Table of Contents

Mission Statement
Purpose of Collection Development Policy
The Community
Philosophy of Selection
Scope of the Collection
Scope of the Central Library
Scope of the Branch Libraries
Responsibility for Selection
Selection Criteria
Suggestions for Purchase
Request for Reconsideration
Gifts
Duplication of Material
The Collections

Collection Development on the Web
     Scope and Breadth
     Selection Criteria
Collection Development Scale
Collection Maintenance
Discarding Library Materials  
Revision of Policy 

Mission Statement

The freedom to know is the foundation of our democracy. The mission of the Pasadena Public Library, a basic municipal service, is to be an information center for the Pasadena community in order to preserve and encourage the free expression of ideas essential to an informed citizenry.

Purpose of Collection Development Policy

The collection development policy is intended to provide guidance, within budgetary and space limitations, for the selection and evaluation of materials which anticipate and meet the needs of the Pasadena community. It directly relates the collection to the library's mission statement, and defines the scope and standards of the various collections.

As the community changes, the library will need to reassess and adapt its collections to reflect new and differing areas of interest and concern. The collection development policy will be periodically evaluated and revised as necessary to provide guidance for implementing changes in the collection.

The Community

The Pasadena community, as more fully described in The Pasadena Community and its Information Needs (1983), is characterized by a large number of organizations, a growing business community, a long tradition of interest in art and culture, and several notable colleges and universities. The individuals in the community reflect varying economic, racial, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. As with other communities in the Southern California area, an increasing number of immigrants, particularly Hispanics, Armenians and Asians, are moving into the city. Studying the community is essential to selecting materials for the library. Knowledge of the community enables the library to better serve its users by developing collections that reflect the changing interests and composition of Pasadena.

Philosophy of Selection

In support of its mission "to preserve and encourage the free expression of ideas essential to an informed citizenry," the Pasadena Public Library fully endorses the principles documented in the Library Bill of Rights and the Freedom to Read Statement of the American Library Association. The library upholds the right of the individual to secure information, even though the content may be controversial, unorthodox, or unacceptable to others. Materials available in the library present a diversity of viewpoints, enabling citizens to make the informed choices necessary in a democracy.

Scope of the Collection

The primary responsibility of the Pasadena Public Library is to serve the citizens and employees of Pasadena by providing a broad choice of materials to meet their informational, educational, cultural and recreational needs. Materials are selected to aid individuals, groups, and organizations attain practical solutions to daily problems, and to enrich the quality of life for all community members.

Budget and space limitations, as well as local needs, preclude the library from duplicating the specialized and comprehensive collections that exist elsewhere in Pasadena and the greater Los Angeles area. Access to these collections is provided through cooperative networking, interlibrary loan, and direct referral. All outlets of the Pasadena Public Library system are designed to provide access on an equal basis to the collections of both the Pasadena Public Library and the Glendale Library system. Emphasis is placed on shared access and ease of use through the Automated Control system (ACS) jointly owned by Pasadena Public Library and Glendale Public Library.

Scope of the Central Library

The Central Library serves the Pasadena community as a whole, in addition to serving as a resource for the eight branch libraries. The size and scope of its collection attracts users from surrounding areas in the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles Basin, but the main purpose is to serve Pasadena citizens and employees. As an urban library, the Central Library places major emphasis on the provision of information. It offers a strong reference collection that supports an extensive and in-depth reference service. A broad choice of circulating print and non-print materials is selected to accommodate the diversity of tastes, reading levels, languages and interests of users of all ages. The Central Library aims at providing a comprehensive collection of materials relating to the City of Pasadena, and builds upon existing strengths in business, economics and the arts. Scholarly and highly technical or specialized materials are not acquired, but are made available through other libraries with strong collections, such as the Huntington Hospital Library or the Brand Library in Glendale.

Scope of the Branch Libraries

The nine branch libraries serve specific neighborhoods in the City. The interests and needs of the actual and potential users of the branch are continually evaluated so that each library has a collection reflecting the community that it serves. While each branch serves basic reference needs of its neighborhood with a core of reference materials, it does not duplicate the in-depth sources or special collections of Central and other libraries. Budget and space limit the branch collection to materials of high interest to its patrons.

Responsibility for Selection

The authority and responsibility for the selection of library materials rests ultimately with the Library Director. Under his/her direction, selection is delegated to the professional library staff. All staff members and the general public are encouraged to recommend materials for consideration.

Selection Criteria

All materials, whether purchased or donated, are considered in terms of the criteria listed below. An item need not meet all of these standards in order to be added to the collection.

Popular interest
Contemporary significance or permanent value
Currency of information
Accuracy
Local emphasis
Readability or ability to sustain interest
Treatment of subject to age of intended audience
Reputation of author, publisher, producer or illustrator
Creative, literary or technical quality
Critical assessments in a variety of journals
Format and ease of use
Circulation as monitored through the automated system
Cost and availability
Relationship to existing materials in collection
Relationship to materials in other area libraries

Suggestions for Purchase

The library strongly encourages input from the Pasadena community concerning the collection. A suggestion for purchase procedure enables Pasadena citizens to request that a particular item or subject be purchased by the library. All suggestions for purchase are subject to the same selection criteria as other materials and are not automatically added to the collection. It is the library's intent that suggestions for purchase be used to help the library in developing collections which serve the interests and needs of the community.  You can make a suggestion online.  Please click here to fill out a Suggest to Purchase Form.

Request for Reconsideration

Persons from the Pasadena community wishing to recommend the removal of a particular item in the library collection may submit a Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials form, which will be reviewed by the Library Director and the staff in relation to the library's mission statement and the selection criteria of this collection development policy. After evaluating journal reviews and other materials submitted by the patron and the staff, a response will be made by the Library Director within 30 days of receiving the formal objection.

Gifts

The Pasadena Public Library accepts gifts (including publisher's gift copies) for the library's collection that fall within needed subject categories, as determined by the Library Director and the staff. Gift additions must meet the same selection criteria as purchased materials and are subject to the following limitations.

• Donations of money designated for the periodicals and newspapers collection are accepted in lieu of actual subscriptions. These contributions offset the high cost of periodical subscriptions and maintain the continuity of subscriptions from year to year.

• Donors of the funds may suggest subjects or titles to be acquired with their donation, but the library reserves the right of final decision.

• California History and Description

• Children's Books

• Compact Discs

• Fiction and Non-fiction published in the last two years

• Fiction by classic authors

• Paperbacks

• Pasadena materials

Duplication of Material

Multiple copies of materials are purchased in response to user demand as evidenced by number of reserves, anticipated popularity, repeated requests and monitoring of the collection. For popular fiction and non-fiction titles, the Pasadena and Glendale libraries maintain a ratio of one copy for every six reserves, placed through the shared computer system (ACS).

The Collection

Adult Collection

Fiction
The library's collection includes a wide variety of contemporary works of fiction representing all genres, international works of fiction, classics and important novels of the past. The library makes every effort to acquire fiction which is representative of the cultural and ethnic community that it serves and to satisfy the diversity of interests and recreational needs of its users.

Non-Fiction
The library aims at acquiring materials which provide a core of basic knowledge. In addition, the library selects, makes accessible, and promotes the use of materials which:

• address contemporary issues

• provide self-help information

• facilitate continuing education

• enhance job-related knowledge and skills

• increase knowledge of affairs of the community, the
            country, and the world

• support undergraduate course work

• support business, cultural, recreational and civic interests in the community

• nourish intellectual, aesthetic, creative and spiritual growth

• present different viewpoints on issues

Art Works
The Pasadena Public Library possesses a small non-circulating collection of paintings and art prints. Several of the works are by Pasadena artists. Some are displayed at the Central Library and various branch libraries, but display space is limited. The library does not actively collect or solicit art works. Donations are accepted in accordance with the library's gift policy.

Business Directories
The business directory collection, a major part of the Central Library's business resources, includes national company directories, industry and trade directories, and local business directories. State directories are acquired for California, particularly for the Southern California area and for selected major trade cities or regions. Selected international directories are represented with an emphasis on major trading partners in the Pacific Rim.

The collection is geared toward the local economy in Pasadena and greater Los Angeles area; thus directories dealing with light manufacturing, high technology, import-export, trades, and services are acquired, whereas heavy industry is de-emphasized. The collection is constantly evolving to reflect changing trends in the economy. Subject matter of directories is not duplicated, except where broader coverage is required because of high demand.

Californiana
The library possesses a unique collection of reference books on California history that was started by Nellie Russ, Pasadena's second librarian. The books trace the history of the state from its discovery and contain works in English and Spanish that relate to California's rule under Spain, Mexico, and the U.S. These books, many of which are rare, provide a historical context for the library's Pasadena materials. The library no longer actively collects Californiana since there are other libraries throughout the state that have this specialty. It does, however, continue to acquire standard works on California as well as histories of Los Angeles County and the Southern California area, which impact Pasadena.

Children's Collection
To encourage life-long reading habits, the children's Collection provides materials in a variety of formats to satisfy and stimulate the informational, educational, cultural, and recreational needs of the children of Pasadena from infancy through grade eight. The materials are selected with regard to the stages of emotional and intellectual maturity of children. The collection also provides adults with materials that relate to the well-being of children, enrich preschool and school curriculums, and aid in the study of children's literature.

Electronic Databases (Commercial)
Online computerized databases extend the collection by providing timely and versatile access to information in electronic format. Databases are used by the library staff to enhance and supplement reference service. Many of the databases contain specialized information beyond the scope of the library's print collections; others have information that does not exist in print format. Some databases duplicate print sources which are carefully evaluated for retention with consideration to cost, frequency of use, and ease of access to library users. Databases supplied by commercial vendors are accessed by the library staff at their discretion. Customized searches for patrons with specialized needs, such as
mailing lists and literature searches, are provided through the library's fee-based service, POINT (Pasadena Online Information Network).

Foreign Language Materials
The library maintains a collection of foreign language materials aimed at meeting the recreational and many of the informational needs of the Pasadena community. Resources include books, magazines, and newspapers, videos and sound recordings, in the languages used by individuals in the community, for example Spanish, Armenian, Vietnamese, Chinese, etc. These materials are primarily circulating.

The library's collection also includes materials which aid in learning a second language. These resources include books such as grammars and dictionaries, audio cassettes, and videos for learning the languages most frequently studied in the community. Most of these materials circulate.

The library is committed to developing and maintaining foreign language collections which meet the needs of a changing Pasadena population. Foreign language needs are assessed through such tools as patron registration data, language needs assessments, patron requests, circulation statistics, and community awareness. The information gathered is used to determine the size and scope of the collection at each site. Availability of materials may impact the development of the collections.

Genealogy Collection
The genealogy collection is a self-service reference collection, aimed at users in the initial stages of researching family history. More extensive collections are available at the Mormon Temple Library and Los Angeles Public Library. The collection, consisting of books, periodicals, and some census microfilm, has primarily been developed through donations, with ongoing contributions by the Pasadena Genealogy Society. The library purchases basic how-to-do-it resources, standard reference items and indices, and handbooks on family research for various ethnic groups. Other materials, such as family histories and regional guides, are acquired as gifts.

Government Documents
The library collects federal and state government publications to make information published by the government accessible to citizens.

U.S. Documents
The Pasadena Public Library is a U.S. federal depository library, selecting approximately 25% of materials available. The collection contains historical series of publications for research use, such as those issued by the Census Bureau, and the House UN-American Activities Committee. Highly technical materials, for example those from the Bureau of Standards, are being weeded and deleted from the list of selected items.

In selecting new documents to add to the collection, emphasis is placed on demographics, current legislation, economics, business, health, safety, and information about the government and its operation. Format and frequency of publication are also taken into consideration. In choosing between paper or microfiche format, ease of use for the public is balanced with space limitations. Selected documents are entered into the automated control system to provide improved access.

California Documents
The California documents collection emphasizes material of current citizen interest, major state programs and reports, and statistical information included in, but not limited to, annual and special reports. The collection also contains historical series of publications useful for documenting the history of the state and its transactions. Materials are acquired automatically through the California Library Distribution Program and are also individually selected. All items are carefully evaluated before being added to the collection, and are then entered into the computerized catalog to provide optimal access.

Internet (Public Access)
In conjunction with its mission statement, the Pasadena Public Library provides access to a vast array of information available through electronic media. Electronic information, services, and networks provided directly or indirectly by the library will be readily, equally, and equitably accessible to all library users. The Pasadena Public Library does not monitor and has no control over the information accessed and cannot be held responsible for the content, accuracy or quality of the information retrieved. Providing access to electronic information, services, and networks differs from selecting and purchasing material for the library's collection, offering unprecedented opportunities to expand the scope of information available to all users.

Large Type
The large type book collection meets the needs of an increasing number of visually impaired patrons. The major thrust of the collection is popular fiction, including mysteries and westerns, along with high interest non-fiction such as biographies and health-related materials. Large type books are purchased for the Central Library with rotating collections at the branches.

Librarian's Resources Center
The Librarian's Resource Center at the Central Library houses reference materials to aid staff in the development of storytimes, class visits and other programs for children. The Center's collection includes resource materials such as 1) books with ideas for fingerplays, songs, crafts, storytelling, library skills lessons, and flannelboard stories with patterns, 2) duplicate and out-of-print copies of picture books used specifically in storytime settings, 3) flannelboard kits, 4) puppets, 5) filmstrips, 6) training videos, and 7) other various storytelling aids.

Literacy Collection
The literacy collection provides written material in a variety of formats to support the library's literacy effort, PASADENA READS. Materials used in the tutoring program comprise a large portion of the collection and should provide strong support for instruction. Other materials, consisting of both fiction and non-fiction, are written on a first to fifth grade reading level, and often emphasize practical subjects. The Central Library has the largest collection with smaller selections at some branch libraries.

In addition to this basic instructional material and in support of family literacy, a variety of children's picture books, read-alongs, games and parenting tapes and books are available for adult student learners to use with their children.

Maps
The reference map collection at the Central Library includes maps of various countries, states, and major cities. An emphasis is placed on acquiring maps of California, Los Angeles, and Pasadena, including topographical and specialized maps. The branch libraries have a small circulating collection of country, state, city and road maps.

Materials for Public Review
In support of major city projects, the Municipal Information Service staff assembles collections of resources for public review. The collections cover topics under study by city or citizen task forces or committees, and are gathered together on a temporary basis at the Central Library for the duration of the project. The materials may consist of journal and newspaper articles, books, documents, database searches or other resources.

The library provides Pasadena citizens with information on local issues, actions, services and programs. City-produced reports, agendas, and minutes of boards and commissions and other local agencies are made available for public review at the Central and branch libraries through the Neighborhood Information Service. Some of these materials, depending on their long-term informational value, become a permanent part of the Pasadena collection.

New Media
The library must continually assess new electronic media and evaluate the capabilities and enhancements that they offer over existing formats. When deciding whether to replace or augment existing formats with new media, the following factors are considered: anticipated improvements in information storage and retrieval, user demand, quality of the product, ease of use, equipment requirements, cost, and staff requirements for processing, maintenance, and training. It is essential for staff to monitor technological developments so that wise and cost-effective collection decisions are made for the Pasadena community.

Pamphlets
The Central and branch libraries maintain a few pamphlets on select topics to augment reference service. The pamphlets provide information on topics of current interest and are also used to quickly locate difficult-to-find information on frequently requested topics.

Paperbacks 
The library maintains an uncataloged paperback collection to provide recreational reading in popular areas of interest. The collection duplicates many cataloged books, including best sellers, classics and works of perennially popular authors. Branches obtain paperbacks to supplement their collections with classic and popular titles. This is a high turnover collection aimed at supplying multiple copies of books in demand.

Pasadena Collection
As the information center for the Pasadena community, the library places a high priority on acquiring comprehensive information and resources about Pasadena, past and present. The library collects reference and circulating materials which reflect the city's historical and cultural development, with special attention to its ethnic diversity and heritage. Information collected about contemporary Pasadena supports current library programs and services and serves as the basis for future historical research.

The Pasadena collection at the Central Library, housed in the Centennial Room, consists of both print and non-print materials. The book collection contains all available historical and descriptive works about Pasadena and Pasadenans (including fiction and children's books); city and other Pasadena directories; works on local art, architecture, music, etc.; and a representative selection of books by Pasadena authors and Pasadena publishers and presses.

The library actively acquires current and past city-issued documents and materials, which are augmented with reports, agendas, newsletters and minutes from boards and commissions and are acquired for public review primarily through the Neighborhood Information Service. These materials provide citizens with information about the City and how it functions, currently and historically.

The collection of historical Pasadena newspapers on microfilm at the Central Library is the most comprehensive available in Pasadena, and is supported by a topical file of news clippings and scrapbooks. The library acquires all current Pasadena newspapers, periodicals about Pasadena, a representative selection of magazines published in Pasadena, and newsletters and other publications issued by local organizations. It also collects maps, pamphlets, sheet music, and selected ephemera of local significance.

Non-print materials include Pasadena-related films, videos, sound recordings, slides, art works, and posters. Pasadena photographs are added to the collection when donated, with the recognition that the primary photograph collection is located at the Pasadena Historical Society.

The library does not actively seek manuscripts, collections of papers, memorabilia, or three-dimensional materials, although it does selectively accept gifts of this nature, particularly when the material relates to the City of Pasadena, its official functions and its sister cities.

Branch libraries have a select collection of books about Pasadena history and personages.

Periodical Collection
The library's newspaper and magazine collection provides current and retrospective information aimed at meeting the research and recreational reading needs of the community. The collection also contains periodicals that serve the professional reading needs of the library staff. Periodicals supplement the book collection by providing up-to-date information, covering current topics not yet available in books, and presenting a less in-depth treatment of a subject than is usually found in books.

The periodical collection consists of a diversity of publications in fields which are of interest to the community. It includes basic and popular reading magazines, foreign language publications, and a wide selection of business, trade, and local Pasadena publications. To provide optimal access to information for those conducting research, an emphasis is placed on selecting titles that are included in standard periodical indexes. Journals which are highly technical or scholarly are generally not included in the collection. In addition to magazines, the collection includes newspapers published locally as well as from major geographical areas of interest to the community.

Back issues of magazines circulate at the branch libraries. The larger collection at the Central Library is available for research use as part of the reference collection. Back issues of many titles are accessible in microform for reasons of preservation and space conservation.

Reference Collection
The library maintains a reference collection which is used to answer questions and to serve the informational needs of library users. Reference sources are characterized by their ability to provide information and to summarize, condense, or give a comprehensive overview of a topic. They remain in the library to be readily available to all citizens. Selection criteria of particular importance for reference sources are: accuracy, arrangement, ease-of-use, uniqueness of information, authority, documentation, and indexing.

Reference sources are consulted for specific items of information rather than to be read consecutively and include: bibliographies, indexes, directories, dictionaries, catalogs, yearbooks and annuals, statistical compendia, atlases and gazetteers, biographical dictionaries, and almanacs. Reference sources which describe, condense, and summarize information include encyclopedias, histories, handbooks, abstracts, and special reports with difficult-to-find information.

The reference collection at the Central Library contains standard works in areas of general reference, the humanities, social sciences, physical and biological sciences, technology, history and area studies. It maintains in-depth collections in business and economics, art, and Pasadena and California-related information. The collection also includes rare or difficult-to-replace books in these areas of specialization.

The branch reference collections contain a core of basic ready reference materials supplemented by specific subject area resources of interest to that community. Branch staff have access to a reference hotline to obtain additional reference support and to access the more comprehensive resources at Central.

Sound Recordings
Music recordings are available at the Central Library and some of the branch libraries. The collection contains a number of older 33 rpm recordings, which are not being augmented and will be phased out. Current purchases are only in cassette and compact disc (CD) formats because of their availability and popularity. The adult music collection consists of works by major classical and contemporary composers, as well as popular music. An emphasis is placed on acquiring recordings of musicals, folk music, jazz, and classical music, as well as natural sounds and sound effects. Records, cassettes, and compact discs for children include storytelling, folk and nursery songs, holiday music, and read-alongs, as well as instructional topics.

The spoken recording collection contains sound recordings of fiction and nonfiction books (both complete and abridged), poetry and drama, language instruction, and other instructional subjects. Branch collections of spoken recordings, like books, emphasize popular high-demand items and concentrate on current fiction.

The Central adult collection of spoken recordings is being expanded to encompass popular fiction and nonfiction, as well as tapes of literary classics, language instruction, and general educational topics of popular interest. Spoken recordings are currently published and purchased in cassette format, although the library owns older recordings in 33 rpm format. Tapes may be selected in abridged format because of cost and space concerns.

Textbooks
Recognizing the responsibility of schools and universities to provide access to required textbooks for their students, the Pasadena Public Library does not acquire textbooks required for school curricula. It does acquire some textbooks when needed to provide broad or introductory coverage in various subject areas.

Toys
A collection of educational toys, intended for use by pre-schoolers, is available at the Central library and each of the branches. It provides this age group with a way of learning about their world through play and builds a foundation for reading through the development of motor and cognitive skills. The collection consists of items such as puppets, puzzles, and blocks. Each toy is accompanied by an educational card for the parents, detailing ways to use the toy to further enhance skill development. The foundation for reading is also strengthened by attendance at preschool storytimes. To encourage this attendance, the toys are only available for check-out by parents one-half hour before and after storytime.

Videos
The library collects videocassettes to meet the educational and recreational needs of adults and children. Because of space and budget constraints, approximately 100 new titles are added per year. The library does not attempt to offer a wide selection of current videos, which are readily available elsewhere in the community. Emphasis is placed on videos for children, and educational and documentary videos on a variety of subjects.

Videos of feature films include film classics, such as those named to the National Films Registry, and highly rated current films of broad family appeal or potential cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance. Whenever possible, the library purchases videos with public performance rights.

Pasadena videos are collected under the same general guidelines as other Pasadena materials. The collection consists of privately produced videos about Pasadena and city-produced videos on a variety of topical issues. Videos of City Council meetings are available for public review as soon as they are produced.

Young Adult Collection
A limited young adult collection has been established at Central and some of the branches to satisfy the library needs of patrons from the approximate age of 13 to 18 years. It is a transitional collection for the reader moving from the children's collection to the adult collection. The type of materials selected differs significantly from the junior high level because of the social, emotional, and intellectual maturity required to read them. As this is primarily a browsing collection, fiction and paperbacks are emphasized with a selection of topical non-fiction and hardback books. While materials of overall "good literary quality" are included in this collection, popular titles and themes of contemporary interest to the target age groups are stressed.

Collection Development on the Web

Through its Web site, the Pasadena Public Library directs users to informational resources on the Internet that complement, enhance, and in some cases, parallel resources housed in the library collection. As new resources become available via the Internet, similar reference resources in the library’s print reference collection will be evaluated for retention, taking into consideration access, cost, ease-of-use and other selection criteria.

Scope and Breadth
Links are made to Internet sites based on informational needs of the Pasadena community, areas of emphasis in the collection, and local areas of interest. The Pasadena Web site leads to other fully developed and specialized subject sites that aim at comprehensive topical coverage, and does not attempt to parallel them in breadth. Although a particular emphasis is made on selecting sites created by governmental, educational, and non-profit entities, links are also made to sites created by for-profit organizations when they meet selection criteria and informational needs.

Selection Criteria
Criteria for selecting sites include authority, coverage, accuracy, relevance, quality of information, organization, currency, and relation to informational requests from library users. Links to sites will be deleted or removed when they are outdated or superceded by newly identified sites.

Collection Development Scale

The following definitions of collection intensity have been developed to provide guidelines for acquisition and evaluation of subject areas within the collection. They are used in analyzing the collection by Dewey number and/or material type, so that subject strengths and collection emphases at Central and the branch libraries are clearly delineated.

collection. Weed based on significance of title and changing use.

Resource Collection - Acquire popular and significant works; plus purchase extensively for coverage of the "best and most important" resources in a subject area. Develop a collection that provides broad, current, in-depth, and retrospective coverage. Weed based on significance of title, usage, and maintaining existing collection strengths.

Research Collection - Acquire all available current and retrospective works for comprehensive coverage of a field. Retain all titles and holdings with an emphasis on preservation. Virtually no weeding should occur.

Collection Maintenance

Maintenance of the library's collection through constant re-evaluation by the library staff ensures its usefulness and relevancy to the community. This evaluation depends heavily on the staff's professional expertise in assessing the needs of the community and the content of the collection. Those materials determined to no longer be of value are withdrawn from the collection.

Discarding Library Materials

Library materials are discarded for one or more of the following reasons:

• Obsolescence: subject matter is no longer timely, accurate, or relevant

• Damage or poor condition

• Space limitations

• Insufficient use

The last copy of a work in the Pasadena system is evaluated in terms of its value to the community, with consideration to the following:

• Local interest

• Reputation of author, publisher, producer, illustrator

• Significance as identified in standard bibliographies

• Quality of graphics

• Uniqueness of information for research

• Availability of copies in the system

• Popular interest

• Adequacy of coverage in the subject area

• Significance in subject area

• Cost and availability

• Adverse impact on circulation because of appearance

• Feasibility of binding

• Cost of binding vs. cost of replacement

Revision of Policy

This collection development policy will periodically be evaluated and revised as times and circumstances require.