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Library Collections Policy
The Collections Policy aims to deliver a dynamic, relevant and evolving collection of library resources to support teaching, learning and research in the University and, where practical, in the wider learning community.
- The General Collections are open access and located where they can best be used by the greatest concentration of users.
- Heritage and Special Collections are normally purchased using endowments and through external fund-raising, according to existing collection strengths, research and teaching priorities.
- The Library collects and preserves the intellectual output, in manuscript, print and electronic formats, of the University, through services such as the Edinburgh Research Archive (ERA).
- An e-preference model in relation to the acquisition and retention of journals is being developed, taking into account financial feasibility, long-term access and user needs.
- Donations, or internal transfers, of books, manuscripts and archives will be assessed using selection criteria that will be applied before accepting material.
- Deposits will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances and under agreed conditions.
- No more than one copy of a print title should be retained in the Library system, unless the text is being used in current or continuing courses at the University of Edinburgh.
- There is a rolling programme of transfer, relegation and disposal, and an approximate balance will be sought between acquisition on the one hand, and transfer, relegation and disposal on the other.
- The print copies of electronic resources which provide guaranteed access in the long-term to back-files of journals will be assessed for relegation to store.
- Access agreements with and proximity to other libraries will be factored into decisions on the acquisition and retention of specialist categories of material.
The full Collections Policy (2005) is provided as a downloadable PDF. You will need Adobe Reader to access it.
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- Download Collections Policy
- Download Light touch review of Collections Policy 2009
The Collections Policy is supplemented by guidelines on purchasing in cloth or paperback bindings.
This article was published on Apr 19, 2012