Mission
Objectives
Selection
Selection Criteria
Gifts
Library Collection
Format
Weeding
Intellectual Freedom

Mission

The Greenlease Library is an indispensable learning facility at Rockhurst University. It actively supports the educational goals of Rockhurst University by providing access to materials in print and non-print formats, training in the use of research tools, document delivery through interlibrary loan and special facilities such as a computer lab and quiet study areas. Its rich resources exist to (1) support research and curriculum needs of Rockhurst students in undergraduate and graduate programs, (2) support the professional research needs for the faculty and staff, and (3) provide general intellectual enjoyment for all who use the library.

Objectives

The process of selection, acquisition, and organization of library materials is a cooperative venture between the academic faculty and the library staff. The objectives of collection development are: (1) to support the university curriculum, and (2) to provide for the research and information needs of the university community, (3) to strengthen the collection.

Selection

Selection of materials is done by librarians and also by departmental faculty. Each department has a librarian liaison to assist in the selection of materials. The Library Director allocates funds to the departments for purchases. Departmental allocations are based on research support, cost of materials, one-time major purchases, growth/decline in curriculurn and credit hours generated. Departmental allocations not spent or encumbered by the last working day of February fall under the discretion of the Library Director. Each academic department has a library liaison for consultation purposes.

Selection Criteria

Materials selected by the librarians are chosen through:

a. Reviewing publications, such as Choice or Booklist
b. Professional Journals
c. Recommended lists, such as Books for College Libraries
d. On-site demonstrations

Departmental faculty are encouraged to use all of these above methods in addition to their subject expertise knowledge of authors, texts and publishers.

Evaluation

The library staff will use The Materials Selection Policy, patron needs and recommended subject lists to periodically evaluate the library's collection. The collection will be evaluated for:

a. strengths and weaknesses
b. reallocation of funds to departments
c. adding resources for new programs
d. weeding and discarding
e. accreditation

Gifts

Gifts are accepted by the library. The Library Director, or his or her appointee, is free to dispose of gifts if they do not fulfill the mission of the library or duplicate materials already owned. All gifts are acknowledged by the library but no appraised value is given. Memorial gifts are encouraged by the library and the staff is happy to work with donors to select materials appropriate for the library and person that is being commemorated.

Library Collection

Non-fiction: Major emphasis is placed on print and non-print publications that support course offerings. Secondary emphasis is placed on the research needs of the faculty and staff

Textbooks: Textbooks are not selected except in rare occasions when they are used as supplementary or collateral reading.

Fiction: Preference is given to acquiring major literary works that support the curriculum and special programs sponsored by the university, i.e. Visiting Scholars Lectures.

Periodicals: The selection of periodicals is based on the same criteria as that for books. Most titles are recommended by the faculty to support course offerings and expanding departments. The library will try to subscribe to core titles for all subjects that degrees are offered. Attempts will be made to select a wide variety of representative titles covering different viewpoints and to maintain a continuous run of a title. Coverage by an index available in our collection is a major consideration in the selection of specific titles.

Government Documents: The selection of government documents is based primarily on the same criteria as that of book materials. We use the suggested core collection for small universities listed in the Guidelines for the Depository Library System, and take into consideration the needs of the general public living in the 5th congressional district.

Format

Non book materials will be collected in any format appropriate for research and curriculum needs. Availability of hardware to utilize non book materials will be taken into consideration before selection. Formats for which hardware is obsolete will not be added unless for archival purposes. Addition of out-of-print materials is not encouraged. Materials will be added primarily in the English language.

Languages and literature taught by the Foreign Language and Literature Department will also be considered.

Weeding

The process of weeding helps maintain a strong collection. Weeded materials are considered for storage or discard. Responsibility for weeding is shared by the faculty and the library staff. Faculty members have responsibility for weeding circulating materials in their areas of expertise based on content. The library staff is responsible for removing multiple copies, multiple editions, and materials in poor physical condition from the circulating collection. The Head of Public Services is responsible for weeding the reference collection.

Intellectual Freedom

In accordance with the American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Statement, the library supports the reader's right to choose. The library makes every effort to represent various sides of controversial issues in the selection process.