Print Collection Plan

We actively review our print collections to identify materials that are no longer appropriate. There are several factors contributing to our decision to conduct this review process:

• Materials in the collection no longer meet the needs of the students and faculty. 

• We no longer have space for new materials and currently do not provide adequate study space for students and faculty.

• The collection is not browsable because a single call number or subject area can be found in multiple locations across the library.

• Donations that were not selected initially to support research or the curriculum compose 5% of the collection.

• The elevators and tower floors are not currently ADA compliant.
   

Projects

We are involved in several projects designed to rightsize the print collection, provide more student space, and preserve the scholarly record. These projects include:

• Deselecting titles that no longer meet the university’s needs (for print collection review criteria, visit our Rightsizing Policy).

• Exploring options for identifying materials to keep in the building and to send over to our Offsite Storage facility. 

• Developing a marketing plan to encourage the use of print materials.

• Participating in state and regional shared print retention programs to ensure multiple copies of serials (Scholars Trust) and monographs (EAST) are held and available for interlibrary loan and to maintain the scholarly record.

• Continuing to purchase important scholarly material in both print and electronic format.

We are committed to providing the research materials students and faculty need to be successful in learning, teaching, and research. If you have any questions about this process, please contact Liz Siler, Associate Dean for Collection Services or your designated subject librarian.