Middle Georgia College
Collection Development Policy
(Cochran and Dublin Center)
1. Library Mission: The Mission of the Middle Georgia College
Libraries, in Cochran and at the Dublin Center, is parallel to the
purpose of Middle Georgia College, which is stated in the General
Catalog of the College. The libraries are concerned with
supporting the College's two principle goals of providing the best
educational environment possible for the development of its students
and serving the needs of its community. Consideration is given to
faculty, staff and community needs. The major objective of the
libraries is to participate in the educational program of Middle
Georgia College by collecting, making readily available, and
assisting in the use of books and other materials. To accomplish
this purpose, the library:
A. Acquires printed and non-print materials to support the Curriculum
offered by the College in accordance with the library's collection
development policy.
B. Organizes its collection in an orderly and standard manner.
C. Provides qualified staff to assist patrons and disseminate information.
D. Offers bibliographic instruction and
orientation to all users.
E. Provides an attractive physical facility that is easily accessible
to all users.
2. GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF COLLECTION
DEVELOPMENT
A. The collection is selected primarily for use by students at the
two-year college level and should be relevant to one or more of the following:
1. Curriculum Support
2. Cultural Enrichment
3. General or Specific Professional Growth
4. Extracurricular Interest
B. Priority is given to direct curricular needs, but individual interest
and developmental needs of students and are also taken into
consideration when materials are collected.
C. Consideration will be given to community interest, particularly in
relation to continuing education programs.
D. Materials are selected primarily on the basis of their value to the
collection rather than on basis of format, such as book or non-book.
3. PARTICIPANTS AND AUTHORITY IN THE SELECTION
PROCESS
A. Faculty
The quality of materials selected depends largely upon the interest and
involvement of all faculty members, and full participation in selection and in weeding
should be encouraged by all Division Chairs. The faculty are specialists in their
respective fields. Division Chairs are responsible for involving their faculty in
recommending library materials in support of their subject areas and their
division's curricula. Therefore, each faculty member should make recommendations
for purchase through the chairperson of his or her division. When appropriate,
the Division Chair should request that a duplicate copy of an acquisition be
placed in the Dublin Center library. Suggestions concerning materials outside a
faculty member's field will be considered.
B. Professional Library Staff
The primary responsibility for collection development rests with the college
library faculty. The librarians are generalists and can best see the library
collection as a whole. Their function is to complement faculty selections
appropriate materials outside the published curricula, maintaining a reference
collection, and the continual updating of the circulating collection.
C. Other Personnel
The college's staff, students and administration may suggest that materials be
purchased by the library.
D. Final authority for selection rests with the director of the library and his
administrative superiors.
4. SPECIFIC ACQUISITIONS POLICY
A. Core Collection
The libraries will attempt to maintain a core collection of the important titles
recommended by the most recent editions of Books for College Libraries and
Books for Junior Colleges. Other works to be considered include Reference
Books for Small libraries and Sheehay's Guide to Reference Books. Periodicals
to be consulted include Choice, American Libraries, C&RL News, and New
York Times Book Review.
B. Balance
The libraries will attempt to maintain a balanced collection by considering the
materials that faculty, librarians and the the review media recommend;
materials requested by clientele; and what materials are being used.
C. Budget
Purchase of materials is determined by the budgets allotted to individual
divisions and special funds available, in accordance with acquisitions policies.
Suitable balance of expenditures among divisions of the college is sought.
At the beginning of the year, the budget for the books, audio-visual materials,
and periodical subscriptions is divided among the various divisions, with a portion
also set aside for the library and general purchases and binding. The final decision
as to which materials are to be purchased is the responsibility of the director.
D. Periodicals
the libraries provide a selection of newspapers and other periodicals that reflect
community, national and worldwide perspectives. Periodical subscriptions
are recommended by division chairmen. Initial purchase will be of the
entire volume of the current year. The acquisition of backfiles will be highly
selective.
E. Duplicate Copies
In general, only one copy of each title selected for the collection will
be purchased. Exceptions to this rule may be made at the director's
discretion.
F. Textbooks
The libraries do not purchase copies of assigned textbooks, although
copies of particular books used as textbooks may be included in the collection
by coincidence. Textbooks supplied by division chairs will be held on
reserve.
G. Out-Of-Print Materials
reprints of out-of-print materials are purchased as they become available
and as there is a need for such items.
H. Replacements
Replacements are contingent upon a review of a lost or damaged item's
importance in relation to the library's General Principles of Collection
Development. Replacement of damaged materials will be considered in
relation to cost of repairs versus replacement as well as importance to
the collection.
I. Nonprint Material
Selection criteria are the same for nonprint materials as for books.
Additionally, content, subject matter, and treatment are evaluated in
relation to their validity, lasting value of timely importance. Technical
qualities such as photography, sound track, color reproduction and the
like are examined. It is the policy for audiovisual materials to be
previewed whenever possible before purchase.
5. WEEDING
Materials are periodically withdrawn from the libraries to maintain a
current, active, and useful collection. Materials that are to be withdrawn
from the collections include superseded editions; worn, mutilated, or badly
marked items; unused duplicates; and materials containing outdated or
inaccurate information. Division Chairs are responsible for involving their
faculty members in reviewing, periodically, the area of collection in their
respective disciplines and making recommendation for withdrawals and
updates. As requested the library faculty will make suggestions to
division chairs regarding weeding.
6. PRESERVATION
Preservation consist of taking preventive and corrective action with
regard to deterioration of library materials in all formats for the
purpose of maintain access to them or the information they hold.
This is done in a variety of ways including regular binding of periodical
materials and purchasing periodical materials in microfilm format.
Paperbound monographs are purchased with plastic reinforcements
to extend their life. Damaged materials are brought to the attention of the
Technical Services staff and are repaired or replaced if possible. Items
of unique nature, such as backfiles of the College's student newspapers
and archival materials, are kept in a secure area and are available for
reference use.
7. GIFTS
A. The libraries accept donations of materials to the collections. However,
it reserves the right to use donated material in any manner appropriate to
its needs.
B. The libraries do not appraise the value of gifts.
C. Monetary bequests are welcomed.
D. Responsibility for gift solicitation, receipt, acceptance and acknowledgement
will rest with the director of the library.
8. EXCHANGES
Exchange items must meet the same selection criteria as any other item
acquired for the collection.
9. COPYRIGHT
The libraries abide by all regulations of relevant sections of the Copyright
Revision Act of 1976 and the "Guidelines for Off-Air Recording of
Broadcast Programming for Educational Purposes."
10. INTERLIBRARY LOAN
Interlibrary loan service, by which needed materials are obtained from other
libraries, provides the libraries with a valuable means of supplementing
limited resources. Types of materials borrowed include books, periodical
articles, and microforms. The libraries reserve the right not to process
an interlibrary loan request that the librarians may believe to be violation
of the copyright law.
11. INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM
Middle Georgia College libraries are firmly committed to the concept
of intellectual freedom as expressed in the Library Bill of Rights and
Librarians' Code of Ethics. The decision to make available library resources
is based on the purposes and objectives of Middle Georgia College and on
the policies outlined in this document. No materials will be excluded on the
basis of race, creed, nationality, sex, or age of the author. The library will
attempt to provide a balanced collection, with particular attention paid
to providing varying viewpoints on controversial subjects.
A. Library Bill Of Rights
The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums
for information and ideas that the following basic policies should
guide their services.
1. Books and other library resources should be provided
for the interest, information, and enlightenment for all
people of the library 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 abridgement 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.
B. Librarian's Code Of Ethics
1. Librarians must provide the highest level of service
through appropriate and usefully organized collections,
fair and equitable circulation and service policies, and
skillful, accurate, unbiased and courteous responses to
all requests for assistance.
2. Librarians must resists all efforts by groups or individuals
to censor library material.
3. Librarians must protect each user's right to privacy with
respect to information sought or received, with materials
consulted, borrowed or acquired.
4. Librarians must adhere to the principles of due process and
equality of opportunity in peer relationship and personnel
actions.
5. Librarians must distinguish clearly in their actions and statements
between their personal philosophies and attitudes and those of
an institution and professional body.
6. Librarians must avoid situations in which personal interests must
served or financial benefits gained at the expense of library users,
colleagues, or the employing institution.
12. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Special Collections are separate from the collection for which policy
established by this document. A further statement regarding special
collections is found in Appendix A.
13. POLICY INTERPRETATION AND IMPLEMENTATION
As chief library administrator, the director of the library reserves the
right to make final decisions regarding the interpretation and
implementation of this policy. The director will consult with the Library
Committee of the College when apparent problems arise concerning
any aspect of the policy.
14. REVIEW OF COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT POLICY
This policy is subject to review at all times by the library staff and by the
Library Committee. In any case, the policy should be carefully reviewed
every three years.
Revised, October 26, 1998
APPENDIX A
Statement On Special Collections
The purpose of Roberts Memorial Library's special collections
is to provide a repository for the following:
1. Manuscripts, books, and other primary source materials
pertaining to the history of Georgia, especially primary source
material related to the history of individual counties.
2. Archives of the college.
3. Historical materials of organizations such as the Daughters of
the American Revolution.
4. Rare books, manuscripts and other rare or unusually
valuable items.
It is the policy of the library to make its special collections accessible
to scholars, faculty, students, and other patrons interested in the areas
collected.