Library Services: Collection Development

The Library collection, in all formats, supports and enriches the curriculum and the academic endeavors of the students, faculty, and staff of Santa Fe Community College.  In addition, materials may be selected for the pursuit of independent, co-curricular, or extracurricular activities of the SFCC community.  The Library does not purchase textbooks or classroom instructional materials; these types of items are the purview of the departments.  We strongly encourage faculty to put copies on Reserve for their students. 

Selection of materials is a continuous process.  Resources are selected by librarians but requests by faculty, students, and staff are welcomed and encouraged.  Please note that in general, the Library does not purchase nonfiction items that were published more than 5 years ago. The authority for the final selection resides with the Library Director. 

The following principles and the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights guide the selection of all Library resources in all format: print, video, electronic, etc.  The Library strives:

1. To provide materials that will enrich and support the curriculum, taking into consideration the varied interests and abilities of the students served.
2. To provide materials that will assist faculty in their preparation for classes and provide for continued professional growth in their disciplines.
3. To provide materials that will encourage personal and intellectual growth in knowledge, literary appreciation, diverse views, and intellectual stimulation.
4. To provide basic, background information which will enable students to make informed decisions.
5. To provide materials representing a variety of views on controversial issues so that students may develop the practices of critical reading, viewing, and thinking.
6. To provide materials representing diverse social and cultural perspectives.
7. To provide materials in support of regional or local interest (e.g., Southwest materials including children's literature, local authors, etc.).
8. To provide materials for personal enrichment and recreational endeavors.
9. To be guided by the principles of intellectual and academic freedom.

The following evaluative criteria will be used:

1. Materials which are educationally suitable and ones which are essential and appropriate for development of the subject.
2. Materials that have been well-researched and thoughtful in presentation.
3. Materials which are deemed to have cultural and/or literary value.
4. Materials whose value is enduring and/or timely.
5. Materials by authors who are considered competent and qualified in their field.

Suggest Library Materials Form

Santa Fe Community College Library will accept requests for reconsideration of library material from current Santa Fe Community College faculty, staff, and students enrolled in credit-bearing courses.  A challenge to a resource in the SFCC Library must be based on the failure of that resource to fall within the Library’s collection development policy.  Challenged material will be kept in circulation during the reconsideration process.

Procedure

1. Requester meets with Library Director and one additional library staff member.
2. Requester is given a reconsideration form.
3. Requester returns the fully completed form to the Library Director.
4. Library Director informs Vice President of Academic Affairs and President of the formal complaint.
5. A committee is formed to review the reconsideration request.
6. The committee reviews the request and determines if the material meets the criteria for inclusion as outlined in the Library’s collection development policy.
7. The Library Director makes the final decision based on the committee’s recommendation.  The Library Director’s decision is final. No appeals are accepted.
8. The requester is informed in writing by the Library Director about the decision and any actions taken.   

The following principles guide the withdrawal of resources:

• Currency of the collection.

Outdated materials will be withdrawn, especially when such materials contain information that is obsolete and could be misleading.  Examples include, but are not limited to, encyclopedias, directories, and materials pertaining to travel, geography, science, careers, and medicine. 

• Superfluous materials.

Materials that do not circulate or have not circulated in several years may be considered for withdrawal, including duplicates.

• Damaged items.