Outlines the principles by which the Library manages its collections.
1. Selection
Purpose
| 1.1 |
Material, whether purchased or donated, is selected for the Library’s collections to support and benefit the current teaching, learning and research needs of the staff and students of the University. |
Responsibility
| 1.2 |
Responsibility for development of the collections is shared between academic staff and Library staff. |
Format
| 1.3 |
Wherever possible the Library selects its resources in the most appropriate format with the aim of distributing the information most widely. When determining which is the most appropriate format the library takes into account issues of accessibility, quality, ability to ensure ongoing access, suitability for purpose, and cost. |
Language
| 1.4 |
When determining when the Library accepts or acquires material in foreign languages, issues of accessibility, quality, and relevance to the teaching, learning and research needs of the staff and students of the University, are considered. |
Special Collections
| 1.5 |
The Library has a special responsibility for the ongoing collection of all UWA publications and theses for higher degrees by research. |
| 1.6 |
The Library also maintains and develops special collections in two specific areas of focus, namely Australian literature and the Indian Ocean. These special collections support the research community beyond The University of Western Australia. |
Formed Collections
| 1.7 |
Formed collections are only acquired and retained as discrete collections when they have a value as a coherent collection which they would not have as a dispersed collection. |
Affordable and Open Access to Information
| 1.8 |
The Library will support and promote affordable and open access to information and will resist unreasonable price increases. |
2. Allocation of Resources
| 2.1 |
The information resources budget is allocated and managed by the Library. |
| 2.2 |
The information resources budget is used for acquiring information by purchase, subscription, document delivery, and inter-library lending services. |
| 2.3 |
A portion of the information resources budget is used to support the acquisition of material recommended by the Faculties while the remainder is administered by the Library. |
| 2.4 |
Allocation of the Faculty portion of the information resources budget is determined using a formula. |
| 2.5 |
Document delivery and interlibrary loan services are supported by the Faculty allocation. |
| 2.6 |
In working to further the University’s goal of building strong community relationships, the Library seeks to supplement its recurrent budget for information resources with funds provided from bequests, endowments and gifts. |
3. Collection Maintenance
Retention
| 3.1 |
As a general rule, material in the Library’s collections is retained indefinitely if it is deemed to be of continuing historical or research value. |
| 3.2 |
Textbook material selected to support the teaching needs of the University is not normally retained once it ceases to be current and relevant. Reference works are not normally retained where the information is outdated, misleading or inaccurate, unless the specific edition has intrinsic historical or research value. |
| 3.3 |
Where the Library holds the same work in multiple formats or copies, one format or copy may be selected for retention and the others withdrawn. If a work is held in print and networked electronic versions, and the electronic version guarantees archival and long-term research access, then the print duplicate may be withdrawn. |
Preservation
| 3.4 |
Material which has become unusable in its current format is withdrawn and replaced with a usable format, where possible. |
| 3.5 |
Appropriate preservation measures are applied to ensure that material which is intended to be retained indefinitely can continue to be used without difficulty.
|
4. Access
| 4.1 |
Library collections may be accessed by staff and students of the University. Other groups may also access the collections as far as licenses/contractual conditions permit. |
| 4.2 |
Library collections are made available on open access whenever possible. However, access to certain materials may be mediated where:
- space constraints do not permit open access;
- items are identified as valuable or rare;
- the physical nature or content of the material makes it vulnerable to damage or theft.
|
| 4.3 |
Special arrangements are made to provide access to materials in high demand. |
| 4.4 |
Access to materials not held in the Library’s collections is provided through document delivery and inter library loan services. |
| 4.5 |
The Library will facilitate the searching of, and access to, its collections and resources. |
