Policy adopted August 1996

   Introduction

• Statement of Purpose
• Collection Development Mission Statement
• Cooperative Collection Development
• Diversity
• Censorship & Intellectual Freedom

Statement of Purpose

In keeping with the of the Collection Development unit, these pages set forth criteria and policies to use when selecting materials for the University Libraries' general collection. This policy seeks to create a flexible framework for balancing abundant needs against scarce resources in a way that is both systematic and equitable as far as possible.

The general collection should serve the needs of the Bowling Green State University community either through ownership of items, consortial agreements, or electronic access. Current, seminal, and classic materials are added to the collection based on curricular needs, regardless of format. All selection decisions should make the most effective use of budget resources for the greatest number of users according to the priorities established by this policy.

Collection Development Unit: Mission Statement

To fulfill its part of the BGSU Libraries' mission, the Collection Development unit is charged with the building and preservation of effective, high-quality collections and with providing appropriate electronic access to information. The unit will coordinate the selection of materials in print and other media to meet the current and long-term teaching, research, and administrative needs of the University community. Within the OhioLINK environment and in cooperation with other Ohio academic libraries, the Collection Development unit strives to optimize effective use of personnel and financial resources by balancing access and ownership considerations and by building on recognized collection strengths.

Cooperative Collection Development

Cooperation within OhioLINK

Cooperation among libraries delivers more information from a wider variety of sources than a single library can provide, permits better resource allocation, and leads to more intensive use of collections. Many resources are shared among Ohio colleges and universities via OhioLINK's online borrowing initiative. Electronic databases and other resources are made available to all OhioLINK member institutions through consortium contracts. Collection development decisions regarding these shared electronic resources are made through the OhioLINK Cooperative Information Resources Management (CIRM) Committee, on which the Coordinator of Collection Development represents the University Libraries.

The University Libraries also contribute holdings information to the OhioLINK Central Catalog, and will work through the CIRM committee to identify areas of collection strength and fully participate in OhioLINK statewide cooperative collection development initiatives. In general, the University Libraries do not duplicate resources available through cooperative agreements.

Cooperation with other libraries

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Diversity

In keeping with Bowling Green State University's curricular emphasis on multiculturalism, the University Libraries seek to provide materials representative of many different cultures and ideas.

Censorship & Intellectual Freedom

The Bowling Green State University Libraries support the free exchange of ideas and endeavor to build collections which include all points of view. At the same time, they neither approve nor endorse the views expressed in materials included in the collections. Where there is controversy or disagreement concerning the truth of particular ideas and issues of belief, the University Libraries attempt to provide a wide selection of materials encompassing the major viewpoints.

The Bowling Green State University Libraries subscribe to and comply with the American Library Association Library Code of Ethics. Titles for the collection are selected on the basis of overall content. No item is excluded on the basis of the author's race, nationality, or political or religious views. That some patrons may find an item objectionable on moral, religious, political or other grounds does not restrict or determine selection.

The Bowling Green State University Libraries do not accede to requests of individuals or groups seeking the removal from the collection of materials which have been chosen according to this collection development policy, nor do they yield to requests to add to the collection materials if their addition would contradict this collection development policy.

The Coordinator of Collection Development, in consultation with the library administration, responds to all questions concerning the propriety of specific materials in the Bowling Green State University Libraries. Persons or groups desiring further dialogue or action are referred to the Dean of University Libraries and/or to the Library Advisory Committee.