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Eastern New Mexico University
 

Collection Development Policy

Collection Maintenance Policy
Library Liaisons
Acquisitions

Golden Library's primary function is to support ENMU's teaching and learning mission. Library holdings consist of a basic liberal arts collection with emphasis in education, humanities, history, science and business. Print, electronic indexes, and interlibrary loan provide access to other collections. The library maintains a number of special collections, the largest being the Jack Williamson Science Fiction Collection and the ENMU Archives. The library is a selective depository for the U.S. government and a full depository library for the state of New Mexico. In addition to print and electronic materials, the collection includes CDs, DVDs, videos, and microform.

The library builds and maintains the collection according to curricular content and needs. All materials purchased with library funds become library property and are available to all members of the university community. The entire university, including librarians, faculty, administration, staff, and students have an obligation to participate in the selection and maintenance of the collection. Discipline-specific purchase recommendations are the responsibility of the faculty and each department selects a departmental library representative to coordinate the recommendations. A professional librarian is assigned as a liaison for each department and works directly with the departmental representative.

Collection Priorities
1. Materials that directly support the curriculum
2. Indexes and electronic databases that support research and access to other collections
3. Generalized works and information of universal importance
4. Specialized reference works
5. Materials supporting faculty research and administrative effectiveness

Golden Library divides its acquisitions fund into general library expenditures and departmental funds. Departmental funds are allocated based upon a formula that considers semester credit hours, enrollment, and the relative cost of materials in each discipline. Departmental funds are released to library liaisons who have responsibility for final purchasing decisions.

Contingency Fund
The departmental representative and liaison, acting together, may request special purchases from the library's contingency fund based upon:

  • changes in curriculum or course content
  • special needs identified in a review process, e.g., accreditation
  • the need for interdisciplinary material or that which falls outside the usual classification of their department

All new faculty are eligible to request a limited amount from this discretionary fund. For questions regarding the library's collection development policies, please contact Michele Wood, or by phone at at 575.562.2644.

Collection Weeding
Weeding activities are performed periodically, on an as needed basis, and with the full cooperation of faculty. Material subject to weeding includes the following:

  • duplicate copies of monographs, unless demand justifies additional copies
  • monographs with obsolete or inaccurate content material which no longer support the curriculum
  • superceded editions
  • items in poor physical condition which cannot be replaced
  • items missing for more than four years which cannot/should not be replaced
  • books that have not circulated in 15 years

Collection Analysis
A review and evaluation of the entire collection was completed in April 2008, using the WorldCat Collection Analysis program. Each subject area was examined for strengths and weaknesses, and uniqueness and overlap, as compared with cohort institutions. Deans and departmental representatives were given the reviews for use in making purchasing decisions.

Library Liaisons

Acquisitions

Golden Library's Acquisitions Department orders, receives and processes the monographs and media resources found in the library. The Serials Department orders, receives and processes journals, magazines and newspapers. To recommend a print book or media purchase, use the Request a Library Purchase electronic form on the library home page. Request forms are sent to the departmental representative for approval, and then to the designated library liaison. Faculty are notified when items are available for use. Requests for purchases are processed in the order they are received. Rush orders needed for a specific course, by a specific date, will be given priority. For questions about Acquisitions, please contact Lilah Gainey, or by phone at 575.562.2640.