject and to indicate the variety of information available elsewhere, such as:

• selected databases
• fundamental materials
• historical surveys
• editions of important works
• introductory works
• representative journals
• standard reference works

Extensive collection - supports upper division, graduate course work, or sustained independent study which are adequate to maintain knowledge of a subject required at less than research intensity. It includes the content of the Basic Collection and:

• a wide range of primary and critical resources
• critical bibliographical resources
• complete collections of the works of important writers
• specialized databases
• pertinent journals
• reference resources

Research collection -  supports ongoing or likely future research leading to a doctorate, independent study or faculty research. It includes resources supporting the framework for the methodology and implementation of original doctoral research. As with the other collecting levels, interlibrary loan is expected to augment St. Thomas faculty research.

Specific subject scope and coverage information is available upon request.

II. E. What the libraries will not typically acquire (See Special Collections policies for exceptions):   

• abridged editions
• back runs of journals without a continuing commitment
• catalogs of commercial firms
• collections of articles published elsewhere
• consumables including laboratory manuals, examination review books, programmed texts and workbooks
• games, tests, kits
• loose-leaf and updating services will be collected very selectively. Preference will be given to electronic versions
• multiple copies in the same format
• non-local newspapers except for those defined as "national" newspapers
• popular works which are outside leisure reading policy
• spiral bound books
• telephone directories
• Documents printed from the web will not be included in the regular collections

II. F. Formats for inclusion

Generally, the library will not acquire formats if we do not own the equipment to support them.

• Monographs:  Includes treatises, music scores, exhaustive treatments of subjects, encyclopedic works, dictionaries and other reference tools.
• Serials: Includes journals (periodicals), annuals, standing orders (continuations), reports, newspapers, yearbooks, memoirs, transactions and proceedings.
• Audiovisual materials: Preferred format for addition to the collections is streaming. Audio CDs, CD-ROM, and DVD formats may also be added.   Supplementary materials in AV formats will be included with the item.
• Government publications: Generally, we will provide access to the electronic resource through the catalog rather than acquire in print, if available.
• Dissertations, terminal projects: Every effort will be made to acquire an electronic copy of every project prepared by students in the completion of their degrees at the University of St. Thomas for deposit in the institutional repository. If an electronic copy cannot be obtained, a print copy will be held in the University Archives.
• Archival materials. See Special Collections Development Policy
• Early monographs and rare books. See Special Collections Development Policy
• Electronic resources: the libraries will acquire via lease or purchase access to books, serials, streaming media, and government documents in electronic format. Electronic content will be preferred for serial and database purchases.
• Digital Assets. See Digital Collection Development Policy
• Textbooks. The libraries will acquire textbooks only if:
  • they meet the criteria for inclusion in the library collection outlined in this policy and would be purchased as additions to the collection even if not used for a class; and
  • are reasonably priced in relation to the monographs budget and purchase of new editions would not be an undue budgetary burden; and
  • are in electronic format, available for purchase via an Unlimited User or Non-linear Lending (NLL) license. E-textbooks available only via single-user or 3-user licenses should not be acquired.

III. DONATIONS

 Other sources for donating materials include:

• Better World Books
• Books for Africa
• Local organizations like the Free Book Buggie
• Public Library (contact your public library system for donation criteria

IV. COLLECTION MAINTENANCE

Collection maintenance is an ongoing process by which materials in the libraries are evaluated so that decisions can be made concerning the repair, replacement, relocation or withdrawal of items. The criteria for the evaluation of materials are the same as the criteria for selection. Faculty collaboration in the evaluation process is welcomed but final decisions regarding retention of particular items are made by library staff.

V. CHALLENGED MATERIALS

Library materials are selected according to the collection development goals, general criteria, and discipline-specific guidelines. The University of St. Thomas subscribes to the principles expressed in the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement, copies of which are appended to and made an integral part of this policy.

Because the Libraries strive to provide collections that represent a diversity of viewpoints, library users may occasionally find materials owned by the Libraries to be controversial or objectionable. Written complaints will be considered within the guidelines outlined in this policy. In considering such complaints, the following statement from the Library Bill of Rights shall remain paramount: "Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. . . . Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval."

VI. LIBRARY SUPPORT FOR NEW CURRICULA

The libraries of the University of St. Thomas request to be informed at an early stage when new programs or new courses are being proposed in an academic department. This helps ensure that adequate funding both for start-up costs and ongoing expenses will be available for the acquisition of materials and provision of library services needed to support the program or course.

   APPENDIX A:  Library Bill of Rights

   APPENDIX B:  Freedom to Read Statement

Policy dated October 1997; last revised May 2023
Comments to mkmanahan@stthomas.edu