Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to provide general guidance in the
selection of library materials. Providing access to appropriate
and relevant material to support the curricula and the mission of
Mt. San Jacinto College are of primary importance. The library must
also be responsive to student interests and strive to create a collection
of materials that supports the academic, cultural, and personal
information needs of the MSJC community.
Responsibility for Selection
The Library relies on its own faculty and staff, the teaching faculty,
and students for purchase recommendations. It is a professional
responsibility of teaching faculty to make recommendations in their
respective disciplines and to incorporate library materials into
course development. Since the librarian can best judge the balance
of the total collection, the final decision concerning acquisitions
rests with him/her.
All library users, regardless of status, are invited to make purchase
recommendations to the Librarian.
Budget
The Library maintains day-to-day control of its book budget, and
does not assign allocations to subject areas or academic departments
or divisions.
Intellectual Freedom
The Library Bill of Rights applies without exception to all purchases
of library materials. In the pursuit of knowledge and learning it
is essential to include a variety of viewpoints, subjects that may
be considered controversial, and to provide uncensored access to
all library materials to all users. It is the responsibility of
the Librarian to ensure that all points of view are represented
in the collection and that the collection supports the college programs
and diverse backgrounds, needs, and interests of library users.
The Library endorses the American Library Association Bill of Rights,
Intellectual Freedom Statement, Freedom to Read Statement, Statement
on Challenged Materials, and the Freedom to View Statement adopted
by the Association for Educational Communication and Technology.
The principles of these documents are an integral part of this policy
statement.
Challenged Materials
Every effort is made to purchase materials representing different
points of view on controversial issues, and to include topics and
materials that reflect the diverse society in which we live. It
is not the intent of the Library to offend any individual or group,
but to provide unrestricted access to all ideas whether popular
or not. The Library does not withdraw material based upon objections
to content or ideas presented. If an individual or group objects
to any material in the collection the individual or group will be
required to complete a formal Request for Review of Library Materials
form.
The Request for Review of Library Materials form should be referred
to the Library Department Chair, who will discuss the challenged
material with the complainant(s). If the request for review is not
settled through discussions between the Library Chair and the requestor,
the written specific objections shall be submitted to the Dean of
Libraries who will assemble an ad hoc committee composed of library
and teaching faculty to review the request. After reading, viewing,
or listening to the complete work, the committee will make a decision
regarding the material and inform the Dean of Libraries. The Dean
of Libraries will inform the complainant(s) in writing of the decision.
Acquisitions Priorities
The first priority of the Library is to provide materials to students
in support of curriculum requirements. Since a community college
focuses on the first two years of an undergraduate curriculum with
some junior level offerings, materials recommended for undergraduates
will receive first priority for purchase. Second, the Library serves
faculty research needs by purchasing more advanced materials when
funds are available, or obtaining them on interlibrary loan. General
reference, cultural, recreational and other materials are also acquired
to meet the needs of MJSC community members and are purchased as
funds permit. The collections of the library should be reflective
of the diverse society in which we live and should therefore represent
a variety of perspectives. The Library serves as a repository for
major college documents.
Selection Criteria
The following criteria are used when evaluating materials for inclusion
in the collection:
- Value of the content
- Level of treatment
- Present holding in the subject area
- Price
- Availability of funds
- Reputation of the publisher or author
- Indexing (periodicals)
Selection Procedures
Professional journals, reviewing publications, standard bibliographies,
and publisher information may be used to select appropriate material.
Policies by Format of Material
Hardbound versus Paperbound Books: Hardbound editions are
generally the preferred format due to their greater durability.
However, paperbound books may be purchased for topics which change
rapidly, if a hardcover is not available, if the title requires
frequent replacement, or if the paperbound appears to be a better
value. The Library may decide to bind paperbound books.
Textbooks: Textbooks are not normally purchased unless they
are "classics" in the field or are otherwise the only
or best source of information on a topic. The Library does not purchase
specific editions of textbooks used in college courses. However,
instructors may place copies on Reserve. Workbooks and study guides
are not purchased.
Periodicals: The Library gives priority to relevant titles
that are indexed in services to which the Library subscribes. The
availability of titles in electronic format, the financial resources
of the Library, and the availability of resources elsewhere in the
geographic area are additional considerations.
Microforms: While the Library has an existing microform
collection of magazine holdings, it no longer purchases materials
in a microform format.
Government Publications: The Library is not a depository
for federal or California state government publications. International,
federal, state and local government publications are selected according
to the same criteria as other library materials and are placed in
an appropriate location in the collection.
Foreign Language Materials: Items written in languages other
than English are purchased when they support the language curricula
of the college.
Literary Fiction: Items in this category are purchased according
to the same criteria as other library materials.
Popular Works: Popular fiction is generally not purchased,
as the local public library covers this area. Popular non-fiction
is evaluated according to the same criteria as for other library
materials. However, established literary works and new works receiving
critical acclaim in the literary field are considered, especially
those that support literature course offerings.
Computer Disks and Software: In general, the Library does
not purchase computer disks or software, except where the same are
included with hard copy books.
CD-ROMs: CD-ROMs will only be purchased if there is a clear
advantage over other formats, e.g. permanent storage of archival
materials. There is considerable opinion that CDs will be phased
out over time by vendors, and more material will be published online.
Electronic Databases: The Library subscribes to a number
of electronic indexing and abstracting databases that contain citations
to primarily journal articles and newspapers. In addition to the
same general selection criteria for other formats, other criteria
that should be applied include:
- Some value-added enhancement must be offered to make it preferable
over, or a significant addition to a print equivalent, e.g. more
timely availability, more frequent updating, more extensive content,
greater flexibility in searching, or greater functionality (such
as the ability to invoke linkages to local or related sources)
- Access is permitted via IP addresses rather than individual
passwords
- Compatibility with existing library technology
- Offers greater access for users than other formats, and may
be accessed from off-campus
- Substantial added-value such as full text should be offered
Electronic Books: Electronic books are considered for purchase
when they provide the most current and/or most cost effective format,
or to support distance education programs.
Media Materials: The Library selects media materials in
support of classroom instruction, cultural, and recreational interests.
Out of Print Materials: Out of print materials are rarely
purchased, as most selections are current publications. However,
the Library recognizes the need for some out of print purchases
to replace heavily-used items that are lost or withdrawn due to
poor physical condition, or seminal works the Library does not hold
when building up weak subject areas.
Duplicate Copies: The Library does not normally purchase
duplicate or multiple copies, except in cases where exceptionally
heavy demand is anticipated.
Archival Materials: The Library collects administrative
and historic documents relating to Mt. San Jacinto College such
as college catalogs, newspaper clippings, accreditation reports,
Board minutes, etc.
Gifts
The Library welcomes gifts or donations and accepts them with the
understanding that the materials will be evaluated according to
the same standards as items purchased by the Library. Gifts that
are not suited to the library collection because of age, format,
topic, physical condition, or other factors will be disposed of
according to College policies for surplus items. All gifts are acknowledged
by the Library. However, no monetary evaluation can be done, pursuant
to Internal Revenue Service regulations. The Library reserves the
right to refuse a donation if the donor specifies special conditions,
including retrieval from the donor's home or special shelving requirements.
Collection Maintenance/Weeding
Evaluation of the Library collection is undertaken as time and
other duties permit. Faculty members are encouraged to survey their
subject areas and recommend additions to and withdrawals from the
collection. Outdated, seldom-used and damaged materials are withdrawn
from the collection: these items and lost books are replaced at
the discretion of the Librarian.
Privacy of Library Records
In accordance with all applicable state laws and college policies,
library patron records are confidential.