Collection Guidelines - Collection Development
Selection criteria for the acquisition of information resources
The Library aims to provide a high quality, scholarly and relevant collection to support the teaching, learning and research needs of the University. The following general criteria are used when considering the acquisition of any information resource. Additional selection criteria for the acquisition of electronic information resources are listed separately beneath.
Relevance:
Information resources are selected by the Library in consultation with University staff and students to support the teaching and research programs of the University.
Quality
Information resources should generally be of high quality. They should offer relevant content, authoritative authorship and reliable and well sourced data. The content should be appropriate for the level of use: undergraduate, postgraduate or research. Resources purchased for postgraduate or research use should, in particular, be of high quality and academic merit. Refereed journals and journals with high citation ranking will be given high priority in research areas.
Currency
Information resources should generally be up to date. Exceptions may include material for research purposes, or where a historical perspective is important.
Format
Information resources are selected without regard to format, provided that reasonable access with regard to technology and licensing can be provided. The format should be appropriate for its intended use and maximise use by all intended users. Web-based access is preferred, where possible, for serials, reference works and high-demand material to provide access at all campus libraries and for off-campus and off-shore students.
Duplication
The Information Resources – Library – Procedure states that print and audiovisual materials are duplicated when necessary to improve access for students but the University does not undertake to provide sufficient copies to ensure that every student will have access to these resources at all times. The Library attempts to minimise unnecessary duplication between print and electronic journals: guidelines exist which govern the duplication of print electronic journals and back issues.
Price and cost effectiveness:
The product should be priced appropriately and offer value for money. The Library prefers to participate in cooperative efforts to purchase products through cost-effective national and regional consortia arrangements. Gratis titles should still meet other selection criteria to be considered for acquisition.
Additional selection criteria for the acquisition of Electronic resources
Electronic information resources are assessed using the general criteria identified above but are also closely evaluated before acquisition against a number of specific criteria relating to the nature of the electronic content, format, access capabilities and technological requirements. Some of these specific criteria are identified below:
Content
The information should be:
- comprehensive with no content excluded or embargoed
- updated regularly
- stable – not subject to volatile changes or withdrawals
Technical requirements:
The product should:
- preferably be web based
- be able to be networked
- use standard technologies and readily available plug-ins
- be IP or proxy authenticated rather than password
- be able to monitor and restrict concurrent usage
- be technically stable with few ‘bugs’
- provide stable direct linking to databases, journal titles, issues and individual articles
- not involve use of persistent cookies
- not require difficult set up or security requirements
Functionality/Usability:
The product should:
- be easy to use and intuitive.
- provide guidance through menus, help screens and tutorials
- provide screen designs and layout aids that facilitate usage
- provide searching and browsing that is ‘user friendly’, accommodates both basic and sophisticated searching and allows limiting to full text only
- provide useful help screens and tutorials
- have an acceptable response time
Licensing:
The license must comply with the University Contracts Policy. It should:
- allow institutional wide access and remote user access
- allow printing, downloading, storing, emailing, caching and interlibrary loans
- allow copies of individual articles to be included in Deakin coursepacks (print and electronic) or stored for e-readings or e-reserve
- be compliant with disability legislation
- protect user confidentiality and privacy
- provide seamless authentication. IP recognition is preferred
- be readily accessible through the University’s proxy cache
- have satisfactory warranty/indemnification clauses
- have satisfactory conditions of renewal/cancellation
- preferably allow walk-in and other user access such as alumni/MIBT
- preferably allow archival access and perpetual access
Archiving/Ownership:
Electronic resources can be owned in perpetuity or leased. Although ownership is preferable there will be instances where only lease is available or where ownership must be purchased separately. If archival ownership is available it is preferred that archives are stored on the publisher or third party servers rather than provided in CDROM format.
Publisher/vendor services:
The vendor should:
- be reliable and stable.
- provide adequate support materials and training
- provide a trial period on request for evaluation
- resolve access problems promptly
- provide satisfactory renewal and invoicing services
- provide usage statistics on a regular basis
- provide title lists, stating coverage of titles including embargo periods
- provide regular updates of any database changes/additions/deletions
Price and cost effectiveness:
- The Library prefers concurrent user pricing over pricing based on site or student numbers
- The cost of content and platform/access fees should be clearly distinguished
- The pricing model for databases/packages should be clearly explained
- Titles should preferably be able to be cancelled or added individually
Exclusivity
If it is determined that the resource contains information that is not available elsewhere, and is considered essential, the resource may be acquired despite it’s failing some criteria. A risk analysis should be conducted to decide whether the resource will be purchased. Some failures carry greater risk. In this instance, the decision to acquire will be at the discretion of the University Librarian / Executive Director, Academic Support.
