Collection Development

Introduction

Collection development is a means by which Library Services provides collections of information items that meet institutional, curricular, research, and instructional requirements, as well as the cultural needs of the College community. The Library serves as the primary resource for all matriculated students in all Springfield College programs, regardless of location. The Library also serves as a repository of historical and archival materials related to the College's history and scholarly activities. Librarians serve as liaisons to academic departments and make selection decisions informed by the needs and requests of faculty and students.

General Selection Guidelines

• The intellectual content of a resource must fit within the parameters of this policy and support the College curriculum.
• Recreational content is collected to a lesser extent.
• Duplication of essential titles in more than one format may occasionally be desired.
• Back files of digital resources may be purchased if affordable and deemed beneficial to the collection.
• Whenever possible, a digital resource must:
  • Support and deliver reliable on-campus and remote access.
  • Offer high-quality technical support.
  • Be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Be compatible and function well across a wide variety of platforms, including mobile devices.
  • Support the Springfield College login through proxy server (unified institutional login).
  • Have a powerful, flexible, and user-friendly interface.
• In general, contemporary materials are purchased more rigorously than older, classical materials.
• Library Services collects almost exclusively English-language materials.

Format of Materials

The Library acquires many formats of monographic, serial, or media materials. Digital versions of resources are preferred as they allow the most flexible use at varied times and locations. Print materials are collected when that is the most appropriate and available format. Video formats are limited to what the campus infrastructure supports, currently Region 1 DVD and digital streaming. Microforms are not collected.

Texts Required for Courses

Library Services cannot purchase textbooks or publisher-based instructional materials and platforms for reasons including, but not limited to, licensing restrictions and financial feasibility. However, librarians will work with faculty to identify course materials, including open access, Library resources, and other potential acquisitions that would enhance the Library’s collection. The Library places a strong emphasis on equitable access to materials for all Springfield College students and seeks to continue building a collection which supports academic development.

Theses, Dissertations, and Other Research Projects

The Library acquires, both for preservation and research purposes, copies of theses, dissertations, and other research projects completed at Springfield College. Theses and dissertations from other institutions are selected if they support the needs of library users.

Archives & Special Collections

Archives collection development policies can be found on the College Archives website.

Withdrawal of Materials

Withdrawal of library materials is done on a regular and ongoing basis as part of collection development and maintenance. Librarians may elect to withdraw or cancel materials that have become obsolete, are unusable, are not used, or no longer support the College curriculum.

Revised July 30, 2020