This document describes guidelines and policies that apply generally across the collection. Because needs vary from field to field, specific goals, policies, and guidelines for individual disciplines and areas of study are also being developed. Like the programs they support, these are all evolving documents.

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The Champlain College Library offers a mix of electronic and print resources to support the academic and research needs of students, faculty, and staff. The collections include print books and periodicals, electronic books, microfilm, videotapes and access to an extensive collection of full-text electronic journals. The library is housed in the Miller Information Commons (MIC), which integrates the resources of a traditional library with a wide range of advanced technologies including multimedia labs, wireless networking, and electronic classrooms.

With the opening of the Miller Information Commons in 1998, the Library invested heavily in online resources, including databases, full-text journals, and online books. Indeed, the very structure of the MIC shapes the collection itself, since shelf space for print books is limited by design. Thus, the importance of assessing and maintaining the print collection is heightened, since every volume must earn its space. Of course, both print and online resources are evaluated for cost-effectiveness as well.

The current collection exhibits several particular strengths. A robust print reference collection provides useful and easily accessible introductory material and factual information to support student projects. A very strong collection of online periodicals and databases, including thousands of full-text journals, provide detailed primary source material that is easily accessible by both on-campus and off-campus students and faculty. A strong curriculum materials and children's book collection supports the Education programs; the children's collection is reputed to be one of the largest collections of this kind in the region. A modest strong collection of print periodicals geared toward a range of academic programs invites browsing by on-campus students and faculty. However, a survey in the Spring of 2003 showed that students, faculty, and librarians alike agree that the circulating book collection needs to be assessed, refreshed, and expanded. These policies provide a starting point for that process.

COLLECTION DEVELOPMENT STATEMENT

The Champlain College Library collects materials to support the academic and research needs of Champlain students, faculty, and staff. The primary criterion for acquiring materials is their relevance to Champlain's teaching and learning mission. The library collects materials to support all academic programs offered by the College. Because Champlain College is a dynamic, changing educational institution with programs that evolve over time, the collection itself must be dynamic and responsive to the changing needs of the college.

Generally, Champlain collects at the Study level (as defined by the American Library Association) to support coursework primarily at the undergraduate level and at the graduate level in some fields. Professional and research materials are included as needed.

COLLECTION ASSESSMENT and MAINTENANCE

Ongoing assessment and maintenance is an important component of collection management. Upon arrival of new editions, the reference staff will withdraw outdated ones. The reference collection will be continually evaluated for outdated material, which will be replaced and withdrawn if necessary. Individual sections of the circulating collection will be assessed initially and updated as necessary, then periodically reviewed and updated. Materials that have become irrelevant, outdated, unused, in poor physical condition, or superseded by new editions will be removed from the collection. Academic departments will be encouraged to participate in assessment of their collections.

ACCESS

All materials purchased with funds from the Library’s acquisitions budget are housed in the Library and accessible to all Champlain College faculty, staff, and students.

GIFTS

The Library's goal in accepting gifts is to acquire materials which are highly relevant to Champlain's needs, primarily in support of the curriculum. All potential gifts will be evaluated in terms of the collection development goals of the Library, as well as the physical condition of the materials.

Gifts are accepted with the understanding that the library may dispose of them or add them to the collection at its discretion. The Library cannot appraise gift items, nor can the Library accept gifts under restricted conditions.

SUBJECT AREA COLLECTION POLICIES

These guidelines and policies apply generally across the library's holdings. More specific discipline-based guidelines and policies are outlined in subject-area Collection Development Policy documents.