LIS-660

October 23, 2013

Authored by: Gina Shelton

Note: This policy was an assignment for a college course. It reflects a real SUNY institution in
Westchester County, NY but not written for or in conjunction with said institution. To eliminate
confusion, the name of the institution has been replaced.

Collection Development Policy


Hometown College Library, State University of New York


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Collection Development Policy
Hometown College Library, State University of New York
I. INTRODUCTION
The Hometown College Library supports the missions of Hometown College, State University of New
York (SUNY), and the greater SUNY system by providing comprehensive and diverse collections for
the educational and research needs of students and faculty. The purpose of this policy statement is
to guide the development and maintenance of the Librarys collection.
In carrying out collection development activities, the Library adheres to the American Library
Associations Library Bill of Rights, including:
1. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and
enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be
excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
2. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current
and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or
doctrinal disapproval.
3. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide
information and enlightenment.
II. BACKGROUND STATEMENT
Hometown College is one of 64 institutes of higher learning in the State University of New York
system founded in 1967. The college is located in Hometown, NY, situated within Westchester
County, a suburban community of New York City.
Hometown College is known for pairing a liberal arts education with conservatory programs in the
arts. The College is organized into three programs: Liberal Arts & Sciences, School of the Arts, and
Liberal Studies and Continuing Education. Liberal Arts & Sciences includes the Schools of Film &
Media Studies, Humanities, and Natural & Social Sciences. The School of the Arts includes
conservatories in dance, music, and theatre arts, as well as the School of Art+Design. Within the
academic programs there are 47 undergraduate majors, 30 undergraduate minors, and 5 graduate
programs. Approximately 1,100 new students from 35 countries are enrolled each year.
III. MISSION AND PURPOSE
A. State Uni versi ty of New York Mi ssi on
The mission of the state university system shall be to provide to the people of New York
educational services of the highest quality, with the broadest possible access, fully
representative of all segments of the population in a complete range of academic,
professional and vocational postsecondary programs including such additional activities in
pursuit of these objectives as are necessary or customary. These services and activities shall

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be offered through a geographically distributed comprehensive system of diverse campuses
which shall have differentiated and designated missions designed to provide a
comprehensive program of higher education, to meet the needs of both traditional and non-
traditional students and to address local, regional and state needs and goals.
B. Hometown Col l ege, State Uni versi ty of New York Mi ssi on
Mission: Hometown College, SUNY, offers a unique education that combines programs in the
liberal arts with conservatory programs in the arts in ways that emphasize inquiry, mastery of
skills, and creativity. Our graduates contribute to the arts, humanities, sciences, and society.

Vision: Hometown College will be recognized nationally and internationally as the leading
public institution to pair conservatory programs in the arts with liberal arts programs. We will
continue to create opportunities for transformative learning and training in a community
where disciplines connect, intersect, and enhance one another.

Values: Hometown College celebrates individuality, diversity, and creativity in a community of
educational excellence.
C. Hometown Col l ege Li brary Mi ssi on
To support the teaching, learning, and research of the College's faculty, students and
outreach community.
IV. RESPONSIBILITY FOR SELECTION
Subject liaisons are primarily responsible for selecting materials for the collection. Liaisons review
and select materials, considering the input of faculty, staff, and students. Members of the Hometown
College community are encouraged to recommend titles via an online form on the Librarys website
or through direct contact with subject liaisons. The majority of electronic resources are shared across
the SUNY system and are selected by the SUNYConnect team. Electronic resources selected solely
for the Hometown College Library are the responsibility of the Collection Development Team. This
team also reviews book purchases over $100, reference materials, and serials subscriptions. The
Director of the Library oversees final decisions.
V. SELECTION GUIDELINES
In accordance with the missions of the Hometown College Library, Hometown College, and the State
University of New York, general guidelines for purchasing include:
Develop a collection that reflects a diversity of viewpoints. Quality resources with permanent
and timeless value are preferred.
Select materials that will support all courses taught at Hometown College.
Select materials of general interest to the Hometown community.
Support faculty research through the collection. Emphasis will be placed on material that
supports both research and course work, and material that will be re-used.



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VI. SELECTION CRITERIA
The following criteria will be consulted when selecting materials for the collection (in no particular
order):
Content, including currency and timeliness of subject matter
Reputation of author, publisher, and/or editor
Patron demand/potential use
Recommendation by faculty member
Curriculum needs
Strength of present holdings in same or similar subject area
Format
Reviews in reputable sources
Cost of item
Accessibility of item within the region, within consortia, and via interlibrary loan
VII. FORMATS
A. Seri al s
Due to the ongoing nature of periodical subscriptions, requests for new subscriptions will be
considered based on cost, potential use, inclusion in indexes, and accessibility at other
libraries. Preference will be given to electronic subscriptions unless physicality of material is
justified. If current content is included in a current database subscription, justification for
print access must be stated.
B. Textbooks
Textbooks are purchased on a limited basis. Textbooks with significant reference value may
be acquired.
C. Audi o
The Library collects audio recordings, including CDs and LPs. Current as well and classic
recordings will be purchased to support the academic needs of the community.
D. Musi c scores
The Library acquires scores of standard musical works for academic purposes. Music scores
are collected with extensive input from faculty.
E. Fi l m
DVDs will be purchased for academic and recreational needs. DVDs added to the Academic
Collection will be purchased with extensive input from faculty. DVDs added to the Popular
Collection will be purchased with input from the Hometown College community. VHS will only
be added to collection if item is not available in DVD format or if item is not available through
resource sharing.


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F. El ectroni c Resources
Electronic resources include database subscriptions and e-books. Most electronic resources
are selected by the SUNYConnect team and made available SUNY-wide. If the Library
purchases electronic resources beyond SUNYConnect, selection will be based on the criteria
listed in section VI. The Library may purchase or provide access to electronic resources in lieu
of other formats.
VIII. SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
A. Fi ne Arts Col l ecti on
The Fine Arts Collection supports the research and instruction needs of students and faculty,
as well as visiting scholars. This collection supports programs within The School of the Arts.
Out-of-print monographs, catalogue raisonn, artists books, and limited editions of seminal
works in the fields of art, design, and photography will be collected. Designated funds from
the yearly budget support this collection. Purchasing for the Fine Arts Collection is the
responsibility of the Art Librarian. Final decisions are the responsibility of the Director of the
Library.
B. Archi ves
The Archives collects, maintains and preserves items related to Hometown College. This
includes student publications (e.g., newspapers, magazines, and yearbooks), institutional
publications (e.g., alumni directories, course catalogs), and publications by College faculty. In
addition, materials related to the Neuberger Museum of Art (e.g., publications and catalogs)
are collected.
C. Meserve- Kunhardt Foundati on Archi ves
The Hometown College Library maintains the archives of the Meserve-Kunhardt Foundation
(http://www.mkfound.org), a corporation dedicated to the preservation of photography and
the use of it to inform, educate and inspire. The development of this collection is the
responsibility of the co-founders, board of directors, and staff at the Meserve-Kunhardt
Foundation.
IX. RESOURCE SHARING
Hometown College Library pursues cooperative and consortial agreements with other libraries to
promote access to materials not owned. The Library considers its many resource sharing networks
when making collection development decisions. Through these partnerships, faculty, students, and
staff, have access to an extensive collection of materials. Partnerships include:
Regional: Manhattanville College, Westchester Library System, Metropolitan New York Library
Council
Consortial: SUNYConnect, IDS Project
Access to materials outside of these agreements is made possible through participation in traditional
interlibrary loan.


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X. GIFTS
Gifts include donations of print and non-print materials, as well as funds to purchase materials.
Physical gifts are accepted on the condition that the Library is permitted to decide if theyre added to
the collection. Gifts may be exchanged, sold, or included in the Librarys book sale in order to
strengthen the collection.
XI. WITHDRAWAL POLICY
Weeding materials is an essential component of collection development to ensure space for new
materials and to maintain a relevant collection for the community. The following criteria will be
consulted when removing materials from the collection (in no particular order):
Relevancy to the curriculum
Currency of content
Physical condition
Usage
Duplicative copies no longer needed
Type of material (e.g., format, edition)
Materials removed from the collection may be donated to academic departments or other
institutions, or sold in the Library book sale or to Better World Books.
XII. REPLACEMENT
Items marked missing, or that have been lost and paid, will be removed from the Librarys OPAC.
Withdrawn items will not automatically be replaced. Replacement copies will be purchased based on
the criteria listed in section VI.
XIII. POLICY REVISION
The Collection Development Policy will be reviewed periodically, but no less than every 5 years. All
relevant Library staff will review this policy and proposed changes will be submitted to the Collection
Development Committee for approval.