The purpose of the collection development policy is to clearly state the operating guidelines for the selection and acquisition of library/media materials and to provide consistency among those who have responsibility for the developing the collection. Further, it is useful in communicating the library/media center’s policies to faculty, students, and other members of the Augusta Tech community. It is understood that as the Augusta Technical College community changes so will the collection development policy to meet these changing needs. All members of the Augusta Technical College’s community members are encouraged to contribute their ideas concerning the nature and content of the collection development policy.
Allocation of Funds for Library/Media Materials It is the responsibility of the Director of Library Services to allocate the materials budget in such a way as to fulfill the collection development goals.
Criteria for Selection The following selection criteria will be used consistent with the goals as expressed in the mission statement:
- The purpose, scope and intended audience of a particular work
- Authority, honesty, and credibility of author and publisher
- Subject matter
- Comparison and correlation to existing collection
- Timeliness and lasting value of content
- Suitability of format to content
- Price
- Curriculum Support
- Demand
- Difficulty or appropriateness of level of treatment
Gifts Gifts are encouraged, with the understanding that the library/media center may dispose of them or add them to the collection at its discretion, and in the same manner as purchased material. The library/media center assumes no responsibility for appraisal of gifts items, nor can the library/media center accept gifts under restricted conditions.
Criteria for Discarding Library Materials The following criteria will be used to discard library material, since the collection is consistent with the goals of the library/media center as expressed in the mission statement.*
- Research value of the material
- Date of print
- Balance of materials in a subject area
- Listing of materials in a standard current core bibliography
* Realizing that the date of publication is critical to the relevancy of materials in allied health, the collection will generally consist of materials published within the past five years. Current editions of textbooks will be added only upon faculty request. Materials of historical nature will evaluated by the staff as to suitability.
Disposal methods include: transfer to state salvage; transfer to classroom collections at the request of faculty; exchange with other libraries; and donation to public service institutions.
The disposal method is based on the following: - Last date of circulation
- Physical condition
- Timeliness
- Reliability
- Language
- Ephemera
- Duplicates
- Subject areas and material types
Cooperative Networks No library can provide all of the materials needed by its users. In an effort to meet requests of users via interlibrary loans, Augusta Technical College Library is an active member of OCLC (Online Computer Library Center), SOLINET (Southeastern Library Network), and GLIN, (Georgia Library Information Network). In addition to interlibrary loans, Augusta Technical College Library has cooperative agreements with DTAE Technical College Libraries and Brenau College.
Intellectual Freedom The library/Media center affirms the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, which outlines attitudes towards selection of materials, censorship, and the right of free access to information.
Responsibility for Collection Development Ultimate responsibility for the development of the library/media center's collections rests with the Director of Library Services. The Director of Library Services will assign selection responsibilities to library/media staff and will solicit selections from faculty in their respective areas of expertise. It is essential that faculty share their subject specialty by making recommendations for acquisitions thus contributing to the overall integrity of the library/media collection. Library and media staff will assist faculty input by forwarding advertisements, reviews, and bibliographies to instructors for their use in selecting materials.
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