Purpose

Carmichael Library endeavors to support the mission of the University of Montevallo. This document is intended to provide an overall plan for the development of the collections of the library. This document outlines the principles, policies, and guidelines used in building the library’s collection. It defines the scope of the existing collection and provides a plan for the future.

General Collection Statement

Selection shall be based primarily on reviews in recognized sources, in professional journals, and in recommended subject bibliographies, core collection lists, catalogs, and faculty and librarian recommendations. Scholarly materials that support the undergraduate and graduate curricular needs are given the highest priority in the selection process. Materials that will help create a well-rounded collection will also be acquired.

Intellectual Freedom Issues

The library fully supports the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights and Freedom to Read Statement and is committed to the free exchange of ideas. To meet the curricular needs of the university, materials will be purchased which reflect a wide variety of viewpoints and modes of expression.

Responsibility for Collection Development

The Faculty Library Committee and the Library Director jointly determine the proportion of the library's budget allocated to departments.  It is the joint responsibility of the teaching faculty and the library faculty to select materials for the collection. If, however, a particular department is not active in book selection, it is the library's responsibility to ensure that that area of the curriculum is not neglected. 

Formats

The library collects materials in print and non-print formats.  The library will work with the teaching faculty to determine the most appropriate format for new acquisitions.

Languages

Books will be purchased primarily in the English language. The library will collect foreign language titles needed to support our foreign language instruction programs.

Accompanying Materials

Occasionally, materials may accompany titles added to the collection. These materials may consist of computer software, music CDs, music scores, videos, DVDs or other materials. Generally, these materials will be added.

Materials Generally Not Collected

• Textbooks. The library shall not purchase textbooks except when experts in the field consider the textbook to be a classic or when other books in a particular filed are scarce

• Pamphlets. Pamphlets and ephemeral materials (except for reserve items, etc.) will not be collected

• Computer Software. The library does not purchase computer software. Computer Services maintains a computer laboratory in the library with appropriate software for student use.

• Maps. The library does not collect maps. The library does, however, collect atlases that may be found in the library collections.

• Art works. The library does not collect art works. The library does, however, collect monographs about art works and/or collections.

• Materials aimed at the high school or younger student will generally not be collected, except for materials included in the Children’s Collection.

• Titles or subject areas with a narrow appeal will not be collected, and outside the scope of the collection.

• Religious materials. Practical theology, popular devotional, inspirational, instructional materials and religious textbooks will not be collected.

• Dissertations.  The Library does not usually collect other university dissertations.

 Multiple Copies

The library will usually buy only one copy of a given item. The library discourages purchase of multiple copies of books, unless great demand is anticipated. Duplicate materials received as gifts may occasionally be added to the collection.

Out-of-Print Materials

Because of the time and cost, generally we will not acquire out-of-print materials. However, we will consider out-of-print materials on a case by case basis as requested by the faculty or librarian selector. The time and costs of out-of-print searches should be carefully considered.