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Preface and Approved Policies

Preface to collection development subject policies

The University of Cincinnati Libraries has subject selectors working in coordination with the Associate Dean for Collections and Technical Services. Together they work to collect and to provide access to the intellectual and physical collections appropriate to the mission of an educational institution, and specifically to the schools, departments and programs of the University of Cincinnati.

Collecting principles
The electronic collection
The Electronic Resources Committee (ERC)
OhioLINK
Extending collections through access
Approved subject policies

Collecting principles

Subject selectors develop the collection by choosing appropriate materials

for the subject area/discipline
with an understanding of the needs of the university
with specific reference to the academic mission of departments, programs, schools or colleges

The Electronic Collection

The University of Cincinnati Libraries is an increasing electronic environment. While continuing to build collections in the traditional formats, including especially print, the University of Cincinnati Libraries is increasing access to vast electronic resources for UC community members. These include UC specific initiatives as well as initiatives through OhioLINK - Ohio Library and Information Network .

The Electronic Resources Committee (ERC)

Within the libraries of the University of Cincinnati is the Electronic Resources Committee. This committee, chaired by the Associate Dean for Collections and Technical Services, deliberates on the purchase of electronic resources deemed to be broad in coverage for the whole university community. The ERC advises the advises the Policy and Planning Group, the group of library directors of the four jurisdictions of the libraries of the University of Cincinnati. The committee considers recommendations from subject selectors, as well as options presented by OhioLINK to its community.

OhioLINK

The University of Cincinnati Libraries builds its collection with an understanding of its relationship to the State of Ohio's collection, as represented in OhioLINK .

Participation in sharing – the University of Cincinnati Libraries collection is a part of the shared OhioLINK central catalog, the statewide database made of the library collections of OhioLink members throughout the State. While developing its own collection, the University of Cincinnati Libraries participates in building the state collection to satisfy state needs. This includes an understanding of the sharing of materials cooperatively in the State. The agreement allows UC users access to the same collection. Access is available to a broad array of resources purchased centrally and available electronically through OhioLINK. These include a variety of databases available at the OhioLINK Research Databases link as well as online access to over 7,750 journal titles and over 6.5 million journal articles in OhioLINK's Electronic Journals Center .

Participation in development – the University of Cincinnati Libraries is also involved in active participation in OhioLINK's CIRM (Cooperative Information Resources Management) Committee. The Associate Dean for Collections and Technical Services serves on this committee which, among other things, steers the development of the collection of databases which make up a significant portion of OhioLINK's centrally available resources. Selectors also participate in subject groups to discuss and recommend resources to be added to the collection. In addition, there is movement toward cooperative collection development partnerships in Ohio, allowing institutions to concentrate their collecting efforts in specific areas, thereby freeing up resources somewhere else in the State.

Extending collections through access

Interlibrary loan/document delivery - gaining access to resources not own at UC libraries
Instruction - services including instruction in access and use of the collection
Free Web materials - identify and "add" to the collection freely available material through UCLID ( University of Cincinnati Libraries Catalog Menu) or through subject or library web pages, to the collection developed by purchase and gift.

Approved subject policies

Guidelines for Additions to the Rare Book Collection

5/7/09 DG