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Textbooks: The library does not normally purchase commercial textbooks . It is the responsibility of the students to purchase texts required by their courses. However, gifts of textbooks are encouraged and they are added to the collection when they are recently published editionsdue to limited institutional availability and prohibitive costs. When undergraduate or graduate course materials, particularly scholarly monographs, handbooks, fiction, musical scores, and media are (1) available through the library’s acquisitions system (GOBI) or for academic library purchase outside GOBI, and (2) fall within disciplinary budget parameters, subject librarians will have the discretion to purchase these items. The library prioritizes accessibility in format selection (e.g. DRM-free ebooks) when possible.
Purchases Over $500: All acquisitions which cost more than $500 must be approved by both the liaison and chair of the requesting academic department or program. Within the library they must be approved by the Director or designee.
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Collecting levels are characterized nationally, by the Research Library Group's Conspectus, quoted here:
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2: BASIC INFORMATION LEVEL
A selective collection of materials that serves to introduce and define a subject and to indicate the varieties of information available elsewhere. It may include dictionaries, encyclopedias, access to appropriate bibliographic databases, selected editions of important works, historical surveys, bibliographies, handbooks, and a few major periodicals. The collection is frequently and systematically reviewed for currency of information.
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UMBC Archives: The Library Special Collections is the repository for the UMBC campus archives. Archival materials are sent by campus offices to the Special Collections staff who select and organize it. (see archives guideline 521).
Reference: Reference materials are those resources which are not intended to be read continuously from beginning to end but are consulted quickly by a relatively large number of users for relatively small and discrete pieces of information. Librarians determine what sources are placed in the Reference collection regardless of the allocation on which they were purchased. Reference materials include, but are not limited to: atlases, bibliographies, dictionaries, directories, guides to fields of research, indexes/abstracts, encyclopedias, handbooks, and compilations of basic facts and statistics.
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Damaged materials are repaired, if reparable, rather than replaced. Low use damaged materials are neither repaired nor replaced. They are discarded, left in the collection until destroyed by use (at which time they are discarded), or placed in Special Collections. Decisions are made on a case by case basis. Damaged materials should be given to the Collection Management Librarian for a decision to replace, or placed in Special Collections. Decisions are made on a case by case basisrepair or weed.
Media items will be replaced at the discretion of the Collection Management Librarian in consultation with the Digital Media Librarian. Lost or damaged items that are only available in formats not preferred for the Library collection will generally not be replaced.
CENSORSHIP
The Library adopts as a guideline the "Library Bill of Rights":
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With the four exceptions noted in the "General Guidelines" of this document, the Library does not have restrictions on format acquired. However, the Library will not purchase in an unusual format until provisions are made for equipment to use those materials. The special formats normally purchased are treated below:
Audio Materials:
Purchases of sound recordings are made in compact disk The preferred format for audio materials is compact disc (CD) format when available. When CD's are not available, the Library prefers 33 rpm phonograph records or cassette tapes. The Library is not currently purchasing other formats but may add gift materials as appropriate.
Video Materials:
The Library prefers VHS format, or half inch format for some fine arts materials. The Library does not purchase in film format.
Slides:
Slides may be purchased on department and program monograph allocations. They are housed in the Slide Library in the Fine Arts Building. Filmstrips are rarely purchased as they are being supplanted by other media; they are housed in the Record/Tape LibraryDVD format. Other formats may be added on a very selective basis. The Library does not purchase in film or laser disc format.
Slides:
The Library does not currently purchase 35mm slides or filmstrips.
Computer Software:
The library collects a limited amount of IBM and Apple microcomputer software but no mainframe software. All software is housed in the Record/Tape collection.
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Effective 12/18/91, reviewed 12/7/10, moskal, edited 1/14, JH, edited with updated textbook information 6/2/21 LA