Discusses academic library collection-development theory and policy. Suggests that a standard collection of works specific to each discipline (a canon), is a powerful tool because such canons can censor the works that fall outside of the prevailing norms, the hegemony of the discipline. (LRW)

Two librarians at Western Oregon State College, a small liberal arts institution serving 4,000 students, rebuilt the library's test collection in 1990 and, in the process, broadened it beyond its traditional education and psychology emphasis into an interdisciplinary collection. At the outset, the project received generous funding and an annual…

Formulas from the "Standards for College Libraries" were used to compare the recommended collection size and number of professional librarians with the actual size of the collections and number of librarians for a random sample of Baccalaureate I and II colleges. Results revealed that significant numbers are not meeting the "Standards" in these…

Discusses issues that libraries face when selecting electronic publications and describes the development and creation of a genre statement, a new form of collection policy for digital publishing, at the University of Maryland that includes content, pricing, use and functionality, archiving, access, duplication, licensing terms, and an evaluation…

This report discusses the government documents policies and procedures of Illinois State University's Milner Library, a federal depository library. The following aspects of the documents collection are outlined: federal depository status; bibliographic control; maintenance; human resources; physical facilities; public service; and cooperative…

Describes results of two collection condition surveys conducted at the University of Kansas libraries, one of which examined materials returning from circulation and the other which examined the general collection. Paper condition, text block condition, binding, and mutilation are discussed, and the impact on long-term preservation planning is…

Discusses selection policies for library acquisitions and describes a quantitative model that explains variations in expenditures by subject that was developed at Arizona State University. The link between policy and selection practice is discussed, allocation formulas are examined, and further research topics are suggested. (57 references) (LRW)

In 1990, George Mason University (Virginia) proposed building a combined library/student center. Examines the processes, policies, and procedures used to develop a new library collection combining multiculturalism, diversity, and core texts. Discusses the collection development plan, strategies, and policy; faculty involvement; key series and sets…

Even though endorsements of written collection development policies abound in the professional literature, many academic libraries do not have them in place. Interviews with several Louisiana librarians reveal possible reasons for that disparity. Instead of spending time devising policies that quickly become inflexible and outdated, bibliographers…

This collection development policy serves as a guide for the selection and retention of depository government documents by the Government Publications Unit of the Kennedy Memorial Library of Eastern Washington University (EWU) in Cheney, Washington. The library selects approximately 65 percent of the depository items distributed by the U.S.…

Selection policies, library handbooks, and other documents issued by American bible college libraries were examined to see what commitments they have or have not made to intellectual freedom. Many of the libraries were found to have directly addressed censorship matters. Some libraries took strong stands in support of the freedom to read, but…

Summarizes three conference presentations on the effects of the economic climate on academic libraries in Iowa. These presentations focused on the impact of austerity budgets on collection development, library services and personnel, and possible management approaches to retrenchment in these areas. (CLB)

The purpose of this policy is to outline those principles that guide the development of the Reference Collection at the Calvin T. Ryan Library, University of Nebraska at Kearney. It clarifies, records, and makes public the basic principles that the members of the Reference Department believe should be applied in adding items to or withdrawing…

Discusses collection coordination and development in academic libraries and describes collection development activities in the area of psychology at the University of Florida. Barriers to efficient collection development are addressed, including physical, organizational, and discipline-related problems; duplication studies are described; and…

This guide serves as an academic departmental planning instrument and provides a description of the various collections, goals, and policies of Southeast Missouri State University's Kent Library. An overview provides information about the library's mission, funding sources and allocation procedures, departmental library liaisons, overall selection…