The mission of USM Libraries is to provide the University community with access to information in its many formats and through its many delivery systems in order to support and participate in the teaching, learning, research and service functions of The University of Southern Mississippi.

Introduction

With ever-increasing amounts of materials available at ever-inflating prices and processing costs, the library must have a stated policy which emphasizes wise selection and spending of monies for materials to strengthen the present collection. The Collection Development Policy for USM Libraries has been written as a guide to assist the library in exercising its collection development responsibilities.

The overall objective of collection development is to ensure the coordinated growth and development of the library's holdings and access to information in order to meet the goals and objectives of The University as expressed in the mission statement of USM Libraries.

In keeping with the basic intentions of the Collection Development Policy, the library must be informed of forthcoming research and degree programs as time is required to acquire new materials and establish access to new database resources. Thus, it is extremely important that the library be actively involved in the review of curriculum changes which require changes in library resources.

Objectives

The library attempts to acquire all types of library materials to meet its major objectives. In order to meet the objectives, cooperation between faculty, staff and students is necessary. The objectives are as follows:

1. To obtain and make available those library materials needed for the instructional programs offered by The University.
2. To acquire and make available those library materials required by the students, faculty, and staff for their general research.
3. To make provision for access to information needed to support the instructional and research needs of the university community, but not available on site.
4. To develop collections in areas in which new and expanded responsibilities of The University are anticipated.
5. To collect and preserve all printed materials relating to the history, development and character of The University of Southern Mississippi. To acquire and preserve all publications of departments, schools, and agencies of The University.

1. Allocated funds are spent for materials to be housed in Cook Library, in Special Collections, in Gunn Education Materials Center, and on the Gulf Coast campus in Gulf Coast Library, and in the Curriculum Lab. Library funds are not spent for materials to be housed outside the official library locations and/or the electronic access systems.
2. When lack of funds limit purchases, first priority is given to current publications rather than retrospective items.
3. Publications in the English language are given first priority.
4. Materials are acquired in an alternative format if originals are not available or if they are too expensive.
5. A duplicate of any item is purchased only by justification of heavy and continued use. Multiple copies for classroom use are not purchased.
6. Holdings of other libraries in the region are considered before purchasing expensive items or collections.
7. The library does not purchase extensive in-depth materials for specific thesis topics of graduate students or for short-term research of faculty members.
8. Works of contemporary authors who have achieved critical recognition will be purchased, otherwise current popular fiction and non-fiction will not be purchased.

Overall the selection of library materials is the dual function of teaching and library faculty. All decisions made by the library faculty are based on established selection criteria which include content, format, quality and use. Library faculty also review particular selection tools such as Choice reviews, publishers' announcements and catalogs, and book reviews in scholarly journals.

Selection Responsibilities

Selection of library materials rests with both teaching and library faculty. Each academic department is responsible for selecting journals, books, and other materials that best support the teaching and research interests of the department. Information services librarians select reference materials, and other library faculty have responsibility for selecting materials for special collections, Gunn Education Materials Center, and media resources. See also Selection Standards under Gulf Coast Library below. Library faculty participating in collection development through the liaison program are responsible for selecting titles to replace lost and damaged books, and for ordering titles in subject areas when departmental faculty fail to do so. Library faculty may also carry out collection development special projects when funds are available.

Library faculty liaisons also work closely with the departmental faculty representatives to facilitate the ordering process for books, periodicals, media, and microforms. Library faculty liaisons notify the departmental faculty representatives of available materials by sending them publishers' announcements and Choice cards regularly. Library faculty liaisons or the chief collection development officer may reject order slips submitted by departmental faculty representatives if the materials do not fit the selection criteria for the collection.

USM Libraries honors requests from students for specific titles when funds are available and if they are for materials within the scope of the Collection Development Policy. Individuals requesting materials inappropriate for USM Libraries are referred to the public library. Typical inappropriate requests are for books on hobbies, how-to books, popular fiction, romance fiction, and comic and joke books.

Collecting Levels

As the basis for determining the collection parameters of the library the Collection Development Committee has established three collecting levels. Each of these levels will meet particular needs for developing the overall library collection.

The three collecting levels established by the library are based on the suggested collecting levels established by the American Library Association ("Guidelines for the Formulation of Collection Development Policies," pp. 3-5, in Guidelines for Collection Development, edited by David L. Perkins. Chicago: American Library Association, 1979).

The three collecting levels are as follows:

Level I: Basic

The basic library collection will consist of the core collection of general reference tools, standard works and selected current materials in a variety of subject areas. This level will also include materials which are outside the ordinary university curricula. The overall purpose of this level will be to introduce and define a particular subject. The acquisition of journals will be based on a highly selective basis. English will be the predominant language of all materials within this collection level.

Level II: Undergraduate

The basic purpose of Level II will be to provide teaching and research materials for the university community. It will include all basic works, complete sets by important authors and basic selections by secondary authors. For this level of collection development the library will provide current materials primarily but will also acquire, on a selective basis, retrospective materials. For the Undergraduate Level the collection also will acquire periodicals, reference sets and bibliographies which are appropriate for undergraduate studies at the university. Language coverage will be primarily in English but will allow for other Western Languages as course requirements and research needs demand. The overall purpose of the Undergraduate Level will be to provide materials for undergraduate students and the courses that are relevant to their education.

Level III: Graduate

The purpose of level III will be to provide materials for instructional research, independent study and research in scholarly areas. For this level there will be both current and retrospective purchasing. Materials will include complete periodical sets, reference sets, documents collections and bibliographies. To supplement the aforementioned items the library will acquire major journals and major indexing and abstracting sources. Overall, the library will acquire for Level III the most current literature in all formats and all languages needed for library use.

Deselection

As all materials are potentially valuable for research, materials are not removed as they become dated. Materials damaged beyond repair may be discarded and replaced, discarded without being replaced, boxed for protection, or placed in Special Collections. Replacement may be by exact copy, new edition, reprint, out-of-print search, or by a different title on the same topic. See also Deselection Policies under Gulf Coast Library below.

Electronic Resources

The USM Libraries will consider electronic resources to be an essential element in collection development. As the formats of primary and secondary materials develop and change, the USM Libraries will evaluate these formats for possible inclusion in the collections.

The acquisition of electronic resources will be initiated in the same manner as other resources: an academic department or an area in the library assigned a materials budget will submit a request to purchase or license the materials. After the request has been received, the Electronic Resources Committee will evaluate the request in order to determine the impact on library patrons and operations, as well as to determine any equipment needs.

Materials purchased from USM Libraries materials allocations will be housed in, and accessed from, the appropriate library collection.

Controversial Materials

USM Libraries are guided by the Library Bill of Rights adopted by the American Library Association. (Appendix A). Our collections include materials relating to cultural practices, science and pseudo-science, religious, political, ethnic and social expression.

An individual who objects to the inclusion of a particular item in the collections is invited to discuss these objections with the Dean of Libraries or the chief collection development officer. A form is provided (Appendix B) for stating objections. Materials providing alternative opinions or points of view may be suggested and will be considered for purchase.

Gifts

Monetary donations may be presented to the Dean of Libraries and the USM Foundation. Donors may suggest subject fields for purchases when these fall within the research and curriculum areas supported by the collections. Specific titles will be purchased when they meet criteria for materials established in this policy.

Gifts in kind are added to the collection when they are in good condition and meet other selection criteria. They are reviewed by the chief collection development officer and/or a librarian with liaison responsibilities in the subject field of the materials. When added, they will become an integral part of the libraries' collections. They will be fully cataloged, available to all users in accordance with the rules and regulations for borrowing, and shelved with other publications according to subject fields. These principles will be followed unless the gift items are appropriate additions to special collections already established, or are so special or valuable that they justify establishing a new area of special collections. Donations may be identified by bookplates through arrangement with the Head of Collection Management.

Some considerations used in reviewing gifts books for addition are condition, curriculum and research support, duplication of title or material, and cost to catalog and shelve.

Once a gift is accepted, it is disposed of at the library's discretion, and for the benefit of the library and The University. Gifts are not returned to the donor.

In general, the following are not added: mass market paperbacks; volumes from a broken set; sample issues of journals; and short runs of journals to which the libraries do not subscribe. Gift subscriptions by personal donor will not be used to replace a library subscription, nor to establish a new subscription. Funds to support a subscription placed by the library will be accepted, but for the benefit of users, the library must retain control over receiving and claiming issues. Second copy subscriptions, or bindery copies, may be considered for personal donor subscriptions.

Donors are asked to complete a "Donor's Statement" that stipulates the conditions under which gifts are accepted. Also available for use when manuscripts or other original materials are offered to the USM Libraries, is a "Deed of Gift."

It is the responsibility of the donor to keep a list of items donated, and to obtain an appraisal of value if one is wanted. Internal Revenue Service regulations prohibit libraries appraising gifts they receive. Gifts appraised at more than $5,000 are accepted only after it has been determined that the items are wanted for the collections.

Only the Dean of Libraries may approve acceptance of gifts with special stipulations concerning copyright, legal title, restricted access, location, or other restrictions. Such agreements will be documented with a "Memorandum of Agreement". Establishment of separate named and/or housed collections is discouraged, as collections are most useful when integrated with other books on the same subject.

Exchanges

Cook Library maintains exchanges with various publishers. The title we offer is Southern Quarterly. To qualify as an exchange, the offered journal must be indexed, and must support our curriculum.

Periodicals

Periodicals are continuing publications that are usually purchased through subscription or standing order. They include annual reviews, proceedings, indexing and abstracting services, journals, loose-leaf services, newsletters, newspapers, supplements, and yearbooks. Because periodicals require an ongoing commitment, new titles are initiated only when funds will continue to be available for their support. Some primary factors for consideration of new titles are cost, format, backfile depth, electronic availability, and availability in other libraries or through commercial document delivery. Also to be considered are accuracy, objectivity of contents, and frequency of citation appearance in standard indexes. Periodicals are not purchased to support an individual's personal research interests. When loose-leaf publications are considered for purchase, location and responsibility for filing are established before ordering. Some ephemeral periodical publications are placed in the Reading Room as current items only, and are not bound.

Cancellations of Journal Subscriptions and Standing Orders

Each journal title and standing order is assigned to an academic department or to a department in the USM Libraries system. If the department to which the title is assigned decides that it can no longer support the title, and wishes to cancel it, it will be placed on a "Potential Cancellation List" which is circulated to all departments. If no other department claims the title, and if the library concurs, it will be canceled. Some considerations for journal cancellation include use, cost per use, and availability through electronic full text document delivery. In the event of cancellation, volumes that have been received will be bound or purchased in microformat, according to the policy for that title, and retained in the collection. Titles canceled before a full volume is received will not be retained.

Micromaterials

Materials are purchased in microformat when they are not available or affordable in paper, or when the original publications are not readily usable or preservable. These include collections of retrospective or unpublished materials, backfiles of journals, microfilm in lieu of binding journals, newspapers, and phone books. Some government documents are available only in microformat. Micromaterials are purchased only if the libraries have the equipment to access them and the cabinets to store them. Some factors considered when purchasing collections are availability and cost of cataloging tapes for the collection. The libraries purchase collections only if cataloging is available, and include the cataloging as part of the purchase price. Considerations for preserving journals in microformat rather than binding include quality of paper, number of advertisements, shelf space required by the bound volumes, and the price of the microformat.

General Collection Development

Collection development occurs as funds permit in all subject areas applicable to support the instructional and research programs of The University of Southern Mississippi. The primary criteria for selection of materials from Collection Development funds are the interdisciplinary nature of the materials and/or the filling of deficiencies in the collections.

All formats collected by the USM Libraries are included.

Purchases are primarily English language materials, although foreign language material may be collected when appropriate. Preference is given to materials about the United States. Materials about all historical periods are collected.

Materials purchased from Collection Development funds will be found appropriately located throughout the USM Libraries collections as applicable to each item.

Restrictions on individual materials purchased with Collection Development funds will be determined by the collection into which they are placed.

Materials will be identified for purchase primarily by library faculty. Expenditure of funds will be approved by the chief collection development officer.

Collection Development Policies for Specific Collections:

Cook Library:

Reference

The USM Libraries reference collection includes selective, general, and specialized reference sources in all fields which support the teaching, learning, research and service functions of The University of Southern Mississippi. Heavy and frequent use is the primary criterion for inclusion in the Reference collection.

The reference collection includes print publications and electronic databases and includes almanacs, atlases, bibliographies, dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, fact books, handbooks, indexes, and other materials that either answer questions directly or lead the user to where needed information can be found.

The type format preferred is based upon the nature of the information and the manner in which that information is used. The preferred paper format for reference is printed hardbound books. Soft-cover and looseleaf materials are purchased when these are the best choices for the subject content or when these are the only formats available for the material. Some materials, primarily indexes, are purchased or leased in electronic format. Other materials that may be purchased include maps and micromaterials.

Materials purchased are almost exclusively English language. The exceptions are foreign language dictionaries and foreign language encyclopedias.

Preference is given to materials about the United States and North America; however, basic information sources for all geographical areas of the world are collected. Detailed and specialized reference sources about the state of Mississippi and the southern region of the United States are collected.

Most reference materials are housed in the reference and index stacks and on the ready reference shelves at the information services desk. In many cases, current volumes of reference periodicals are housed in the reference stacks with older volumes located in the general collection or in microforms. Selected reference materials may be located in the reserve collection. Faculty requests to put reference items on reserve are reviewed by information services librarians.

Older editions of encyclopedias and older volumes of indexes may be housed in the general collection. Bibliographies of a more general nature are almost always housed in reference stacks, while bibliographies with a more narrow, specific focus are often placed in the general collection. Whenever there is a doubt as to where a particular bibliography should be placed, an information services librarian reviews that item and decides on its disposition.

Overall, the reference collection is continuously reviewed to effect the transfer on a regular basis of older editions of certain titles into the general collection. Decisions on the circulation status of these transferred older editions are made by the information services librarian reviewing the items. In some instances older editions of particular reference titles may be removed from the collection altogether. Usually this happens in those instances when the new edition completely supersedes the previous one and/or the older edition is physically worn or damaged to the point that removal is the most appropriate option to exercise.

Materials in the reference collection do not circulate. Materials in the reference collection are available all the hours that Cook Library is open.

Duplication within the collection of some heavily used volumes is desirable but may be restricted in order to purchase new titles. Duplication may be in alternative formats. There may be infrequent duplication of materials in special collections.

Materials are selected by the information services librarians, with participation by other interested faculty. Requests from all library users are considered. Whenever possible, materials should be placed on standing order. Standing orders are regularly reviewed by the information services librarians.

Government Documents

By virtue of congressional designation, USM Libraries has been a selective federal depository since 1935. Selective depositories are not required to receive all federal publications, but only those items best suited to the needs of the area served. The Library presently selects approximately 50% of the items offered by the Government Printing Office (GPO). A regional depository is required to receive and maintain all items distributed by GPO and provide assistance to the selective depositories. The regional depository for Mississippi is the University of Mississippi's library in Oxford. The depository collection of Cook Library serves the Fourth Congressional District, which includes fifteen (15 ) south Mississippi counties.

Selection and collection development decisions are based, in part, on curriculum and research needs of the University. Also considered are the information needs of citizens of the Fourth Congressional District. Selection decisions are made in accordance with guidelines elsewhere in this document and in Instructions to Depository Libraries.

All subject areas represented in U.S. government publications are collected. Materials not generally selected include those, such as procedural manuals, which are designed for administrative and operational use of federal governmental units, and individual agency directories.

All formats offered by the GPO are selected. Formats include books, periodicals, loose-leaf, pamphlets, maps, microfiche, CD-ROM, DVD, and computer software. Materials in other formats will be considered when available.

Since some depository materials are available for a limited time, materials may sometimes be selected even though the library does not presently own the equipment or software needed to access the information.

Materials covering all geographical areas and from all historical periods available are collected. Primary emphasis is placed on materials pertinent to Mississippi and adjacent states.

Nearly all the U.S. government materials are located in the Government Documents area and Microforms area. They are shelved or filed in Superintendent of Documents classification order. Many heavily-used or widely indexed periodicals are transferred to the Library of Congress (LC) classified collection with current issues in the Reading Room and older bound volumes in the stacks. Some monographs are transferred to Reference or the circulating collection. CD-ROM and DVD-ROM materials are used in the Reference area.

Location decisions are made based upon format (CD-ROM, DVD-ROM and microform), frequency of use, reference value, availability of indexing, and the use of materials in conjunction with other library resources.

Most printed government documents are housed in open stacks in the Information Services Room. They can be used within Cook Library without restriction, but generally do not circulate. Government documents may be signed out for use outside the building on restricted circulation slips to patrons. Documents integrated into other collections are subject to the same restrictions placed on materials comprising those collections.

The government documents information librarian (or head of information services if that position is vacant) responds to GPO surveys for new materials as they are sent.

The government documents information librarian makes selections and deletions to the item number selection survey each spring. The librarian will undertake an annual zero-based review of item number selections. The result is a profile which tells GPO which categories of materials are to be sent to the library. Other information services librarians and faculty make suggestions for additions of item numbers and purchases of materials. Deselection of item numbers can occur at any time of the year.

Depository materials which are superseded according to the GPO's superseded list and its updates will be discarded. A document will be discarded if it is a duplicate copy received in error or as a gift. Materials will also be discarded if the Library has, in the interest of space, acquired a duplicate in an alternative format such as microfiche.

Most of the materials in the government documents collection are received free of charge on deposit through the depository system of the Government Printing Office. In exchange for use of these documents, which remain the property of the U. S. Government, the Library is required by federal statute to provide free access to the general public to the documents.

Desired duplicate copies of heavily-used materials are purchased with funds from the Reference allocation. Some materials may be accepted as gifts. Before they are accepted, they are evaluated according to the Gifts Policy of the University Libraries.

Government documents are often republished by commercial sources with varied degrees of enhancement. Every effort will be made to ensure that materials with little or no enhanced value, which can be obtained free from GPO, will not be purchased. If, however, the information value of the commercially-produced product is significantly higher than that of the document, its purchase may be considered.

Juvenile

The Juvenile collection is located on the second floor of Cook Library. This collection supports programs in Education, Library Science, English, and Child and Family Studies. It is supported by purchases from these departmental allocations, and from substantial gifts from the School of Library and Information Studies. Older titles that no longer support these disciplines are transferred to the deGrummond collection.

Media Center

The purpose of this collection, located on the second floor of Cook Library, is to support the University's teaching, learning, research, and service efforts by providing appropriate non-print to be viewed in the media center or to be checked out for classroom use. These materials are only available, or are most useful, in non-print formats. They appeal to the sight and/or hearing of the library user, usually require additional equipment for usage, and do not rely on the printed word for the essence of the message.

USM Libraries will purchase audiovisual materials needed to support its mission in all appropriate formats. Materials are selected by teaching faculty from departmental allocations and by the media services librarian. Criteria include nature of the curriculum; intended use; faculty and graduate research needs; quality of the item, both content and form; life expectancy; cost. When possible, audiovisual materials are previewed or reviewing sources are consulted before purchasing.

Materials are primarily in English, except for a collection of foreign language materials specifically to support study of foreign languages. There are no geographic or historical limits on production date or on subject area covered.

Resources are not purchased in multiple copies or formats. However, within copyright guidelines and licensing agreements, materials may be duplicated for instructional purposes.

Curriculum Materials Center

Gunn Education Materials Center, located in Owings-McQuagge, provides laboratory materials for teacher education. Current textbooks approved for use in Mississippi schools, teacher resources, kits, activity books, realia, records, audiocassettes, computer disks, and State of Mississippi curriculum guides make up the collection. Also available is a small reference collection. Materials are selected by the Curriculum Librarian. Additionally, suitable materials purchased from education departmental allocations are placed here.

Special Collections

Special collections are located in McCain Library and Archives. Materials in special collections do not circulate. Photocopy restrictions are placed on fragile materials, with copies made by staff, not public. Use of rare and fragile materials may be available only under strict supervision.

Mississippiana

The collection includes publications about Mississippi, Mississippians, and by Mississippi authors; Mississippi state documents; materials commercially or privately published in Mississippi when they are short press runs or otherwise not widely distributed.

Formats include monographs; periodicals and newspapers; ephemera; microforms; 35mm films, videotapes, USM theses, and vertical file materials. The collection is primarily English, but other languages, particularly French and Spanish, are not excluded.

Materials are located in Room 302A McCain Library and Archives and the Cleanth Brooks Reading Room. Books about Mississippi published by commercial presses and widely distributed are placed in the circulating collection, Cook Library with selected duplicates housed in McCain for preservation purposes. Heavily used reference books are placed in the Reference collection, Cook Library with older editions or selected duplicates available in McCain for archival purposes. Books by Mississippi authors that have no subject connection with Mississippi are placed in the circulating collection, Cook Library if they support specific instructional needs. Audio-visual materials and microforms are placed in Cook Library.

Duplication is based on demand and availability. Donated items usually constitute duplicates. Duplication is limited to two copies, with the exception of heavily used reference materials. If the first copy is placed in Cook Library, a second copy may be added to Mississippiana. All gift books are reviewed for location placement. First copies will be placed in Mississippiana if they are autographed by a prominent author, are in poor condition, are rare or out of print, or are otherwise in need of protection and restricted use.

Selection is by the Head, Special Collections. Purchases made from library allocations to academic departments may be placed in the collection when they meet collection criteria.

De Grummond Children's Literature Collection

The collection includes historical and contemporary children's literature and reference books specifically related to children's authors, illustrators, and literature. Contemporary series books and mass market titles are accepted as gifts but not purchased.

Formats are primarily monographs, preferably in hardcover; microforms; periodicals. Paperback items have been accepted through donation, or purchased, when hardcover is unavailable. Original manuscripts, typescripts, illustrative materials, and other materials related to the production process of children's literature are part of the collection. Artifacts and toys are accepted as gifts but not purchased.

The collection is primarily English, but other languages are not excluded. There are no limits on geographic area, publication date, or subject area covered.

The closed stack areas of the fourth floor of McCain Library and Archives house original materials, published children's books, and some reference materials. Support for the de Grummond collection is provided by materials in the Reference collection in Cook Library, in the circulating collection, which contains historical treatments and biographies and criticism of authors and illustrators, and in microforms.

Exact duplicates are not retained, unless the items are inscribed or otherwise valuable or rare. Duplicates of items in Cook Library, including Reference, will be added, and may be purchased.

The selector is the curator of the de Grummond Children's Literature collection.

Historical Manuscripts

The collection, located on the third floor of McCain Library and Archives, includes primary source materials documenting the political and social history of twentieth century Mississippi, especially events in Hattiesburg connected with the civil rights movement in the 1960s; the American Civil War; the lumber industry; tung oil; the Natchez Trace; railroads, and southern history and culture in general.

Formats include paper, audio and video tapes, positive and negative photographic images, and artifacts. The collection is primarily in English, with some Spanish and French. The area covered is primarily central and south Mississippi from the 1500s to date.

Some donor restrictions for materials to be closed for specific time periods were agreed upon previously. Copying is based upon the condition of the individual item.

Walen

The rare materials in this collection relate to the American Civil War. Formats include books, manuscripts, Confederate imprints, pamphlets, and artifacts. There may be restrictions on in-library use. Materials in Walen may be duplicated in the circulating collection, Cook Library.

Purchases are made for this collection from Foundation funds. Their rarity or condition must warrant placement in a restricted collection. Gifts within the scope of the collection may be added when their rarity or condition warrant placement in a restricted collection.

University Archives

University Archives collects and documents the history and services of The University of Southern Mississippi, as set forth by state law. This includes records and publications of USM student organizations and activities, campus offices, campus branches, and university related organizations.

Formats include a variety of paper formats, video and audio tapes, journals, USM theses and dissertations. An archival copy of each University of Southern Mississippi thesis and dissertation is maintained in the Archives. A second copy is added to the circulating collection in Cook Library. The materials are primarily in English, 1910 to date.

Use is prohibited for use of office/official materials for the past six years when the individual is still holding said office, unless permission is given by the office holder. Permission is typically requested of originating office before access is given for materials. Current office files are an aspect of the University's records management program. All materials are accepted as space permits. Materials do not circulate.

Genealogy

The collection includes original historical county records and family histories, cemetery records, published church records, military and pension records, marriage and death records, wills and estate records, tax lists and census records, Revolutionary War records, and Native American materials.

The collection includes books and periodicals, loose materials, maps, microfilm, and privately published family histories. The collection is primarily English, with some French and Spanish and covers primarily the southern United States from ca. 1750 to present.

Materials are located in the Cleanth Brooks Reading Room, McCain Library and Archives. Support materials for Genealogy, such as books describing how to do genealogical research or compile genealogical materials, are housed in Cook Library general circulating collection. Genealogical materials are not purchased, but are accepted as gifts. There are some photocopy restrictions for fragile materials.

Duplicates for heavily used items are added to the collection. Other duplicates may be stored and used as replacements for deteriorating materials. The Director of Public Services approves the selection of materials to be added to this collection.

Gulf Coast Library:

The Gulf Coast Library is part of the USM Libraries system. Because USM-Gulf Coast is a regional campus, it is the mission of the library to provide materials primarily for high-demand use. This includes any item which would be in regular use or be used often enough that borrowing from another site would cause a serious deficiency in the resources of another part of the library system. Materials in less demand can usually be obtained from the Hattiesburg campus within one to five days.

Selection Criteria

Priorities for acquisition are as follows: first, materials needed for instructional programs offered by the Gulf Coast campuses; second, materials required by the students and faculty for their general research; and third, materials required for general information and reading in subject areas not covered by instructional and research programs. When lack of funds limits purchases, first priority is given to current publications in the English language. Materials are acquired in an alternative format if originals are not available or if they are too expensive. A duplicate copy is purchased only by justification of heavy and continued use. In the Curriculum Lab, three copies may be considered a usual maximum.

Selection Responsibility

The selection of materials for the library is the dual function of the library and departmental faculty, with input from staff and patrons. All decisions made by the library faculty are based on established selection criteria which include content, format, quality, and use. The departmental faculty share in the collection development responsibility by choosing materials related to the curriculum and by utilizing their subject expertise in the selection of materials. Periodical titles may be added upon faculty recommendation and in accordance with criteria for collection development listed in this policy.

Budget Allocations

A portion of each year's library capital outlay budget is set aside for the purchase of books and audiovisuals. A separate portion is allocated for periodicals, including microforms, indexes, newspapers, and electronic resources.

Gifts

Gifts will be accepted for possible addition to the collection. The collection development coordinator will determine if the items will be added to the Gulf Coast Library collection or forwarded to the main campus libraries for consideration. The library will provide donor forms acknowledging receipt, but cannot assume the responsibility for establishing a monetary value for tax purposes.

A complete run of Phi Delta Kappa fastbacks is maintained as a separate collection (the George H. Reavis Reading Area, courtesy of the PDK Educational Foundation) as a condition of its complimentary receipt.

Persons wishing to make a cash donation will be referred to the library director. Donors may suggest subject guidelines as to subject fields for purchases. Money will be accepted for the purchase of a specific title only when the title meets collection development standards. Acknowledgements of monetary donations will be made by the director.

Deselection

During regular inventories, or as needed, the library staff will examine each title. Those which fall into the following categories may be removed from the collection.

• Titles duplicated in other formats, such as microforms or reprints.
• Titles superseded by more current editions or cumulative editions, or included in unabridged editions.
• Separates, off prints, or reprints, when the same information is available in a bound volume or micro format.
• Multiple copies unless needed to meet circulation demands.
• Outdated volumes of no research or historical value.
• Items beyond repair, or those on disintegrating paper, unless retention is justified by edition, scholarly notes, introduction, editorship, publisher, or value as an artifact.
• Out-of-date travel guides of no historical value.
• Items which have been in the collection at least five years and have not been checked out in the previous five years.

The library staff will work with the faculty and other University librarians to determine if materials removed should be returned to the collection, transferred to another unit of the library system, or discarded.

With the assent of departmental faculty, periodical titles may be discontinued during a formal evaluation due to lack of use, cost, or curriculum changes.

Controversial material

Gulf Coast Library follows the policy stated above under Cook Library.

Individual Collections:

Reference

The Gulf Coast Library reference collection includes selective, general and specialized reference sources in all fields which support the instructional and research programs of The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast campus. Heavy and frequent use is the primary criterion for inclusion in the reference collection. The preferred formats are hardback books and electronic indexes and databases. Looseleaf materials are purchased when these are the best choices for the subject content or are the only format available.

Materials are almost exclusively English language. The exceptions are foreign language dictionaries. Basic information sources for all geographical areas of the world are included, with specialized reference sources about the state of Mississippi and the southern region of the United States.

The library faculty are the primary developers of the reference collection. Selection is based on knowledge of the curriculum, library use, and the recommendations of departmental faculty, professional journals, and recommended lists.

As a general rule, materials in the reference collection do not circulate. The materials are available all hours that the Gulf Coast Library is open.

Media Center

The media collection supports the curriculum of The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast campus by providing appropriate non-print instructional materials to be viewed in the Reading Room or checked out for classroom use. Materials are purchased in all formats for which the center has equipment. The needs and demands for non-print materials vary in the different subject areas. Therefore, the collection may be subjective rather than comprehensive.

Non-print resources in the Media collection may be borrowed by faculty, staff, and students for use in the campus classrooms. Audio cassettes may be checked out under general circulation policies. Audiovisual items are available for loan to Mississippi elementary and secondary schools.

Resources are not routinely purchased in multiple copies or formats. However, within copyright guidelines and licensing agreements, materials may be duplicated for instructional purposes. Efforts are made not to duplicate non-print materials held by the Media Resources Center on the Hattiesburg campus.

Materials are recommended by departmental faculty, media staff, and librarians. Specific items may be required as an integral part of a course. When possible, audiovisual materials are previewed before purchase.

Curriculum Lab

The Curriculum Lab, located in the Smith Studio building, houses historical and contemporary children's literature, textbooks, and other curriculum materials to support use by teachers, prospective teachers, and faculty. Formats include hardback and paperback books, oversized books, subject kits, education tests, and vertical file materials. Materials are in the English language, with no restrictions on geographic area or publication date. The subject area covered is limited to that which pertains to elementary and secondary education instruction areas.

All items in the Curriculum Lab collection are available for circulation to faculty, staff, and students under the general circulation policy.

Except for award winning titles in the children's literature section, materials generally are not duplicated. Selectors for this collection are librarians and faculty in Education.